A five-year old tweet ESPN’s Adam Schefter posted and has since deleted strangely connects three current Philadelphia Eagles players.
Defensive end Brandon Graham was originally selected by the Eagles in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. He definitely did not earn the Defensive Player of the Year award in his rookie season. Graham got off to a slow start, but now has become one of the Eagles’ star pass rushers.
Former San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews is also a first-rounder from the 2010 draft. He was signed by the Eagles during the offseason. Mathews also did not live up to Schefter’s prediction for 2010. He put up just 678 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games.
Mathews comes to Philadelphia after five seasons in San Diego where he turned heads on occasion. Unfortunately, the running back dealt with many lingering injuries along the way. If he can stay healthy, he will complement stud rusher DeMarco Murray in the Eagles’ ground attack.
Bradford, a first overall pick by the St. Louis Rams in 2010, was predicted to be a star. In his rookie season, Bradford ranked 30th among his fellow quarterbacks according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Since 2010, Bradford has only played in 33 games. Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles during the free agency period, Bradford comes from back-to-back ACL surgeries and is in line to become the team’s starter.
Voila. Chip Kelly has three first-round draftees (from 2010) on his team. If Bradford and Mathews can remain healthy and break from their trend of injuries, then Kelly can relish in his offseason madness.
Photo: USA Today Sports