How many rookies make roster?
The Eagles drafted 13 rookies in April, the largest draft class here in more than 20 years. Sixth-round fullback Charles Scott has been traded, fifth-round defensive end Ricky Sapp is on IR. That leaves 11 draftees, plus undrafted offensive tackle Austin Howard, who seems likely to make the team, as the Eagles prepare to whittle down to 53.
How many rookies make roster?
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
The Eagles drafted 13 rookies in April, the largest draft class here in more than 20 years. Sixth-round fullback Charles Scott has been traded, fifth-round defensive end Ricky Sapp is on IR. That leaves 11 draftees, plus undrafted offensive tackle Austin Howard, who seems likely to make the team, as the Eagles prepare to whittle down to 53.
A dozen rookies would be a huge group. The roster for last season's Eagles opener featured six rookies. In this crowded linebacking corps, keeping both fourth-rounder Keenan Clayton and seventh-rounder Jamar Chaney might be a luxury; you'd have to think special teams coordinator Bobby April would rather have a polished vet, like Tracy White, among the reserves.
Right now, if White isn't in the mix, the top six linebackers are Stewart Bradley, Ernie Sims, Akeem Jordan, Omar Gaither, Clayton, and Chaney, but tomorrow night might switch that sixth spot. Moise Fokou obviously remains a contender, along with White.
One rookie who definitely is going to make the the team is quarterback Mike Kafka. The fourth-round pick from Northwestern led a final-series touchdown drive for last week's victory at Kansas City, which didn't have much to do with the Eagles' 2010 fortunes, but showed Kafka's potential.
Kafka is scheduled to play the second half tomorrow night against the Jets. After that, barring calamity, he'll be lucky to get a half-dozen mopup snaps all season.
Guys tend to make friendships on teams based on their rookie class, assuming more than one or two guys from a class stick around several years. The 2010 rookies have the potential to become a really large, influential subgroup in the locker room, a sort of football version of the "baby boom" generation.
Another member of that rookie class, fifth-round wideout Riley Cooper, was asked about the perception that he has exceeded expectations. Cooper would seem to be slotted right behind the Birds' three standouts, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant. In a preseason of opportunity for youngsters, Cooper has made the most of his.
"I'm playing football, man, this is what I love to do," Cooper said. "I'm confident in my ability to play. I'm a very humble guy, but I'm also confident in my ability … You don't have to make it too complicated."
To read our earlier post, click here.
Keep all but Jeff Owens.
Tonight?— MichaelB- I think Les wrote this today, intending to post it tomorrow but somewhere a mistake was made and it got posted today. With most blogs you can write an entry now and have it post at a later date and time. Think that's what happened here.— erformc1
- What, do they print these articles early on you guys? What's with all the "tonight" references? Anyway, I think Fokou sticks to play the "Joker" role since Sapp hit IR and Clemons is gone. IMO, ST's isn't the place for "polished vets"; though I like Tracy White, I think they keep the 2 kids around and 7 LB's total. Owens ends up on PS.— JofreyRice
- Roseman botched the draft in many ways, with all his wheeling and dealing down, but nonetheless we have some good guys. Clayton and Chaney may both eventually be a little better than Tracy White at LB. Yeah, White would be better this year, but keep the rookies based on next year. We're not going far this year anyway. Cooper was a good pick. Graham looks real good. Allen looks like a 2nd rounder should. Kafka was a no brainer pick. Looks as good as expected. Coleman is what a 7th rounder should be -- great football player, a little small, a little slow. Howard was a smart find, though it's not clear why we didn't draft him. Lindley looks better than expected, a credit to Reid and Roseman. Owens provided competition at tackle. Harbor was a real good pick. DTN looks like a 7th rounder to me. A football player, but not a great talent. In the final 53 I see Graham, Allen, DTN (if it were me as coach he'd be on the practice squad), Lindley, Kafka, Cooper, Clayton, Chaney, Howard, Coleman, and Harbor -- 11 guys. An incredibly young team, if you figure in McCoy, Maclin (both the same age as the rookies), Fokou, Justice, Jackson, and Celek. Fast team. And energetic. Not a dominant team, even in 2012. With the speed, potentially great special teams squads for April.— tacklinjoe
8 or 9 rookies should make it. they are all talented but you cant keep them all.— briandawkins20
So, tacklinjoe, how did Roseman botch the draft if he wheeled/dealed his way to selecting 11 guys who make the roster?— Leegles- i'm still waiting for pictures of the barn-house from the other day?— sgamble077
- i agree, with the changing of the guard it might be tough to grade roseman right now, but in my mind with graham, allen, cooper, chaney, clayton, howard, and lindley, there is potential for this to be a great influx of young developing talent. But at the end of the day we know nothing on how their careers will be written until its over. I still think the whole coaching staff needs to go for their to be real change.— xlGmanlx
- Tacklinjoe is right, Roseman botched the draft and got lucky at the same time. he traded out and down while leaving good players in the wake of that strategy. He should have pulled in OLine help, but then got lucky with undrafted LTackle A Howard.— lerze77
- Roseman didn't botch the draft. Everyone knows that Andy Reid calls the shots when it comes to player personnel choices. Roseman just puts his face out there as a spokesperson. He gets some input on personnel decisions, but Andy makes the final player selections.— SteveS11
- After the draft and the final cuts, the best way to evaluate the GM's performance is to grade personnel. My (potentially worthless) opinion: QB B+, RB B-, FB B, WR A-, TE A-, OT C, OG C, C incomplete (unless it is obvious JJ can play); DE B+, DT B+, LB C, CB C+, S C+; PR B+, KR C, P D-, K C. Grades that have gotten better this year: TE, WR, DE, LB, S. Worse: OT, DT (a year older, no better), CB.
- JD- seek professional help— friedmozzarela
Roseman botched the draft, but got lucky? These guys have'nt played a regular season down yet, and you say he botched the draft? Assuming Allen and Graham play well, Lindley, Harbor, Cooper, T'eo, see playing time or have roles, and maybe Clayton and/or Chaney make the team and contribute, how is that a botched draft? Not perfect, but hardly botched. Let them play some meaningful games first. We already had loads of O-lineman that had talent/experience on roster, do you really think you can just draft an o-linemen, after the 2nd rd and he starts right away or automatically beats out a top 8 guy? And if it is a 1st or 2nd rounder, you no longer have Graham, or maybe Allen who contribute immediately? Remember, MJG was a 3rd rd pick, Justice a 2nd, and the other 4 starters/backups are better linemen at this point. Jackson, Cole and Peters, not even drafted,and Herremans was drafted in the 4th. I guess we got lucky with those guys, or maybe they just know how to evaluate talent better than we do.- Good question, Leegles. Because to Roseman the NFL is a fantasy league. And the draft for him is about how many deals you can make, how many 5th rounders you can get for a 2nd rounder, and then show how good you are picking 5th rounders. The goal is to build a Super Bowl team, not get good value in each round or get 11 rookies on the squad. Some very good picks were made, but they traded away a 2nd rounder, even though we lack good offensive linemen, and wasted a 3 on DTN. Kafka and Cooper were excellent picks, but the real question is why some team didn't take them 10 or 20 picks earlier. I was sitting there picking them too, before the Eagles did, so Roseman is as smart as me. Which is to say, not all that sharp. I agree with SteveS11. It's a Reid/Roseman show, though I think Roseman gets a lot of latitude in swapping picks all over the place. I prefer Reid, who's actually a football man. He's mediocre as a game coach, but in building teams he's pretty good.— tacklinjoe
- It wasn't a bad draft at all. They're young, have very little dead weight, and some real skill players. It may be an 8-8 season but I like the direction...— Grazman
- JD = Just a Doofus— mick314
- @mick314 - good one - doofus. can't stop laughing.
- westbrook should watch that old flick north dallas 40, that was supposedly about the cowboys, pete gent and don maynard. back in the day players were expected to take a shot and go play, no matter how bad they were hurtin.— brinkmang
Comment removed.- Yep -- you know that Andy Reid is a "mediocre" gameday coach. He of the "average" 10 win season, 100+ total wins and a 60+% winning %. Yep just a mediocre gameday coach. Bet he gets lucky alot. Some of these posters are too much. Whine complain criticize. Wowsa
- whats the 411 -- In the last 5 yrs of drafts only 19 of the 320 players drafted in Rds 2 and 3 were ever ProBowlers (DeSean being 1 of them) Its hard to find PB let alone "Franchise Players"
- Les really went out on a limb with his prediction of how many rookies make the team! Oh wait, he didn't make a prediction. Wow, how inciteful. Oh, I'm sorry he was really asking a question, looking for an answer from somebody else. What, exactly does the Daily News pay him to do, be sarcastic and pass on other reporters news?— mmonahan
