Drafting well is essential in the NFL because it allows teams to secure quality, young players on reasonable four-year rookie contracts, freeing up salary cap money to address need positions.
A close look at the projected starters for the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday night’s Super Bowl LVII (6:30) shows how much the draft has benefited both franchises.
The NFC champion Eagles drafted 10 of their 11 offensive starters, with star receiver A.J. Brown (a trade with the Tennessee Titans) the lone exception. And Philadelphia landed five of them in the third round or later, including perennial All-Pro center Jason Kelce and emerging left tackle Jordan Mailata. Only three of the Birds’ defensive starters arrived via the draft, though a fourth went undrafted.
The AFC champion Chiefs drafted nine of their 11 defensive starters, with eight of them coming in the first three rounds and also eight from the last four draft classes.
On offense, Kansas City secured six starters via the draft, highlighted by elite tight end Travis Kelce (Jason’s younger brother) in the third round and center Creed Humphrey, a second-rounder voted to the Pro Bowl this season as a rookie.
Here are the teams’ projected Super Bowl starters and how they were acquired:
Eagles offense
Jalen Hurts, QB: 2020 draft (2nd round)
Miles Sanders, RB: 2019 draft (2nd round)
A.J. Brown, WR: 2022 trade with Titans
DeVonta Smith, WR: 2021 draft (1st round)
Jordan Mailata, LT: 2018 draft (7th round)
Landon Dickerson, LG: 2021 draft (2nd round)
Jason Kelce, C: 2011 draft (6th round)
Isaac Seumalo, RG: 2016 draft (3rd round)
Lane Johnson, RT: 2013 draft (1st round)
Dallas Goedert, TE: 2018 draft (2nd round)
Quez Watkins, WR: 2020 draft (6th round)
Catching up with former Eagles:Where are key players from the Birds’ last Super Bowl team today?
Chiefs offense
Patrick Mahomes, QB: 2018 draft (1st round)
Isiah Pacheco, RB: 2022 draft (7th round)
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR: 2022 signed as free agent
Kadarius Toney, WR: 2022 trade with Giants
Orlando Brown, LT: 2021 trade with Ravens
Joe Thuney, LG: 2021 signed as free agent
Creed Humphrey, C: 2022 draft (2nd round)
Trey Smith, RG: 2021 draft (6th round)
Andrew Wylie, RT: 2017 waiver claim
Travis Kelce, TE: 2013 draft (3rd round)
Noah Gray, TE: 2021 draft (5th round)
Comparing the two:Which Eagles’ Super Bowl team is best: win over Tom Brady, or this year vs Patrick Mahomes?
Eagles defense
Brandon Graham, DE: 2010 draft (1st round)
Fletcher Cox, DT: 2012 draft (1st round)
Javon Hargrave, DT: 2020 signed as free agent
Josh Sweat, DE: 2018 draft (4th round)
Haason Reddick, OLB: 2022 signed as free agent
T.J. Edwards, MLB: 2019 undrafted
Kyzir White, OLB: 2022 signed as free agent
James Bradberry, CB: 2022 signed as free agent
Marcus Epps, FS: 2019 waiver claim
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, SS: 2022 trade with Saints
Darius Slay, CB: 2020 trade with Lions
Chiefs defense
George Karlaftis, DE: 2022 draft (1st round)
Khalen Saunders, DT: 2019 draft (3rd round)
Chris Jones, DT: 2016 draft (2nd round)
Frank Clark, DE: 2019 trade with Seahawks
Willie Gay, OLB: 2020 draft (2nd round)
Nick Bolton, MLB: 2021 draft (2nd round)
Trent McDuffie, CB: 2022 draft (1st round)
Juan Thornhill, FS: 2019 draft (2nd round)
Justin Reid, SS: 2022 signed as free agent
L’Jarius Sneed, CB: 2020 draft (4th round)
Jaylen Watson, CB: 2022 draft (7th round)
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly
