Grading the Eagles draft
What grade would you give the Eagles for their weekend of work?
Grading the Eagles draft
Josh Barnett
From Paul Domowitch:
The trade for Lorenzo Booker and the additions of return man DeSean Jackson (Cal) and defensive tackle Trevor Laws (Notre Dame), give the Eagles three players who should be able to make a contribution right out of the gate.
Multiple picks in the fourth round made cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu (Wisconsin) an affordable investment.
Grade: B+
Now it's your turn ...
Comments (48)
Draft grades are a bunch of B.S. anyway. Nobody can know for sure who will pan out. Do you think the other teams thought Westbrook (3rd round) or Brady (6th) would turn into pro bowlers?— bball
Comment removed.- how can the grade be anything over a C-. year after year we waste our highest picks on positions we're good at or we trade down for lesser talent. it makes no friggin' sense. last year's drafting of kolb was a total failure on all levels. the jackson pick saves this draft from being an F but he has tons of holes as well. WTF? how hard is it to draft a safety, receiver and offensive tackle? heckert needs to be fired and reid stripped of his GM powers.— snakeplissken
- I think Reid is right. The draft is basically a crapshoot, with a few exceptions. I'd rather the Birds saved up for one of those exceptions.— p-diddy
- the most important thing is that the didn't trade lito if they can rectify that situation that will boost this draft grade...due to contrary belief the wr situation isn't as dire as you think....lj was donnie's lack of a big target if he's health plus the addition of the kid we got from kc gives us unbelieveable speed from the h-back/te spot especially when andy & marty put lj in the slot as the 3rd rec just watch what happens.... now would i've hope to see ocho sure....but not at the expense of lito..plus you can't make a team trade a player....and we don't even know what offers were made...plus there wasn't one receiver in the draft that was going to take us to the bowl. So lets recap people... was able to upgrade the return game, bolster the d-line got safty help late... pick up lo booker for a 4th rounder..but most important...possibly have the best secondary in the league....so like i tell people here in florida "talk to me in january"— jonpoetical
- Incomplete, because they didn't trade Sheppard, they got the #1 for next year from Carolina, and because of Ikegwuonu. If I had to give it a grade it would be a C though at best. For the second year in a row, the Eagles' draft doesn't include a player who is likely to be a starter/on the field much of time and this isn't because the Eagles are a loaded team either. This draft worries because the Eagles appear to be a waffling organization right now - trying to win now while also rebuilding for the future simultaneously. Very few teams have proven they can do both simultaneously. Maybe I am wrong but I see a team with a limited potential (10 wins max and maybe 1 win in the playoffs) and more likely a team that will be sitting at home again in January.— MG77
- "upgrade the return game, added d line depth, and a few potential diamonds in the rough" You would think that this team was drafting like it was a team that is a playoff, talent-laden roster that only needs to fill a few minor needs when in reality this team has had some major questions yet, has had depth problems the past 2 years, and struggled to even go .500 last year.— MG77
- The NFL draft is like the craps table in Atlantic City. The draft grade for every NFL team is incomplete. No rookie OT would start for the Eagles. So what did the Eagles do? They drafted OL from three major programs (McGlynn, Gibson, and Dunlap) on Day 2. They drafted a DT who had more tackles than most linebackers to put into Johnson's rotation. DeSean Jackson was the most electrifying player in NCAA football last season (ask Tennessee) and faced top tier competition for 3 years. The Eagles didn't reach for Kenny Phillips just because of Miami's safety pedigree (Reed, Taylor, Merriweather). They, on the other hand, drafted a play-making safety (Demps) who had the most INTs (17) of all defensive backs drafted. Ikegwuonu will probably spend his rookie season on IR, like Willis McGahee did a few years back. He is a first round talent who played well against Hardy, Thomas, and Manningham to name a few. They traded a 4th rounder for a 2nd year NFL player in Booker. Many of the best players in the league are not first round picks. They drafted fast linebackers with some size in later rounds (6 & 7). They'll make the team and improve special teams and depth if they're good. I saw something on guys picked in Round 6 since the mid-90's. Among them are Terrell Davis, Tom Brady, Matt Hassleback, Marc Bulger, and Derek Anderson. This draft was not loaded with clear-cut, blue-chip talent. Lito is still an Eagle which means the defensive backfield is loaded. If the Eagles want, they can trade him and the lower of two 2009 first-round draft picks for whomever they want; Chad Johnson maybe? They could stand pat. They lost many close games last year. On paper, the special teams and defense clearly got better through the draft and free agency. Good health and improved O-line play make the offense better and more efficient in the red zone. So, enjoy the Flyers' and Sixers' returns to the playoffs along with the Phillies' good start. In September, it'll be "GO Eagles!"— bigchief1970
- Comment removed.
- I agree with a previous statement that if the Eagles had drafted Desean Jackson with the #19 pick, there would be half as many complaints on this board. Get over it! You don't need to overpay for some guy just because he's labeled a "1st round pick"! They did fine in the draft. If in 3 years the Redskins win a Super Bowl because they spent all their picks on WR's and TE's, i'll eat my words. But that isn't going to happen! We're still better than them and you whiney, fair weather fans will see that. Waaaaa, we didn't get a 1st round pick! Waaaa, shut up! None of you know what your talking about anyway. Think you know everything because you read a mock draft that Mel Kiper had on ESPN that was dead wrong anyway. Stick to booing injured players on the field.— MVKrum
- I give no grade at all for the simple reason that the Eagles have ne.ver known how to draft nor have they ever been good at it. And 90% of the players the Eagles have drafted have been useless...so why get yourselves in an uproar worrying about. If a pro team has needs go out and get an experienced pro and besides Reid would probably not play any youngster til the next decade anyway.— Pgt1400
- Oh, and one more thing...go Flyers as there is a team that knows how to go out and get playerws that make a difference!— Pgt1400
- does the draft really matter for this year...........no one will start that they have drafted. Should have packaged all their draft choices and sent to detroit for williams.— ox
- Pgt1400, did you see the ESPN graphic that the Eagles have drafted more players with Pro Bowl appearances (46) then any team since the 2000 NFL Draft? Don't be ignorant. and while this draft wasn't flashy it was solid. We'll have to wait and see. Super Bowls aren't won in April.
- wow! I couldn't wait to get on here for my first time. yup Eagles fan 'till I die, however I am still upset that Andy Reid never drafts a lot players at the skill positions! the defense and O line is all but shored up. He only drafted 1 wideout (DeSean Jackson) who will only play special teams because he is too small to take hit after hit in the NFL. we haven't had a credible receiving threat since, T.O. and before that it was Mike Quick. I mean, every 15 - 20 years for a decent wideout sucks big time if you ask me and anyone else in Philly who wants a wideout! good thing we have Westbrook or McNabb would be in trouble again this year too. they need to draft a bunch of wideouts and tightends, shake out the good from the bad, trade or not sign the rest and then build on the defensive spots that need addressing! too much of the same ol' B.S. from Reid, he's way too predictable, that's why we lost the Superbowl because of his predictability! I'll grade theis year's draft a C+. I do like the fact they have 2 first rounds next year though I bet Reid picks another QB or an O Lineman!— riqgeez
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Eagletarian is your home for comprehensive coverage of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Les Bowen
Daily News Staff Writer
Paul Domowitch
Daily News NFL Columnist
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