2002 Draft

If the Eagles win the super bowl in the next three years, the 2002 draft could gain the legendary status of the Steelers 1974 draft (Swann, Lambert, Stallworth, Webster) and the Cowboys picks stemming from the Herschel Walker trade (Emmitt Smith, Erik Williams, Russell Maryland, and Darren Woodson).

 

Lito Sheppard (#1), Michael Lewis (#2, 58), and Brian Westbrook (#3) all went to the Pro Bowl, with Sheppard and Westbrook earning all-pro honors at some point. Add in established starter Sheldon Brown (#2, 59) and the Eagles were four for four in their first four picks of this draft. In one fell swoop, the Eagles got the players to replace their pro bowl but aging corners, Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor. Because of these picks, there was a seamless transition in the defensive secondary. And Westbrook has given the Eagles’ offense 2/3 of the weapons you need to win a championship (McNabb being the other component while the Eagles have tried so far unsuccessfully to find that 1/3 WR piece). Along those same lines, it has been more difficult for Reid/Heckert/Johnson to get correctly pick an heir to safety Brian Dawkins.

 

Alas, the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th round picks, Scott Peters, Freddie Milions, and Tyreo Harrison (another in the long line of failed LBs) respectively, never panned out. Unfortunately, this draft gets a demerit for, ironically, the Eagles taking DE Raheem Brock in the 7^th round. The Eagles spent all their draft/rookie money on the aforementioned players and never offered Brock a contract. He became a free agent, hooked up with the Colts and has developed into a solid pro opposite Dwight Freeney.

 

Interesting note, the Eagles took two local players: Westbrook (Villanova) and Brock (Temple).