Posted: Sunday, April 26, 2009, 8:36 PM | 8 comments |
 

BRING ON THE MINICAMPS
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When the dust had settled, the Eagles had drafted eight players, made six trades and added three picks for next season.

We won't know the impact of all these moves for quite some time, but the first look at coach Andy Reid's 2009 Eagles will come Friday when the team opens a mandatory post-draft camp at the NovaCare Complex.

The most significant move on the second day of the draft was the deal that sent two fifth-round picks to the New England Patriots for veteran cornerback/kick returner Ellis Hobbs.

Cornelius Ingram, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end from Florida, was the Eagles' first pick on the second day of the draft and he's also the one most likely to have some sort of impact as a rookie. Playing in the Gators' spread offense, he caught 64 passes for 888 yards and eight touchdowns during his career. He did not play at all last season while recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He admitted that blocking is not his strength.

"I think I am definitely more of a vertical tight end, a receiver tight end because of the style of offense we ran at Florida," Ingram said. "I know I didn't do a whole lot of blocking ... but I know I can do it and I know I can stretch the field, so I am just ready to start."

The Eagles also took Virginia Tech cornerback Victor Harri and Oregon offensive tackle Fenuki Tupou with fifth-round picks. Reid said Harris, 5-11  and 187 pounds, can play both cornerback and safety. Tupou, 6-5 and 314 pounds, is a potential backup tackle or guard.

With their only sixth-round selection, the Eagles took wide receiver Brandon Gibson from Washington State. Gibson caught 182 passes for a school-record 2,756 yards. He also scored 17 touchdowns.

Guard Paul Fanaika from Arizona State and linebacker Moise Fokou from Maryland were seventh-round selections.

The Eagles did not draft a defensive lineman for the first time since 2004 and selected just two defensive players overall, the fewest since 2001.

HAPPY QB. Eagles coach Andy Reid said he talked to Donovan McNabb during the draft and the quarterback was happy with the team's acquistions. He said he didn't discuss the quarterback's contract.

"I didn't ask him about (the contract)," Reid said. "He was very interested in the draft, which he is every year. We talked during the draft."

 
Posted by Bob Brookover @ 8:36 PM  Permalink | 8 comments
8
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:49 PM, 04/26/2009
    What exactly happens at the post-draft camp? I just watched some clips of Ingram and like his potential. He looks slimmer than his listed 245 pound weight. He should be a nice big target for McNabb. I wonder if they'll pick up a blocking TE as a undrafted FA.
    — BadgerVMD
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:19 PM, 04/26/2009
    Not sure why everyone is obsessed with blocking TEs all of a sudden. We haven't really had any blocking TEs during Reid's time here. Unless you're like Bartrum and can long-snap, you better be able to catch if you're going to play TE for Reid.
    — JimG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:31 PM, 04/26/2009
    What are the 3 picks for next year? One is Seattle's 3rd rounder.
    — mikemaddog
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:18 AM, 04/27/2009
    Seattle's 3rd, a 5th from the Giants I think, and a 6th from the Saints--so they have a 1st, a 2nd, anywhere from a 2nd to a 5th for Lito from the Jets, at least 2 3rds, a 4th, 2 5ths, a 6th. Their 7th goes to NE in the Greg Lewis deal.
    — eaglebobby1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:45 AM, 04/27/2009
    I like Reid's constant eye on the future. We're like a poor man's NE. Wait, that came out wrong...
    — bdizzle
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:44 AM, 04/27/2009
    The only thing seperating the Birds from the Pats is one clutch QB .
    — Talon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:47 AM, 04/27/2009
    And superbowl rings Talon. I really like this draft. Then again, I hated the sheppard/brown/lewis draft right after it happened, so what do I know?
    — dragoon6
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:11 PM, 04/27/2009
    And a pro-bowl reciever
    — HK Kid 1500


8 comments
About Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari






Jeff McLane (left) began covering the Eagles in April 2009 after covering college sports and Penn State football in particular. Before that he wrote about high school sports and before that he worked in the mailroom (not quite). Find Jeff on Facebook and follow him on Twitter for instant updates on the Eagles.

Jonathan Tamari (right) began covering the Eagles in April 2010. He previously covered New Jersey state government and politics, reporting and writing about elections, policy debates and the many personalities that drive the Garden State, from three recent governors to the many musicians bidding to write the state song. He has been at the Inquirer since June 2008. Follow him on Twitter at @JonathanTamari.

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