"A lot has been made about Andy Reid as a drafter, including in topcat6's diary. However, what are the actual numbers as far as his hit or miss rate as compared to everyone else? (Scrapple)"

Well, here's 3.  Reid is as good or better than them in retaining talent.

Colts - 33 picks rounds 1-4 1999-2006, 12 still with team
Patriots - 36 picks, 17 still with team
Giants - 31 picks, 13 still with team

And this method of roster examination is of course the usual media distortion since it excludes the 5th round where Reid has been particularly successful at finding talent compared to other teams.  With rounds 1-5, its:

Eagles - 46 picks, 24 still with team
Colts - 43 picks, 16 still with team
Patriots - 42 picks, 19 still with team
Giants - 38 picks, 15 still with team

The simple facts of the matter are that Andy Reid's Eagles have been a net supplier of talent to the rest of the league, as Reid's Eagles have supplied more free agents to other teams than the Eagles have signed from other teams as Eagles.  Reid has also figured out how to successfully game the system to give the Eagles more draft picks over time than other teams have despite engaging in several trade-up moves that have used more picks than were netted.

Reid has drafted or signed as undrafted free agents more current NFL caliber players than the Eagles roster is able to contain when you also look to have a normal rookie class.  From 1999-2006, Reid drafted or signed as UFA's 49 players who were still in the league this year on a 53 man roster.  This count does not include players like Corey Simon and Todd Pinkston who retired early on account of injuries.

Other teams?  Patriots - 45.  Colts - 47.  Giants - 36.

"Colts - 33 picks rounds 1-4 1999-2006, 12 still with team Patriots - 36 picks, 17 still with team"

Did you know that the Colts and Pats have had more success ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD? This is the only thing that matters brothers. I don't really understand at all what you are saying. These guy's have better football teams then the Eagles. The Colts destoyed us last year and we are 0-3 vs the Pats and GMEN this year..

??So what does that stat mean??

Reid keeps more garbage around than the Colts and Pats. That's not a good thing. What Eagles free agent has been a huge success in another town? Stallworth, Simon, D.Burgess, Trotter, Staley, Mitchell, Walker, Simoneau, S Barber, Emmons???? Etc.. What does this all matter? We don't have a good enough football team right now.

I understand that when I guy gets success he gets wiggle room when losing seasons come by. I get it. It still doesn't mean that you look at stats only and not wins and loses. If you really think that the Eagles are better off right now then the Colts and Pats you are really wrong and no stat out ranks Wins...

I respect your opinion but I can't agree with you at all on this point.

"Perhaps their football teams have been better as a whole, but not all their players individually"

If you have been watching any basketball or know anything about athletics as a whole individual talent isn't a great marker for team success. The Spurs and Celtics and Blazers and Pistons are all great teams. They play together and that is the reason that they have success. You all remember when the Redskins filled up their roster with Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith,Mark Carrier, Dan Wilkinson, Dana Stubblefield and I think abuch more. They were really talented on paper but they never clicked.

This happens alot in football the Dolphins were really stacked and never won anything because they lack cohesiveness. The Pats are a great example they have tons of success without the top name players. (This year is a exception)They have a great balence of great coaching and a balenced roster. The Eagles have tried to shift from the 2000, 2001 D, Special teams and let Mcnabb make plays to trying to be more of a total team. Reid forgot that Special teams is important and he was wrong. So maybe we should try to fix that.

Carlos Emmons, Shawn Barber, was a huge part of our Defense even if only for a year. These years that we had and were successful.(in your eyes)This is what you use to validate Reid. Terrell Owens did some nice things here if you can remember. Javon Kearse had one good season. I mean this is a violent sport and players fade and that's a fact. If we are going to try to win a Superbowl in the next 50 years maybe we should chill out on the long long long term like Lurie, Reid, Banner are alway's talking about. I'm not condoning spending Dan Synder type money but It would be nice to spend the full Salary Cap one year. It's disrespectful in my eyes.

NFL caliber players on other teams rosters are ok if that's what you like. I like to balance the fact between football players specfic attributes and what the coach is actually doing.

Reid feels that the games are won and lost on the OL and DL right?? Well then he is a little backwards when it comes to passing more than any other coach in history. If you mix up the throws and the passes and then run a BS quick hitting run play you should have great Skill players and fill-in OL guy's. Or maybe I missing something. WR's are really easy to find and develop. Nope wrong agian what WR has Reid found??? Ohh Reggie Brown he isn't a top 25 Wr in the NFL. I digress.