Can Graham have an instant impact?
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Can Graham have an instant impact?
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Note: I wrote this post originally on March 11.
In the past five years, 34 defensive linemen and 18 defensive ends have been taken in the first round. Here are some numbers on how they fared:
* The average defensive lineman taken in the first round over the past five seasons had 2.69 sacks as a rookie. The average defensive end averaged 3.89 sacks. Note that we include guys described in that hybrid LB/DE role here.
* There have been few exceptions. The Redskins took Brian Orakpo with the 13th pick last year, and he had 11 sacks. The Browns took Kamerion Wimbley with the13th pick in 2006, and he also piled up 11 sacks in his rookie season. Penn State's Tamba Hali was in Wimbley's draft class, the 20th pick by Kansas City. He had eight sacks in his first season. Other than those three guys, no defensive lineman taken in the first round had more than six sacks as a rookie.
* I also took a look at the top-10 sack leaders from 2009. Their average experience was 5.5 years in the league. And nine of them had three years of experience or more. The only exception (again) was Orakpo.
It should be noted that these numbers only measure sack totals. As I pointed out many times during the season, sacks don't always measure overall performance. There's playing the run, consistent pressure on opposing QBs and other factors that should also be considered. Juqua Parker had eight sacks last season. Julius Peppers had 10.5. But they're obviously two very different players.
Looking at the top-10 sack guys from last season, though, it's hard to argue against many of those players being among the league's elite.
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Gocong.— overtaxed- Trade Donovan straight up for Jared Allen!!— brandelphia
- who cares --- it's baseball season— UncleEddie
- Move up and draft the guy from Michigan.
- Add to this the Eagles history of drafting D.E.'s in the first three rounds and it really get's bad! But, as the rotund one says, "You have to keep firing until you get it right" The stubborness of this man is why he is so infuriating and disliked!
- DE is the position with the most depth of talent according to the experts so I would try to solve another position deficit first-interior O-line. I,too, like the versatility and talent of Pouncey and I would pick him first then address DE with the second rounder (trade up if you have to) then LB and safety with the third rounders.— Rick Wise Guy
- With Orakpo and Wimbely though, both primarily played OLB as rookies - not DE.— forwhoforwhat
- they will never trade up - probably will trade down and get a cheap version of DE in the 2nd round and expect him to perform to his "potential" - they better have a plan on this since it is a good defensive draft - a few of the DE's are getting old here— Tom Man
- LB would be a good choice, but the eagles do not draft anything but linemen in the first round, unless its a great deal (maclin). they will trade down b/c of the depth in the draft or trade up to get a deal on somone that drops.— sasquatches
- sign Darren Sharper then draft a pass rusher in the 1st round, followed by a safety for Sharper to mentor.— syr5fan
- HELP of any kind will be NICE !!!— SAL@KENSINGTON
- "probably will trade down and get a cheap version of DE in the 2nd round and expect him to perform to his "potential" - 5th rounder Trent Cole seemed to work out OK.— PhillyTru
- Griffin? No. Maurkice Pouncey in better and sleeping. Don't let him slip by Andy. Problem is Reid doesn't pick LBs in the first round. But he could trade Vick and a later round pick (3rd or 4th) to move up and grab another 1st rounder and still get whoever he's looking at plus Pouncey. Just a thought.— dapmman
- absolutely not. unless it's a pass rushing linebacker. because that's what we need. as well as a safety. i'd rather play w/ what we already have up front and look for a late round steal. but we need a LB and a safety.— brownrice
- If we don't find somebody to complement Cole and make that our #1 priority, adding a good free safety won't do jack. Reid and Co. must find someone to apply serious pressure to the qb, not this "fluff" we saw all year. 2010 will be a bust without help for Cole.— philly449
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