Eagles Icon Jason Kelce Named Best NFL Draft Steal of the Millennium
Eagles Icon Jason Kelce Named Best NFL Draft Steal of the Millennium originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Philadelphia Eagles have built a reputation as one of the NFL's most consistent drafting powerhouses, with stars like Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean emerging in recent years. But according to NFL.com's Eric Edholm, one pick stands far above the rest—not just in Philadelphia, but across the entire league this century.
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That pick? Jason Kelce, the 191st overall selection in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
In his recent ranking of the top five offensive line draft steals of the millennium, Edholm placed Kelce at No. 1, calling him 'one of the most decorated blockers of his generation' and highlighting the extraordinary value the Eagles found in the undersized Cincinnati center. The ranking cements Kelce's legacy not just as an Eagles legend, but as one of the greatest late-round picks in league history.
'The Eagles took a chance on the undersized Kelce late in the 2011 draft, the team's eighth selection that year,' Edholm wrote. 'He was their third OL pick in 2011.' That class included first-round bust Danny Watkins and fifth-rounder Julian Vandervelde, both of whom flamed out quickly. Kelce, however, immediately seized a starting role and never looked back.
From the moment he stepped on the field as a rookie starter in 2011, Kelce embodied the grit, leadership and football intelligence that would define his career. Over 13 seasons, he earned seven Pro Bowl nods, six First-Team All-Pro selections, and a Super Bowl LII title. Known for his quickness, elite communication skills and unparalleled awareness, Kelce anchored one of the NFL's best offensive lines for more than a decade—transforming from afterthought to franchise cornerstone.
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'But Kelce planted a flag in the middle of the Philly offensive line as a 16-game rookie starter and held that role for 13 years,' Edholm noted. 'One of the most decorated blockers of his generation, Kelce used his IQ, quickness and technique to earn seven Pro Bowl nods and six First-Team All-Pro honors.'
Perhaps the defining moment of Kelce's career came during the Eagles' championship run in the 2017 season, where he helped lead Philadelphia to a Super Bowl LII victory over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Kelce's iconic mummers-suit speech at the championship parade remains one of the most unforgettable moments in franchise history—and a perfect embodiment of his underdog legacy.
"He would have been a candidate for this list as a second- or third-round pick," Edholm concluded, "but achieving all of this as a late sixth-rounder puts him on a different tier.'
Kelce officially announced his retirement in March 2024, capping a career that spanned three different head coaches, two eras of Eagles football, and countless offensive linemates. His emergence, especially in contrast to the failed high-round picks of that same draft class, is a testament to the vision of the Eagles' scouting department—and to the philosophy that value can be found in any round.
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As Philadelphia builds for the future with young talents like Cam Jurgens and Jordan Mailata anchoring the trenches, the standard set by Jason Kelce will serve as both blueprint and inspiration. Even in retirement, he continues to elevate the Eagles' legacy as one of the league's savviest drafting organizations.
Related: Adoree Jackson Embraces Old-School Coaching Style in Eagles Secondary
Related: Eagles' Jalen Carter Reveals Plan to Join NFL's Elite
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
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