Posted April 5, 20232 yr Who are the best rookies in modern franchise history (1999 to now)? Ignore the rest of the career. Best rookies. As we debate that the roster isn't complete until after the draft, let's see what they actually got out of their rookies over 23 years... QB: Carson Wentz WR1/2: Desean Jackson / Devonta Smith RB: Lesean Mccoy. Bland impact. TE: Zach Ertz. Showed potential, but minimal impact. OT1/2: Todd Herremans (yep). No one else played OT at a level that could be mentioned. RG1/2: Dickerson. I don't think any other rookies even played. OC: Kelce DE1/2: Derrick Burgess/Trent Cole. Every other rookie DE in the last 20+ years has sucked. Somewhat alarming considering how high we draft them. DT1/2: 1. Simon. 2. Cox. LB1/2/3: Every rookie LB to ever get extended snaps has been a massive liability. CB1/2: Every rookie CB has been picked on. Sheldon Brown and Maddox deserve some mention, but not really. S1/2: Michael Lewis and Macho Harris played the most, both sparingly. What's your list? In 20+ years, that's minimal impact from rookies. And the rookies that DID have significant playing time and impact did so in generally VERY bad seasons for the team. Moral of the story? Don't rely on rookie year impact from your draft picks. And don't draft your picks for rookie year impact. Interestingly though, most of our good picks did showcase something as rookies.
April 5, 20232 yr At OT, Lane Johnson and Tra Thomas had a very good rookie years. Jordan Hicks was pretty good as well. Jordan Matthews wasn't better than DJax or Smith, but could be #3.
April 5, 20232 yr I kno he broke 1000 this yr but rookie year Sanders was overall better imo And id put Nate Allen over Harris at S
April 5, 20232 yr How exactly does Macho Harris make it over Reed Blankenship? Shawn Andrew's also without question makes it as a rookie guard. And Jordan Hicka really going to be left off the team?
April 5, 20232 yr Author 1 hour ago, beto_eagles said: At OT, Lane Johnson and Tra Thomas had a very good rookie years. Jordan Hicks was pretty good as well. Jordan Matthews wasn't better than DJax or Smith, but could be #3. Can't believe I forgot Lane. Tra is outside of the window and, yes, Hicks was good early. Matthews is worth mentioning too, yup.
April 5, 20232 yr Author 58 minutes ago, NJWolverEagle11 said: I kno he broke 1000 this yr but rookie year Sanders was overall better imo And id put Nate Allen over Harris at S Sanders in the back half of his rookie year might have been the highest level we've seen all-round from a rookie RB here in that time frame.
April 5, 20232 yr Author 35 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said: How exactly does Macho Harris make it over Reed Blankenship? Shawn Andrew's also without question makes it as a rookie guard. And Jordan Hicka really going to be left off the team? Andrews played 1 quarter as a rookie before getting a season ending injury.
April 5, 20232 yr 8 hours ago, eagle45 said: Andrews played 1 quarter as a rookie before getting a season ending injury. So? He was dominant.
April 5, 20232 yr I'd put Buckhalter over McCoy. I think welbourne played as a rookie. Seems most rookies if they aren't a top 15 pick are but players Mike Lewis lito and Sheldon were all backups Andrews was a starter but got hurt first game so...☹️🤷♂️ Jordan Davis was a backup. Even McNabb sat behind Pederson for what 8 weeks. Maclin started and had a good rookie year But yeah I think you are correct in stating that most rookies don't make a huge impact though it would be nice if Howie drafted a guy this year that came right out of the gates on fire. With the 10 pick that's more likely than the 30th pick or a 2nd rounder but then again if that draft pick has a vet like cox, graham, slay, in front of him he's not going to have as many chances to make an impact as a rookie.
April 5, 20232 yr 19 hours ago, eagle45 said: Can't believe I forgot Lane. Tra is outside of the window and, yes, Hicks was good early. Matthews is worth mentioning too, yup. Tra was drafted before 1999? Damn! Doesn't feel that long ago.
April 6, 20232 yr Probably should adjust the thread title. From 1999 - the present is not "all time."
April 9, 20232 yr At LB Jordan Hicks played well before getting hurt. I think Kendricks saw snaps and was solid? You can throw in Omar Gaither too. A 5th round rookie… I think he started? Matthews and Maclin made plays at WR. K: Elliott of course
April 14, 20232 yr Jackson put up more yards as a rookie than Matthews and Maclin but Jackson was literally the only starting caliber wideout his rookie year, his competition was a treatment room of Reggie Brown, Jason Avant, Hank Baskett, Greg Lewis and the remains of Kevin Curtis, He got yardage because he was thrown the ball 7-8 times a game and came down with it barely 50% of the time. Maclin had better hands his rookie year and was a more reliable receiver overall, Matthews had better hands too, both put up their rookie numbers as WR2. If I want a rookie to run a go route and catch a 40 yard bomb or take a return to the house I take Jackson, if I want a rookie to catch the ball reliably and get in the endzone I take Maclin or Matthews.
April 14, 20232 yr On 4/4/2023 at 8:10 PM, eagle45 said: Who are the best rookies in modern franchise history (1999 to now)? Ignore the rest of the career. Best rookies. As we debate that the roster isn't complete until after the draft, let's see what they actually got out of their rookies over 23 years... QB: Carson Wentz WR1/2: Desean Jackson / Devonta Smith RB: Lesean Mccoy. Bland impact. TE: Zach Ertz. Showed potential, but minimal impact. OT1/2: Todd Herremans (yep). No one else played OT at a level that could be mentioned. RG1/2: Dickerson. I don't think any other rookies even played. OC: Kelce DE1/2: Derrick Burgess/Trent Cole. Every other rookie DE in the last 20+ years has sucked. Somewhat alarming considering how high we draft them. DT1/2: 1. Simon. 2. Cox. LB1/2/3: Every rookie LB to ever get extended snaps has been a massive liability. CB1/2: Every rookie CB has been picked on. Sheldon Brown and Maddox deserve some mention, but not really. S1/2: Michael Lewis and Macho Harris played the most, both sparingly. What's your list? In 20+ years, that's minimal impact from rookies. And the rookies that DID have significant playing time and impact did so in generally VERY bad seasons for the team. Moral of the story? Don't rely on rookie year impact from your draft picks. And don't draft your picks for rookie year impact. Interestingly though, most of our good picks did showcase something as rookies. Herremans played LG. Just being picky. Tra and Runyan were the tackles. Andrews was fabulous as a rookie, but he only lasted a quarter of game one. Unless my memory is wrong.😟
April 15, 20232 yr Author 14 hours ago, just relax said: Herremans played LG. Just being picky. Tra and Runyan were the tackles. Andrews was fabulous as a rookie, but he only lasted a quarter of game one. Unless my memory is wrong.😟 Herremans was a LG for his career (with some time at RT as well I believe), but I believe he filled in for an injured Tra at LT as a rookie and did so admirably.
April 15, 20232 yr Yep. 7 hours ago, eagle45 said: Herremans was a LG for his career (with some time at RT as well I believe), but I believe he filled in for an injured Tra at LT as a rookie and did so admirably. Yep. And in the pre-season of his rookie year he played a lot at LT. I remember commenting at the time that I thought he was a better player than Robert Gallery, who was drafted second overall. Turned out I was right - one of my blind chicken moments.
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