One thing that the Philadelphia Eagles are very good at is either drafting players who are undervalued or trading for players who were in the same position.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has perfected the art of finding hidden talent in the draft or good talent elsewhere in the NFL and turning them into elite players. Pro Football Focus writer Bradley Locker named the top 20 most valuable players not selected in the first round of the NFL since 2016, with three Eagles players making the list, with the top guy being left tackle Jordan Mailata at number two overall.
"The Eagles have a penchant for cultivating talent as well as any organization in football, and Mailata is the crown jewel of that. The former rugby star has rounded into one of the NFL’s best all-around tackles despite being among the last picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. Mailata’s career 94.1 overall PFF grade is the third-best among tackles to play at least 4,500 snaps in the last eight seasons, and his 1.66 PFF Wins Above Replacement places 11th in that span. On top of that, Mailata has earned at least an 81.7 overall PFF grade in a staggering five straight seasons, and his 95.2 overall mark in 2024 was one of the best by a lineman in PFF history. Most players selected this late in the draft are viewed as either depth or a flier. In Mailata’s case, he became not just a starter, but an ultimate success story and a cornerstone for the Eagles’ Super Bowl title."
Jordan Mailata is joined by two other Eagles who are the most valuable non-first-round picks
It's a shame that Mailata has not earned a Pro Bowl selection for a guy who is always considered a top 10 left tackle in the NFL. The former rugby player has been a smashing success story for the Eagles, going from a seventh-round pick who has never played football to becoming one of the best at his position.
Joining Mailata on the list is former Tennessee Titans second-round pick wide receiver A.J. Brown at number 11. While the Eagles might be trying to trade him this offseason, Brown really emerged as an elite receiver in Philly when they traded for him in 2022. He made two Pro Bowls in his career, which helped the Eagles reach two Super Bowls and win one, and was a 1,000-yard receiver in each of his four years in Philadelphia.
Concluding the list at number 15 is former second-round pick quarterback Jalen Hurts. The resume of Hurts is just as impressive as the others', as he has been to three Pro Bowls, helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl in 2024, and was named Super Bowl MVP. For someone who was not viewed as a starting quarterback in the NFL, he's done pretty well for himself.
Read more: Ex-NFL receiver is fed up with Eagles' A.J. Brown slander
The Eagles have been lucky to find all kinds of talent in the draft and through trades, with these three guys as shining examples.
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