Eagles draft S Jarrett and CB Marsh
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles draft S Jarrett and CB Marsh
Jonathan Tamari and Jeff McLane
The Eagles drafted Temple safety Jaiquawn Jarrett in the second round, selecting one of the better safeties in a what is considered a weak class, but one who was not expected to be chosen until later in the draft.
They also took a cornerback -- Utah State's Curis Marsh -- in the third round after they moved back five places. The 6-foot-1, 197-pound Marsh ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the combine. The Eagles swapped third round picks with the Ravens and also recieved a sixth rounder (191st overall) in return for the 85th overall pick.
Jarrett, from Brooklyn, is considered a hard-working, instinctive player, but one who does not have the size or speed of a top-flight NFL player. He started all but six of his college games at Temple and played in every game of his college career.
"A lot of teams like kids that are just natural football players and that’s what coach Reid saw in me," Jarrett said.
He is listed at 6-foot-0, 198 pounds -- around the same size as other Eagles safeties. His best 40-yard dash time was 4.54, not exactly blazing for a defensive back. But he led Temple in combined tackles last season with 74 (41 unassisted, 33 assisted).
"They see something in me that other teams didn't see," Jarrett said.
He described himself as a physical, disciplined player.
"This right here is one of the greatest situations for me," said Jarrett, who has played his college football in Philadelphia and said he was glad to be staying close to home.
Most analysts expected that Jarrett would last into the middle rounds of the draft.
Jarrett will join a young safety group that includes Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman, each drafted last year. His selection may spell bad news for veteran Quintin Mikell, whose contract is up and future in Philadelphia was already cloudy.
"I'm Happy For Jarrett I Love The Temple Players! Do Your Thing!" Mikell wrote on Twitter.
The second round started in unhelpful fashion for the Eagles: two of the top cornerbacks remaining -- Ras-I Dowling and Aaron Williams -- were taken with the first two picks. Then the Bengals drafted quarterback Andy Dalton and the 49ers took quarterback Colin Kaepernick, likely taking two quaraterback-needy teams out of the sweepstakes for Eagles backup Kevin Kolb, whenever trades resume.
While Dalton and Kaepernick might need time to develop, it seems unlikely that the Bengals or 49ers would invest heavily in another quarterback who would serve as a stopgap before they are ready.
Next Jabaal Sheard, one of the top defensive ends remaining, went to Cleveland, taking off another strong prospect at a position where the Eagles need help.
I suggest everyone watch the clip that JJR provided. The kid may not have the name of a Casey Matthews, but this kid can play. Let's not forget Nate Allen got a season ending injury at the END of the season. My guess is the Eagles are moving on from Mikell and know that the 2 other safeties we have won't be good enough. They both showed flashes at the end of the season, but Andy knows he needs better tackling out of that position.— papabear702- This is a bad joke. Andy shows absolute contempt for defense. He drafts small guys who NOBODY else has on their boards going that early and then gives them a coach who hasn't coached any defense at the professional or college level on defense!!!!— yourdaddy!
- andy understand that what matter most to the philly freaks is that he draft a local guy. its a great story.
— depressed - Wow....Another bench player! Don't the Eagles have Mikell. A bunch of moron management who don't know how to draft. A Temple boy just so he he can stay home with Mommy and Daddy! Hope he has fun on the bench with Fire boy!— MRD
- Jarret will be a positive factor on this team. I'm guessing he'll be a monster special teams player and will be an upside surprise to many Eagles fans.— xxx
- once again the idiots comment. are you not paying attention to life? all the mock drafts were dead...DEAD WRONG!!! Get out of your mother's basement and stop masterbating and get a job and be a productive member of life JESUS— tremo12
- What a team. Losers!!!— shawnmac
- I think the people on this board that are ripping JJ obviously never saw him play. I've watched this kid religiously at Temple and he's everything that Philly sports fans claim to love in an athlete. He's been an over achiever his entire life and a natural born leader. He's not the fastest kid but he has a nose for the ball and is a ferocious hitter. Go back and watch his tube videos and read his story and it will be very obvious why the eagles drafted him.— Frank Stephens III
- I'm consistently amazed by the casual fan who thinks they know about the draft than the professionals. Give them some credit. At least the picks this year fill the apparent needs.— twc
- Why am I scared that Reid plans to start Marsh this year......Please god don't be yourself and think you got a steal....Who needs nnamdi, Peterson, or a proven corner, we just got a steal in Marsh?!?!— flyfightinbullies
- AR has once again done an effective job with the draft...johnnyu— john ullman
- Whine,whine,whine all you so called experts on the draft. The kid from Temple will surprise all of you as will Watkins.— slade1955
That 3rd round pick was a complete joke. Why do we always throw away our 3rd round picks?- WOW...What great picks for the Eagles. All Bench players for a few years! The Giants get WR Jerrel Jernigan. Watch out DeSean Jackson. The Giants have a good returner who likes to put up high stats. Lets see what you Got Jackson!— MRD
- A 26-year-old o-lineman and players they could have gotten later? Is this going to go down as one of the worst drafts in Eagles history? C'mon Andy. WTF? Right now the Eagles are #3 in town and the Sixers are closing fast.— jp8899
