The Eagles wrapped up their draft with 5 more selections on Sunday, going for depth at several positions. Here is a look at each player the Eagles selected:
Round 4, Pick 28 (123): Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia
The Eagles may have found their slot corner. Boykin is another great athlete, one who should compete right away for a starting spot in the Eagles secondary. A dynamic kick returner in college, Boykin could also immediately be the best return man on the Eagles roster. Boykin also played some receiver in college so he certainly is versatile. While he is small (5 foot 9) and has had a history of concussions, Boykin appears to be another great value pick.
Round 5, Pick 18 (153): Dennis Kelly, OT, Purdue
The Eagles finally grab a lineman and he looks like a project. Kelly, who was the offensive player of the year at Purdue in 2010, is huge (6 foot 8) and was a three year starter in college. Expect Howard Mudd to take this kid under his wing and develop him into a usable piece somewhere down the road.
Round 6, Pick 24 (194): Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa
McNutt has good size (6 foot 3) and hands and could be a decent depth receiver for the Eagles. With 170 career catches for 2861 yards, he put up some solid numbers at Iowa, even setting a school record for number of career receiving touchdowns with 28. With the Eagles seemingly interminable red zone issues, McNutt could develop into a nice target for Michael Vick near the goalline. There are some questions about his effort and blocking skills.
Round 6, Pick 30 (200): Brandon Washington, G, Miami
Washington played tackle at Miami but will likely move to Guard in the NFL. He spent three years at Miami and has the size (6 foot 3, 320 pounds) to be an NFL lineman. Best case scenario for him is probably a practice squad spot.
Round 7, Pick 22 (229): Bryce Brown, RB, Kansas St.
I expected the Eagles to take a backup running back with an earlier pick; instead, they waited until their final pick and took Brown, who transferred from Tennessee in 2010. He is a complete question mark, a guy with a ton of talent who never really did anything in college. He's a 7th round pick so I wouldn't expect much from him.
Go here and here for my analysis on the Eagles Day 1 and Day 2 picks.
On day 2, the Eagles continued their solid showing at the 2012 NFL Draft, focusing once again on upgrading the defense by taking the best available defenders in the second round. The Birds also selected their next project quarterback in the third round. Here is a look at the Eagles day 2 picks:
Round 2, Pick 14 (46): Mychal Kendricks, LB, Cal
The Eagles actually took a linebacker, something they don't often do in the draft, and it appears that they got themselves a good one. Kendricks, the Pac-12 defensive of the year last season at Cal, has tremendous speed and could slide into a starting outside linebacker role with the Eagles. While he is small (5 foot 11), he has a good motor and is a physical tackler. The Eagles took the best available defensive player that fit their system so its hard to find fault with this pick.
Round 2, Pick 27 (59): Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall
The Eagles don't really need more defensive linemen but they couldn't resist taking Curry and his ability to rush the quarterback. I'm not really sure where he fits into the Eagles stacked d-line rotation but they will make room for a guy who loves getting to the quarterback as much as Curry does. He is yet another high-motor guy who Eagles fans will love.
Round 3, Pick 25 (88): Nick Foles, QB, Arizona
Foles is a bit of a question mark as the Eagles don't really need yet another project quarterback. Does this selection mean that they have already soured on Mike Kafka? Foles has a good arm but very little mobility and shouldn't be counted on to ever be anything more than a backup quarterback. With the way Andy Reid can develop QB's, though, count on him eventually being traded for a second round pick.
The Eagles still have a few needs that need filling, including some secondary help and possibly a backup running back. Luckily, they still have the following 5 picks remaining:
The Eagles have struck at the NFL Draft, trading up from to take Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox with the 12th pick in the draft. Cox was considered the best defensive tackle in the draft by some and the Eagles made a great move to grab him, trading their 15th pick in the first round and a 4th and a 6th rounder to move up 3 spots to ensure they could take him.
Cox is an incredible athlete who is big, strong and fast and plays with a high motor. With his pass-rushing skills, he'll be ready to play right away and should make an instant impact. Cox could even be ready to step right into the Eagles starting defensive line that suddenly looks unstoppable with Trent Cole, Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin. Add in Darryl Tapp and Mike Patterson and the Eagles are loaded with pass rushers that should create havoc for the opposing offensive lines.
The Eagles get an A for their first pick. Most experts didn't expect Cox to be their with the 15th pick in the draft so the Eagles made the necessary and fairly painless move to trade up and grab him. With plenty of picks left in the draft, the Eagles should have plenty of time to address their needs in the secondary and grab a linebacker and possibly a quarterback.
Grading an NFL draft before any of the players take a snap in the NFL is pretty pointless; no one can really know how good these players are going to be in May. That said, it's still interesting to at least get a gauge on how the experts think the Eagles did in their draft. While the Birds didn't make any flashy picks like they have in years past, they certainly had a solid draft and addressed some of their needs. Here is just a sampling of what some experts are saying about the Eagles draft:
Mel Kiper, ESPN: C+ This feels like last year. I look at the Philly board and think, "Well, they got a lot of guys." The Eagles targeted what I considered their three biggest needs with their first three picks. The selection of Watkins surprised some people, as he may have been available even into the early second round, but they may believe he has the capability to stay at tackle. I think he's a guard. Elsewhere, Jarrett provides depth at safety, and Marsh will be asked to step in early at corner. David Akers can't feel too confident about his future in Philly, as Henery was the first kicker off the board. The looming question now is what picks or players will come back if and when the Eagles decide to deal Kevin Kolb.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: B I like the pick of Danny Watkins in the first round. He is a nasty player who will fit in on their offensive line, which needs help. Fourth-round pick Casey Matthews, Clay's little brother, will help at a position of need. Should be a good special-teams player, as well. The Eagles always seem to do a good job in the draft. This year was no different. The key might be second-round safety Jaiquawn Jarrett. Adam Caplan, Fox Sports: B- The Eagles were able to secure at least three future starters with their first three selections. However, selecting a kicker in the fourth round is a bit questionable.
Clifton Brown, Sporting News: C- Danny Watkins will help the offensive line, but they could have used a pass rusher, and some of their defensive picks may have been reaches.
For my full run-down of the Eagles draft, click here. I give the Eagles a B-. They addressed their needs on the offensive line and in the secondary but they didn't even draft a defensive lineman. They must be waiting until free agency to fill that hole.
How do you grade the Eagles draft? Vote in the poll on the left!
The 2011 NFL Draft is now in the books and the Eagles came away with a bunch of intriguing prospects. It was a somewhat curious draft for the Birds, who didn't target some of their biggest needs in the first two rounds, leading many to speculate that they might be counting on free agency to shore up their defensive line and cornerback situations. Andy Reid is never one to make all of the expected moves in the draft and this year was no exception as he grabbed several players a round or two ahead of when most draft pundits had them projected. Clearly, the Eagles trust their judgement and don't take stock in what everyone else thinks about who they target in the draft. Here's a look at every player the Eagles selected in the 2011 draft:
Round 1, pick 23 (23):Danny Watkins, OL, Baylor If you watched the Eagles at all last year, you know how much the offensive line struggled to block for Michael Vick. Drafting Watkins should help to shore up at least one spot along the line as he figures to step into the starting right guard spot. While much has been made about his age (26), Watkins doesn't have a lot of miles on his body and should be able to play well into his 30's. Nearly every expert raves about his toughness and his work ethic, so, with the help of Howard Mudd, he should make a smooth transition to the NFL.
Round 2, pick 22 (54):Jaiquawn Jarrett, S, Temple The Eagles go local with their second pick, snapping up Jarrett from nearby Temple. Jarrett was a four year starter at Temple and is known as a big hitter. That the Eagles used a second round pick on a safety for the second year in a row tells you they either are planning to get rid of Quintin Mikell or they aren't sure if Nate Allen will be healthy at the start of the season. Andy Reid has made it pretty clear that Jarrett will be a safety in the NFL, a smart move given his questionable cover skills.
Round 3, pick 26 (90):Curtis Marsh, CB, Utah St. The Eagles finally addressed possibly their biggest need in the third round, picking up Marsh after trading down and picking up an extra 6th round pick. There are some questions surrounding Marsh, who played running back at the start of his college career and only recently transitioned to corner. He probably isn't the answer as the starting CB opposite of Asante Samuel but he could slide into a nickel role with an impressive training camp. Given that they waited this long to take a corner, the Eagles must have someone targeted in free agency (Nnamdi Asomugha?).
Round 4, pick 19 (116):Casey Matthews, LB, Oregon After moving down and picking up a 4th rounder next year, the Eagles addressed another need and picked up a linebacker. Matthews has a great pedigree, as his dad played 19 years at linebacker in the NFL and his brother is a star linebacker for the Super Bowl champion Packers. He has all of the characteristics of everyone in his family as he is hard-working, tough and plays the game the way it should be played. While he won't be as good as his brother Clay, Casey could have a solid NFL career as more of a role player and special teams contributor. If he plays with the same intensity and instincts of the rest of his bloodline, he will be a great pick.
Round 4, pick 23 (120):Alex Henery, K, Nebraska Thanks for all the great years, David Akers. I'm not even going to pretend like I know how to evaluate kickers, but Henery's selection surely means that Akers, who refused to sign a transition tag, won't be coming back to the Eagles. You don't take the first kicker of the draft if you don't plan on having him be the guy. As much as we all like Akers for everything he has done, he is getting up there in years and he hasn't been very good on kickoffs. Henery was the best kicker in the draft and has a strong leg, so he should be a solid replacement.
Round 5, pick 18 (149):Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh If you had success with one running back from Pitt, why not take another? Lewis, who succeeded LeSean McCoy at Pitt, is a small (5 foot 7, 193 pounds) back with a lot of shiftiness. He's a little like McCoy in terms of his elusiveness but he doesn't have much in the way of power or hands and he doesn't figure to be someone who can carry a heavy load. With the Eagles set at running back with McCoy and (hopefully) Jerome Harrison, Lewis could slot into the 3rd running back role and finally push Eldra Buckley out of the picture.
Round 5, pick 30 (161):Julian Vandervelde, OL, Iowa After moving down a few spots and turning a 7th round pick into a 6th round pick, the Eagles picked up their second offensive lineman of the draft in Vandervelde. At 6 foot 2, 301 pounds, he's a big dude and figures to compete for a backup spot along the offensive line. It's not clear exactly what position he will play in the NFL but count on him somewhere in the interior of the line. Physicality is his specialty so he could develop into a starter down the road.
Round 6, pick 26 (191):Jason Kelce, G/C, Cincinnati The Eagles went with their second offensive lineman in a row, picking up another interior lineman in Kelce. He's listed as a center but could also compete at guard. Best case scenario for Kelce is probably earning a backup spot but he's probably a candidate to spend a year on the practice squad.
Round 6, pick 28 (193):Brian Rolle, LB, Ohio State After swapping this pick with the Patriots for pick 194 for no reason, the Eagles selected their second linebacker of the draft in Rolle. Rolle was productive at Ohio State and was a first team All-Big Ten selection last year. At 5 foot 10, 229 pounds he's pretty small for a linebacker and there is even some speculation on his NFL.com profile that he could move to safety in the NFL. He is the cousin of Giants defensive back Antrel Rolle.
Round 7, pick 34 (237):Greg Lloyd, LB, Connecticut Grabbing another linebacker, the Eagles go with Lloyd, who is the son of former Steeler linebacker Greg Lloyd, though they've had a checkered relationship. Lloyd has some issues with injuries but he is physical and projects to be a middle linebacker in the NFL. Some experts thought he was a mid-round pick so the Eagles might have themselves a nice value pick here.
Round 7, pick 38 (240):Stanley Havili, FB, USC The Eagles wrap things up with a fullback. With Leonard Weaver's future looking dicey, Havili could get a chance to compete for the starting fullback spot. He is a good pass-catching threat out of the backfield, something the Eagles obviously value. Isn't known as much of a blocker or a runner so he's going to have his work cut out for him if he wants to make the team.
That's all 11 players the Eagles took in the 2011 draft. Be sure to add your comments on the Eagles draft below and grade their draft in the poll to the left!
While many hoped the Eagles would target a cornerback with their first pick, Andy Reid just couldn't resist taking an offensive lineman. So, with the Birds 23rd pick in the first round, they took Baylor OL Danny Watkins. Given all of the issues the Eagles had along the offensive line, it's hard to blame Reid for pulling the trigger on someone who can potentially stabilize the line in front of Michael Vick.
What is most interesting about Watkins is the story of how get got to the NFL, given that he didn't start playing football until a few years ago. Growing up in Canada, Watkins was a firefighter after high school and didn't start playing football until he went to community college. He dominated immediately, then moved on to Baylor and excelled for two seasons there. At 26, while he is old for a NFL rookie, Watkins hasn't played a ton of football so he doesn't have much wear and tear on his body.
Talent-wise, Watkins looks like a great fit for the Eagles. At Baylor, Watkins played tackle, but he likely will have to move over to guard given his size (6 foot 3, 210 pounds). He is good in the running game, though the Eagles never run the ball anyway, and is willing to work his tail off to get better. The biggest knock against Watkins is his age; you do have to wonder how much upside he can possibly have if he will be 30 before his rookie contract is up.
While I would have preferred the Eagles draft a corner to help out Asante Samuel in the secondary, it's hard to find much fault in going with help along the offensive line. Given all of the issues the Eagles had last year trying to block for Vick, the team had to address their protection issues. Don't forget the Eagles also added one of the best offensive line coaches around in Howard Mudd, so Watkins should get plenty of help in his transition to the NFL.
A solid start for the Eagles on day one. With plenty of picks left to go, the Eagles will have several more opportunities to address their secondary needs plus pick up a few more linemen along the way.
While grading an NFL Draft two days after it is over is a useless exercise, it's still nice to know that most experts feel the Eagles did a solid job in the 2010 draft. Sure, they didn't get a ton of top-end talent but they did come away with a bunch of nice players that fit their system. Although we won't be able to really gauge this draft for another three years, knowing that the Eagles got a lot of valuable players is always a positive. Here is just a sampling of what some experts are saying about the Eagles draft:
Mel Kiper, ESPN: B+ The Eagles were positioned well to take advantage of a deep draft, and they did, piling up seven productive picks between the third and fifth rounds. But Philly started well too. In Brandon Graham they have a potential Rookie of the Year on defense. They filled a need at safety with Nate Allen, and I like Trevard Lindley in the fourth. He has second-round ability. Ricky Sapp may be a tweener, but getting a guy who can get to the quarterback like he can in the fifth round is good value. He could be a solid situational pass-rusher early in his career. Riley Cooper is quicker than many people think to go with above-average size.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: A+ You look up and down their draft board and it's full of really good players. They had a lot of picks and the Eagles really did a nice job with them. That shouldn't be surprising.
Rob Rang, CBS Sports: B An indication of just how active the Philadelphia Eagles were on draft day is that of the 13 picks they made, only the 121st overall, outside linebacker Keenan Clayton, was an original Eagles selection. A year after spending great resources on improving the playmaking ability of their offense, the Eagles spent their first two days of the draft re-stocking their defense. First, they aggressively traded up to land defensive end Brandon Graham with the 13th overall pick and added another try-hard pass rusher in Daniel Te'o-Nesheim in the third. The team landed one of the draft's better cover safeties in Nate Allen in between. While the 6-2, 270-pound Graham is a proven pass rusher who led the country in tackles for loss and won the Senior Bowl Defensive MVP honors, his selection was a surprise for the Eagles, considering the team had previously traded for another undersized pass rusher in former Seattle Seahawk Daryl Tapp. The Eagles had 10 picks on Saturday, most prominently addressing the need for depth at quarterback (Mike Kafka), linebacker (Ricky Sapp, Jamar Chaney). For a team that some believe is as deep as any in the league, however, wouldn't packaging some of those lower round picks for top-tier talent have been a better use of them?
John Czarnecki, Fox Sports: B- The Eagles gave up a lot to move up in the first round to take Michigan pass rusher Brandon Graham, who was a dominant performer in the Big Ten. Andy Reid is hoping that second-round pick Nate Allen of South Florida can shore up the safety position, but he’s not an intimidator like Brian Dawkins was for this franchise. Allen is also going to be remembered as the Donovan McNabb selection, too. A lot of pressure on this kid to produce. For all their ammunition prior to the draft, the Eagles kind of struck out. With the 122nd pick, the Eagles surprised many by taking Northwestern QB Mike Kafka over Tony Pike and Dan LeFevour. Obviously, Kafka is smart but his arm seemed limited. The Eagles did a lot better in the later rounds on value, getting Clemson OLB Ricky Sapp, who had second-round grades, Florida receiver Riley Cooper who should be a big target in the red zone and H-back Clay Harbor of Missouri State. Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman was a playmaker and has a shot to make the team from the seventh round.
Clifton Brown, Sporting News: B+ They had to improve their defense and went all out to do it. They traded up to get pass rusher Brandon Graham, and safety Nate Allen could start right away. They also might have gotten a late-round steal in wide receiver Riley Cooper. Overall, a nice job.
For my full run-down of the Eagles draft, click here. I give the Eagles a B+. They had a few steals and a few reaches but had a plan to upgrade the defense and they appear to have succeeded.
How do you grade the Eagles draft? Vote in the poll on the left!
Just because the draft is over doesn't mean the Eagles are done bringing in rookies. As soon as the draft ends, teams hit the phones to try to sign players that went undrafted. Occasionally, teams find a diamond in the rough but most often these players are the first cuts in training camp. Probably the best case scenario for any undrafted free agent is to hang around on the practice squad for a year. Here are the undrafted rookies the Eagles have signed so far:
Charles Alexander, DT, Louisana State
Blue Cooper, WR, Tennessee-Chattanooga
Zipp Duncan, OT, Kentucky
Joey Elliott, QB, Purdue
Keith Flemming, RB, West Texas A&M
Kevin Jurovich, WR, San Jose State
Jeraill McCuller, OT, North Carolina State
Josh Morris, CB, Weber State
David Pender, CB, Purdue
Pat Simonds, WR, Colgate
Chris Zardas, FB, UMASS
None of these names jump out to me as being great pickups, although Charles Alexander and Kevin Jurovich were two players that were expected to be drafted. With these signings, the Eagles finally did add an offensive lineman in the offseason, although I doubt they expect McCuller or Duncan to be anything more than depth in training camp.
The Eagles came to the draft table this year with a clear focus: get as many defensive players as possible. While last year was all about offensive weapons for the Eagles, this year is all about loading up with a ton of defensive guys at every position for a loaded competition in training camp. In all, the Eagles made 13 picks, 9 of them defensive players. By the end, they had addressed every position on the field with the exception of the offensive line, a shocking revelation given Andy Reid's penchant for drafting them early and often. Here's a look at every player the Eagles selected at the 2010 draft:
Round 1, pick 13 (13):Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan The Eagles first move in the draft was to trade up and get a top pass-rusher in Graham. While many thought the Eagles would be making a grab at a safety, clearly the Eagles felt they weren't getting enough pressure on the quarterback last season. Graham is a high motor player who specializes in making tackles behind the line of scrimmage so he should fit right in opposite of Trent Cole. The biggest knock on Graham is that he's a bit undersized but the Eagles think that's a plus because they can move him to linebacker on certain plays. While this pick wasn't what we all expected, it could turn out to be a perfect fit for the Eagles.
Round 2, pick 5 (37):Nate Allen, S, South Florida With the "Donovan McNabb pick", the Eagles got their secondary help. Many experts have been commenting that the drop-off from Earl Thomas, the safety the Eagles could have had in the first round, down to Allen, is minimal. While Allen isn't a big hitter in the Brian Dawkins mold, he will still be a great fit for the Eagles at free safety given his playmaking skills and his strength in coverage. Sick of tight ends burning the Eagles every game? Allen could be the answer to that ongoing problem. In fact, Allen is so good at coverage that the Eagles could play him at cornerback as well.
Round 3, pick 22 (86):Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, DE, Washington This is a name we're all going to need some time to learn how to say. After trading down three separate times, the Eagles finally took Te'o-Nesheim late in the 3rd round. Te'o-Nesheim is another one of those tweener guys in the NFL; he's not quite big enough to be along the defensive line and he's not quite athletic enough to be a linebacker. The Eagles love his motor and will use him along the d-line as they hope to have added another lineman to the rotation.
Round 4, pick 7 (105):Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky On Day 3 of the draft, the Eagles finally get a cornerback. Lindley is one of those classic draft picks that has a ton of talent but fell due to injuries. In fact, Lindley was one of the best corners in college before his relatively unproductive senior year dropped his draft stock. If this guy plays up to his talent, he could be quite a steal for the Eagles.
Round 4, pick 23 (121):Keenan Clayton, LB, Oklahoma The Eagles kicked off their flurry of late 4th/early 5th round picks with a bit of a reach in Clayton. Many experts thought Clayton, an undersized linebacker, could be had a few rounds later but clearly there is something in him the Eagles liked. While Clayton will be in the mix for a linebacker spot, I would expect him to contribute mostly on special teams for a few years. Given his speed and athleticism, there could be some thought of moving him to strong safety.
Round 4, pick 24 (122):Mike Kafka, QB, Northwestern Finally, 6 picks into their draft, the Eagles take an offensive player in Kafka. A developmental quarterback, Kafka will be the third stringer for the next few years as he learns the Eagles system. Given that he is coming from a spread offense that threw the ball all over the field, Kafka figures to be a great fit for the Eagles West Coast Offense. Of course, as with any spread quarterback, Kafka is going to need some time learning how to take the ball from center and reading defenses. As the video shows below, though, Kafka was the MVP of the East-West Shrine Game and has some real potential.
Round 4, pick 27 (125):Clay Harbor, TE/FB, Missouri State In Harbor, the Eagles grabbed their first offensive weapon of the draft. It's difficult to get a read on what the Eagles plan to do with Harbor, who was formerly a wide receiver but shifted to tight end in college, as most scouts think of him as an H-back. The Eagles likely will line him up all over the field, utilizing him out of the backfield as well as a secondary pass catching threat to Brent Celek at tight end. I haven't seen much talk about how well he blocks, though; if he wants serious playing time, he's going to have to protect Kevin Kolb.
Round 5, pick 3 (134):Ricky Sapp, DE, Clemson It's like a broken record for the Eagles: another under-sized defenesive end. Sapp was another projected early round talent that fell due to injury concerns after he rebounded slowly from an ACL injury back in 2008. While this guy was really productive at DE in college, he could very likely be moving to linebacker as there is no way the Eagles are drafting all of these linemen for the rotation. Sapp has some big-time potential, though, so he could turn out to be quite a steal.
Round 5, pick 28 (159):Riley Cooper, WR, Florida Cooper will bring something rare to the Eagles receiving corps: size. Playing with Tim Tebow at Florida, Cooper was a solid possession receiver who made the tough catches. He could stick with the Eagles and be a threat in the redzone, something the team is always looking for. Strangely enough, Cooper was also a star baseball player and was once drafted by the Phillies. He has since quit baseball to focus on football.
Round 6, pick 31 (200):Charles Scott, RB, LSU Could this be the big back Eagles fans have been clamoring for? Scott, a powerful, straight-ahead runner, appears to be the perfect compliment to LeSean McCoy. While Scott isn't quick, he makes up for it with his size and ability to break tackles. He is coming off a broken collarbone, which likely dropped his draft stock. Look for Scott to compete with Mike Bell for the backup position and push Eldra Buckley off the roster. Suddenly, with Leonard Weaver, Bell and Scott, the Eagles backfield has quite a few backs that can get the tough 3rd and 4th down yards.
Round 7, pick 13 (220):Jamar Chaney, LB, Miss. St. It always makes me a little wary when every single pundit calls a pick a steal but the drafting of Chaney in the 7th round appears to be just that. Ranked as the third best inside linebacker in the draft, the Eagles traded a 6th round pick next year to scoop him up. Why he fell so far in the draft when many thought he would go in the third or fourth round is a mystery. Chaney does have some injury history but he appears to be an athletic linebacker who is solid against the run. With the Eagles not exactly settled at the linebacker position next year, Chaney has a legitimate shot of not only making the team but also making an impact.
Round 7, pick 36 (243):Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia The Eagles pick their first defensive tackle very late in the draft. Owens is big and strong but has to be considered a longshot to make the roster. He's another guy coming off some serious injury issues that kept him out most of 2008.
Round 7, pick 37 (244):Kurt Coleman, S, Ohio State Why not wrap up the draft with another defensive player? I suppose Coleman could work his way into a spot in the secondary but he isn't exactly fast and he can't really cover that well, two things that are kind of important in the NFL. If he makes the team, Coleman, a solid tackler, would likely be a special teams guy.
Whew, talk about a haul of players, that's everyone the Eagles took in the 2010 Draft. Be sure to add your comments on the Eagles draft below and grade their draft in the poll to the left!
The experts have weighed in, and the consensus is that the Eagles fared well in the 2009 draft. In fact, according to a consensus of experts put together by ESPN.com, the Eagles had the best draft of any team. While we really can't tell anything about a draft until 3 or 4 years down the road, it's nice to know the initial results are positive. Here is just a sampling of what some experts are saying about the Eagles draft:
Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com: A+ If you count adding left tackle Jason Peters and corner Ellis Hobbs, they had an amazing week.
Mel Kiper, ESPN: B- Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was a good pick, but he needs to work on his route running to be a consistent threat in the NFL. Running back LeSean McCoy was a good selection in the second round and so was tight end Cornelius Ingram in the fifth round. The fifth round was a good round for the Eagles, who also picked up cornerback Victor Harris and offensive tackle Fenuki Tupou.
John Czarnecki, Fox Sports: A When rating this draft, start by remembering the Eagles used a first-round pick for Buffalo offensive tackle Jason Peters, who has Pro Bowl talent. Peters will team with ex-Bengal Stacy Andrews to give Donovan McNabb two new protectors on the outside. Then, the Eagles lucked into Missouri receiver Jeremy Maclin, who was rated No. 1 at his position on 18 teams' draft boards. Then in the second round, Pitt running back LeSean McCoy was another steal with 53rd overall pick. McCoy will give Brian Westbrook a breather this season. Virginia Tech cornerback Victor Harris has only 4.6 speed, but he should be a core special-teams player. Harris did have 15 interceptions. You have to like the trade with New England in order to land cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who gives the Eagles some added depth in case they ever deal unhappy starter Sheldon Brown. Florida TE Cornelius Ingram could be a steal if his knee is OK.
Clifton Brown, Sporting News: A Their offense has become more dangerous. Jeremy Maclin is a threat as a receiver and a returner. Running back LeSean McCoy can make people miss and can catch the football. Tight end Cornelius Ingram fits their system as a receiver. And they traded Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters before the draft.
Charles Robinson, Yahoo Sports: B- Maclin should be another instant impact guy, like DeSean Jackson was last season. McCoy doesn’t have elite speed, but he can make defenders miss and could develop into an NFL starter. Ingram will be a liability in run-blocking. After Maclin and McCoy, there may not be many future starters.
For my full run-down of the Eagles draft, click here. I give the Eagles an A, by the way, simply because they got a ton of value with every pick and when you count the acquisitions of Jason Peters and Ellis Hobbs in with the draft, I don't think you could ask for anything more.
How do you grade the Eagles draft? Vote in the poll on the left!
Just because the draft is over doesn't mean the Eagles are done bringing in rookies! As soon as the draft ends, teams hit the phones to try to sign players that went undrafted. Occasionally, teams find a diamond in the rough, most often these players are the first cuts in training camp. Here are the undrafted rookies the Eagles have signed so far:
Josh Gaines, DE, Penn State --Defensive co-captain at Penn State had 8.5 sacks in college
Reshard Langford, S, Vanderbilt --4 year starter, racked up 247 tackles and 8 picks
Marcus Mailei, FB, Weber State --Competition for Leonard Weaver, good receiver out of the backfield
Walter Mendenhall, RB, Illinois State --Younger brother of Steeler Rashard Mendenhall, will be lucky to stick as practice squad player
Dallas Reynolds, OG, BYU --I wonder why the Eagles signed someone from BYU? Has played all 5 positions on the offensive line
Brandon Robinson, WR, Boston College --Gained over 2000 yards at BC
Courtney Robinson, CB, UMass --May have potential as a darkhorse candidate for returning kicks since he is the UMass all-time leader in kickoff return yards
Sam Swank, K, Wake Forest --David Akers always needs to have some competition to keep him working hard
Marcus Thigpen, RB, Indiana --Another player with kick return potential, is third in Indiana history with 4,658 all-purpose yards
None of these players jump out at as college studs, although if you watched Penn State at all this year you remember Gaines. Including the draft, the Eagles got a nice mix of multiple players at nearly every position, except for on the defensive line, where they only added Gaines. Clearly the Birds feel set there since they also didn't draft any D-linemen, a rarity for them.
The Eagles came in with a plan for the 2009 NFL Draft: upgrade the skill position players and give Donovan McNabb some more weapons. Since they couldn't get Anquan Boldin in a trade, the Eagles did the next best thing and got one of the top wideouts in the draft. Since they couldn't get Tony Gonzalez in a trade, they went and got a steal in the 5th round when they drafted a tight end with second round talent. The Eagles also shrewdly got a running back in the second round who many thought had first round talent. Where the Eagles didn't like the talent, they traded down. And, of course, the acquisitions of Jason Peters and Ellis Hobbs have to be included with the draft since they were traded for in exchange for draft picks. In all, that makes for a solid draft for the Eagles. Here is a complete rundown of each player selected by the Eagles in the 2009 draft:
Round 1, pick 19 (19): Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri The Eagles traded up to get Maclin, so you know Andy Reid just had to have him. He reminds me a lot of DeSean Jackson, and that's a good thing. Maclin is small but is incredibly fast and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, hence his 32 touchdowns in 28 college games. While he isn't the big receiver many Eagles fans hoped for, you don't really need that kind of receiver in a West Coast offense, anyway. Maclin also figures to be used on kick and punt returns which is where I would expect him to excel this coming year.
Round 2, pick 21 (53): LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh Sports Illustrated projected the Eagles would take McCoy with their first round pick, so you can imagine the value the Eagles got when he fell to them in the second round. McCoy has tremendous quickness and great hands, just like Brian Westbrook, which means he is a perfect fit for the offense. McCoy will be everything that Lorenzo Booker wasn't last year, he will be the perfect guy to spell Westbrook. He isn't a change of pace back but should Westbrook go down for a few games, it will be nice to know the Eagles running attack won't be stuck in neutral.
Round 5, pick 17 (153): Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida Many experts are calling this pick one of the steals of the draft. Ingram missed the entire 2008 season with Florida recovering from an ACL injury, but he is considered a tremendous athlete who has second round talent if he is healthy. Had he stayed healthy, his mix of size and speed could have made him the top tight end selected in the draft. The Eagles hope Ingram can get healthy enough to be their primary pass-catching tight end in the coming years.
Round 5, pick 21 (157): Victor Harris, CB, Virginia Tech "Macho" Harris is another value pick for the Eagles, a second/third round talent who is dealing with an injury to his foot. While he may be a step or two slow to be a solid cover corner in the NFL, the Eagles could ultimately give him a shot at a safety spot. With all of the top corners (Samuel, Brown, Hanson, Hobbs) already on the roster, Harris may be forced over to safety to get playing time, anyway.
Round 5, pick 23 (159): Fenuki Tupou, OT, Oregon With their third pick in the 5th round, the Eagles went with more of a project player. At 314 pounds, Tupou is certainly big enough to be an NFL tackle but he has a ways to go in terms of learning how to block the kind of size and speed he will see in the league. Tupou is more of a gamble than the first four players the Eagles took, but with the third 5th round pick it doesn't hurt to take a risk.
Round 6, pick 21 (194): Brandon Gibson, WR, Washington State Gibson could be a real steal this late in the draft. After a stellar 2007 season at Washington State where he racked up 1,180 yards receiving and 9 touchdowns, Gibson struggled through his senior year and his draft stock fell. Gibson can't entirely be to blame since Washington State as a whole really struggled in 2008, but he will need to prove that his last college season was not his true talent level. Gibson is probably a longshot to make the team unless the Eagles keep 6 or 7 recievers so a year on the practice squad is probably in order.
Round 7, pick 4 (213): Paul Fanaika, OG, Arizona State Andy Reid must have really liked the Pac 10 this year because this is the third straight player taken from the conference. Fanaika is a big boy, at 6 foot 5 and 327 pounds, but he is likely just practice squad fodder. Most scouts think he doesn't really have a position along the offensive line which doesn't bode well for a future in the NFL.
Round 7, pick 21 (230): Moise Fokou, LB, Maryland The Eagles went very light on defense this year, Fokou is just the second non-offensive player. Fokou figures to have a chance to make the team if he can learn to play special teams. There might also be some openings at linebacker on the Birds so Fokou has a decent chance to be a backup.
So those are the Eagles selections for the 2009 Draft. Add your comments on the Eagles draft below, and be sure to grade their draft in the poll to the left!
The Eagles have certainly made offense a priority. After taking wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in the first round, the Birds took another speedy skill position player for the offense: running back LeSean McCoy from Pittsburgh. McCoy is a shifty back with great hands who can make big plays out of the backfield. Seems like the perfect backup for Brian Westbrook, and the Eagles running back of the future.
Many experts thought McCoy had first round talent, so the Eagles got a steal with the 53rd pick in the draft. In fact, Sports Illustrated thought the Eagles would take McCoy in the first round, so you can imagine how happy the Birds were when McCoy fell in their laps in the second round.
The Eagles will now likely address their defense on day two of the draft because the offense is set. Including the free agent signings, the trade for Jason Peters and these draft picks, the Eagles are loaded on offense. Somewhere, Donovan McNabb has to be smiling.
The Eagles are always good for a surprise on draft day, and they didn't disappoint this year. First, the Birds traded up from pick number 21 to pick 19, giving up their pick at 21 and a 6th rounder. With pick 19, they then selected wide receiver Jeremy Maclin from Missouri. Maclin is another speedy receiver, like DeSean Jackson, who can spread the field and beat people deep. He was a clutch reciever who caight a number of third down passes and also caught 32 touchdown passes in 28 college games. Maclin also was a stellar kick returner at Missouri so I wouldn't be surprised if the Eagles use him there.
The drafting of Maclin also likely means the Eagles are not going to acquire Anquan Boldin, unless they move one of the receivers already on their roster to get him. The selection of Maclin is a bit curious because the Eagles really don't have a need for another receiver like him, but the team doesn't really have any glaring needs that absolutely must be addressed in the draft. The Eagles don't really have any holes anyway, although many would have preferred if they picked up a possesion recevier rather than another speedster.
Let's see if the Eagles have any other moves up their sleeves. There is still plenty of time to go get and get a backup for Brian Westbrook.
The wait is finally over! What will the Eagles do with their remaining first round pick? Do they go running back or stick to their usual formula of taking a lineman? Will they finally pull off a trade for Anquan Boldin? I will be following the draft all day, hit refresh for the latest updates!
9:50 pm -Denver takes Richard Quinn with the last pick of the second round. So ends my draft coverage! Look for a wrap-up article coming soon.
9:10 pm -Eagles make quite a steal by drafting McCoy. He's got first round talent.
8:17 pm -LeSean McCoy, running back from Pitt, is still out there. Hopefully he falls to the Eagles at pick number 53. Sports Illustrated thought the Eagles would pick him in the first round.
7:40 pm -The Cardinals pick up a steal with Chris Wells late in the first round. Wells had top 5 potential, nice work by Arizona to pick him up. Crabtree to the Niners still might be the best value pick but it's close.
6:50 pm -No word on any Boldin trades. I think Rosenhaus was just trying to stir things up. The Eagles are out of the picture now, anyway, unless they picked Maclin to move him to Arizona.
6:13 pm -Now we have Eagles news! Birds trade up and pick Jeremy Maclin, a wide receiver. Interesting choice, probably means we can forget about Anquan Boldin.
5:29 pm -The player everyone thought the Eagles would take is gone: the Broncos take running back Knowshon Moreno. Should the Birds still go with a running back?
5:20 pm -Nothing doing on the Eagles front right now. It's probably another hour and a half until they make their first pick. Hope everyone is watching the Flyers, they need a goal to stay alive.
5:00 pm -The first Eagles draft news of the day. Agent Drew Rosenhaus expects his client, Anquan Boldin, to be traded by the end of the first round. Step up, Birds!
4:57 pm -Um, Raiders, didn't you realize Michael Crabtree was still on the board? Al Davis is such a joke.
4:55 pm -Sorry for the long delay, I was busy watching the Flyers get dominated by the Penguins. The Jets made a solid move in trading up to draft Mark Sanchez. With Favre retired, they needed a QB of the future. While I'm not sold that Sanchez is all that good, the Jets need someone to take the reigns.
4:04 pm -The Lions do what we all know and take Matthew Stafford from Georgia. They hope he can save their moribund franchise. Good luck, Matty!
3:25 pm -Added a poll to the left. What position should the Eagles draft with their first pick? I think it's finally time to get a good backup running back who can spell Brian Westbrook.
3:15 pm -There was word earlier today that the Eagles were asking the Broncos about the availability of tight end Tony Scheffler. The Broncos have had Scheffler on the block for a while now but they have been asking for a first round pick, which is ridiculous. If he can be had for a 3rd round pick, the Eagles should jump. It's pretty clear the Birds are looking at all options at tight end.
The draft might be over, but the Eagles are continuing to add rookies to their roster through free agency. These are players that went undrafted that the Eagles are inviting to training camp, few of them have much of a chance of making the team, some will end up on the practice squad:
Kyle Arrington, CB, Hofstra --Smallish corner, 2 interceptions in college career.
Jed Collins, FB, Washington State --Good hands out of the backfield (80 catches in college), could be competition for Jason David and Dan Klecko for the starting fullback spot.
Franklin Dunbar, OT, Middle Tennessee State --6 foot 4, 327 pounds, was a three-year starter.
Terrell Golden, WR, Penn State --Fast receiver with decent hands, put up mediocre numbers at PSU.
Frantz Hardy, WR, Nebraska --Had a few big games in college, but failed to produce consistently
Shaheer McBride, WR, Delaware State --Four year starter at small school holds Delaware State records for receptions and yards.
Justin Roland, LB, Kansas State --Decently sized LB recorded 70 tackles last year.
None of those names are instantly recognizable nor are they college stars but it looks like the Eagles are looking to possibly add some depth to their receiving corps with these signings. Of course, many of them will be amongst the first cuts at training camp this summer.
Grading a draft the day after it happens is always a silly exercise. You never know what "sure thing" will turn into a bust, or what late round selection turns into the next Tom Brady. Usually you need to wait at least three years to really get a good gauge of how a team did. Regardless, here are a smattering of experts and their thoughts on the Eagles draft:
Mel Kiper, ESPN: C+ Trevor Laws had a very good 2007, and was arguably Notre Dame's best player. I like where the Eagles got DeSean Jackson because he's an exciting player (when healthy) who will help out in the return game. Bryan Smith is a combination DE/OLB, and Michael McGlynn had a nice season at right tackle opposite Jeff Otah. Cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu is a pick for the future; after declaring for the draft, he suffered a knee injury in January and isn't expected to play in 2008. Andrew Studebaker out of Wheaton has the potential to be a situational pass-rusher.
John Czarnecki, Fox Sports: C- For the second straight year, the Eagles traded out of the first round. This time they picked up Carolina's first-round pick in 2009, one that the Panthers used on Pitt OT Jeff Otah. Notre Dame DT Trevor Laws is strong inside, but he can be blocked when he doesn't stay low. Coach Andy Reid went for Cal playmaker DeSean Jackson with his second pick, and he should be an excellent punt returner. Jackson has game-breaking speed, but will have trouble getting off the line against NFL cornerbacks. Pitt guard Mike McGlynn brings a roughhouse attitude, while Wisconsin CB Jack Ikegwuonu tore his ACL in January and may not be ready for training camp.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: B Best pick: Second-round pick DeSean Jackson will become a big-play return man immediately. He could also be a factor in the passing game as a rookie.
Questionable move: Trading out of the first round and not picking until No. 47 in the second round. But they did add Carolina's first-round pick in the 2009 draft to do so.
Second-day gem: Safety Quintin Demps has great speed and coverage skills. Some teams had him ranked third at the safety spot, so he's a bargain in the fourth round.
Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports: C+ The 10 picks touched on all the major needs, but the class doesn’t have the “wow” factor. It’s a little reminiscent of the 2004 draft that went 10 deep but didn’t produce much. However, Philadelphia’s fleecing of Carolina for the 19th pick will produce future dividends. Jackson is explosive and a potential steal in the second round. Ikegwuonu has a lot of talent and could move over to safety when he recovers from his knee injury. McGlynn could move to tackle and Dunlap could make the team because of his size. Larry Weisman, USA Today: C+ Bailed out of first round rather than take a WR too high and then got the guy they liked, DeSean Jackson, in the second. Need that sort of playmaker. Picked up Carolina's No. 1 next year. Got o-line help in Mike McGlynn but reached a bit for him, added secondary help later and those were at least slight reaches too — though FS Quintin Demps shows some real ability. CB Jack Ikegwuono has knee problems and may be facing burglary charges.
Clifton Brown, Sporting News: C+ It paid off to trade down. DeSean Jackson gives them a much-needed deep target for Donovan McNabb, and a draft-day deal gives them the Panthers' first-rounder in '09.
And finally something positive: Peter King, Sports Illustrated: No grade, but he includes the Eagles in "The five teams I like" section of his draft column. The Eagles always ask for too much in trade. Always. They couldn't get rid of Lito Sheppard last weekend, but that was primarily because Sheppard, who gets hurt too much, wants a new contract even though he has four years left on his current one. But the Eagles were able to auction off the 19th pick in the draft for a mind-boggling sum, which they got from Carolina -- second- and fourth-round picks this year and the Panthers' first-round pick next year.
On the draft-trade chart, the 19th-overall pick is worth 875 points. If you assign Carolina an average 2008 season and give them the 16th pick in the first round next year, this trade will be worth 1,546 points on the trade chart -- almost double what the 19th pick is worth. In terms of real additions this year, DeSean Jackson as a receiver/returner with the 49th pick is excellent value.
My thoughts: Overall, the experts seem to feel that the Eagles draft is pretty average. In order to fully assess this year's draft, we are going to have to wait and see what the Eagles do with the first round pick they got from the Panthers for the 2009 draft. If that pick turns out to be in the top ten, then the Eagle draft grade should go way up. None of the players they drafted this year will have a huge impact in 2008, but the Eagles didn't have very many holes anyway. With two first rounders in next years draft, they have positioned themselves nicely for the future while sacrificing some talent for this year.
The 2008 NFL Draft is over and the Philadelphia Eagles have made a total of 10 selections. They went into the draft knowing they didn't have any glaring weaknesses on the team that needed to addressed in the draft, so they mostly took players that would help them down the road rather than guys that can step in right away. Many of the players selected are coming off injuries or they are still injured, so they aren't expected to contribute in 2008 at all. Overall I would say this was an average draft. The Eagles appeared to give their return game a boost by selecting DeSean Jackson and Quintin Demps looks like he could develop into Brian Dawkins' eventual replacement, but it's hard to see what roles the rest of these guys will play. Here is a complete rundown of each player selected by the Eagles:
Round 2, Pick 16(47): Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame --The Eagles took Laws after trading out of the first round with the Carolina Panthers. They will get the Panthers 1st round selection in next years draft, a pick that could end up being pretty high considering the Panthers aren't that good. Laws is a bit of a reach as a second rounder, but he is a good fit for the 4-3 scheme and should find playing time in the Eagle defensive line rotation sometime down the road. Laws is good against the run and also did well on special teams, blocking 6 kicks in his college career.
Round 2, Pick 18(49): DeSean Jackson, WR, California --Jackson is a small receiver with tremendous quickness who figures to help out the Eagles return team right away. He is generously listed as 6 feet tall and will be a home run threat when he lines up at wideout. Jackson has been working with Jerry Rice on what adjustments he needs to make in order to be an NFL wide receiver. He won't make the tough catches across the middle, but his speed should allow him to get plenty of separation on the outside. Donovan McNabb may have another offensive playmaker now.
Round 3, Pick 17 (80): Bryan Smith, DE, McNeese State --An Andy Reid special: a small player from a small school. Smith was a defensive end in college, but he will likely have to make the transition to linebacker in the NFL. Smith is a great pass-rusher who dominated playing against weak competition. He was a two-time Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Round 4, Pick 10 (109): Mike McGlynn, OT, Pittsburgh --McGlynn, a teammate of first round pick Jeff Otah, is nimble, strong and versatile. He was a tackle in college but could play guard or center in the NFL. McGlynn is a physical player that NFL.com says got into altercations nearly every day in practice. He won't play in 2008 baring an injury, but he could be useful in any number of roles down the road.
Round 4, Pick 18 (117): Quintin Demps, S, UTEP --Demps is a defensive playmaker who picked off 17 passes in his college career. He lacks hitting ability, so he isn't a complete safety, but the Eagles will likely try to groom him to be Brian Dawkins' replacement down the road. He has tremendous speed, but will need to adjust his game to fit into the Eagles' system.
Round 4, Pick 32 (131): Jack Ikegwuonu, CB, Wisconsin --The first player taken with serious injury issues, Ikewuonu tore his ACL in January and won't play in 2008. He is described as having 1st round talent, but the injury and some off-field troubles with the law forced his draft status to fall. Down the road he could be a good #3 corner for the Eagles.
Round 6, Pick 18 (184): Mike Gibson, OT, California --Gibson, a teammate of DeSean Jackson at Cal, was a tackle in college but will play guard in the NFL. He finished his college career with concussions that forced him to miss Cal's final game. He is very strong and agile.
Round 6, Pick 34 (200): Joe Mays, ILB, North Dakota State --Mays comes from a small school and is small in stature. He dominated at North Dakota State and was named the Great West Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. He was known for making big hits and flying all over the field. His role in the NFL will likely be as a special teams player where he can get out into the open field to make explosive hits.
Round 6, Pick 37 (203): Andy Studebaker, OLB, Wheaton --Another linebacker selected in the 6th round from another small school, Studebaker is fast and also strong. He played defensive end in college but will move to linebacker in the NFL. He was an elite pass rusher in his junior year, notching 17.5 sacks. He was injured for most of his senior year with a sprained right foot.
Round 7, Pick 23 (230): King Dunlap, OT, Auburn --Dunlap is massive at 6 foot 9 and 310 pounds, but he is coming off injuries and off-field issues that dropped his draft status immensely. Dunlap had a great junior year and was thought of to have first day talent, but he was arrested for failing to pay a speeding ticket and injured his left elbow in his senior year. The chances are slim that Dunlap will make the team.
So those are the Eagles selections for the 2008 Draft. Experts will not call this a good draft, but the Eagles do have some intriguing prospects that could develop down the road. They took a lot of gambles on injured players that have the talent to be solid contributors in the NFL.
Add your comments on the Eagles draft below, and be sure to grade their draft in the poll to the right!
The Eagles still have a lot of work to do. After trading down twice and selecting a defensive tackle who may have been a reach and a speedy but tiny wideout, the Eagles have nine more selections to make on the second day of the NFL Draft. Chances are, several of them will get traded, but expect the Birds to address needs at safety and offensive line at some point.
After sliding backwards out of the first round and then again moving back in the second, the Eagles finally selected two players in the second round with picks 47 and 49. The Eagles first drafted Trevor Laws, a DT from Notre Dame who figures be another player they can eventually slot into their defensive line rotation. Laws appeared to be a bit of a reach at this point in the draft, so the Eagles must see something in him that will fit perfectly into their system.
With the second pick, the Eagles took DeSean Jackson, pictured above, an electric wide receiver from Cal. Jackson is small but incredibly fast, so expect him to be a return specialist as well as an option for Donovan McNabb. If he makes the return game an actual threat, this pick could turn out to be a steal.
