Mock drafts: Who will the Eagles take?
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Mock drafts: Who will the Eagles take?
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Here are some more mock drafts, plus some other links to pass along.
ESPN.com's Todd McShay is another one who has the Eagles taking Wisconsin offensive lineman Gabe Carimi:
Outside linebacker is a bigger need, but no available prospect fits the Eagles' scheme and is worth this pick. Carimi has versatility to play tackle or guard immediately and should develop into a very good starting tackle -- likely on the right side -- in the very near future.
Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com has the Birds taking Carimi also:
Andy Reid always seems to draft big people. He can use another tough-guy offensive lineman. Carimi, the Outland Trophy winner, is a tackle, but he could also play guard.
Rob Rang of CBSSports.com projects the Birds to take Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith:
The Eagles feature one of the league's best corners in Asante Samuel, but have struggled with consistency on the other side without journeyman Ellis Hobbs. Smith's frame and rare agility have earned comparisons from scouts to former Ravens' star Chris McAlister.
Chad Reuter of CBSSports.com has the Eagles going with Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod:
Andy Reid likes to use his first round picks to build up the offensive and defensive lines. Sherrod's mobility and pass protection ability are impressive.
SI.com's Don Banks says the Eagles' biggest offseason question is: Can they afford to keep Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick?
Financially? Yes. Strategically, probably not. The Eagles will franchise Vick if franchise tags are in play, waiting until a new CBA is in place to try to work out a long-term deal with No. 7. That's a $20 million one-year commitment, but it's the price Philly may have to pay to secure its starting quarterback for 2011. As for Kolb, he's on the books for just less than $1.4 million this year, so the Eagles could keep him if they don't like any of the trade offers they get. But they should get some solid bids, because there are so many QB-needy teams. Arizona, Minnesota, San Francisco and Tennessee make the most sense to come after Kolb, and someone might just be willing to part with a first-round pick.
Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com identifies what he thinks the Eagles need to be a contender:
A meshing of the new coaching staff. After a first-round playoff loss to Green Bay, Eagles brass made far more offseason staff changes than expected. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was axed and replaced by offensive line coach Juan Castillo, an extremely risky move considering the latter lacks prior experience in the position. Snagging well-respected defensive line coach Jim Washburn from Tennessee was a coup, but the Eagles also lost secondary coach Dick Jauron to a Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator position.
Adam Caplan of FoxSports.com has the Eagles 12th in his season-ending power rankings:
No team made a more stunning coaching move than to shift offensive line coach Juan Castillo from offensive line coach to defensive coordinator. At least the Eagles were able to pry veteran offensive line coach Howard Mudd out of his brief retirement. The Eagles, however, have issues on defense to address at several positions.
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I second guessed Andy with naming Juan DC. Now with the big picture of the whole staff in view, I am seeing some vision from the big man.
Will it all work out?
That depends if we continue to draft undersized and out of position players.
Can Andy make another adjust and draft some big d-lineman and put some stock into their Linebackers?
Will we get at least one big running back and another playmaker or two in the secondary?
With the CFL'er signed, we DO NOT NEED another "undersized fastball" on the DLine.
Please Andy Please.— dmanphilly- I see Reid's "picture" every year, so this year is no different. Same old thing.
— ej610 - It took Andy only 8 years to determine that he needed quality receivers, despite throwing more passes than any team in NFL history. Let's not even discuss punt returners, linebackers, etc. Yes, Andy's brilliant in that way.
Now, it seems that he's come to realize that he's not the ONLY coach on the planet.
Change comes about slowly over a period of time. Unfortunately, with Andy, changes come more slowly than with others. I suspect that in about 5 or 6 years, he'll probably come to understand that he needs to run the ball. 
The Eagles have never drafted whoever the ESPN guys say they will so I guess you can count out Carimi! I never watch the draft anymore because I wait there for 3 hours and the Eagles either pick somebody I've never heard of or trade down.- I thought the same thing. No matter who the logical choice is, the Eagles have to outsmart everybody and draft someone else. I swear that's why he made Castillio the DC, because everybody was saying he was waiting for the Green bay guys. He never wants to do what everybody else does because that would mean he's just as smart as us. And we all know Andy's ego is larger than his waist. — ej610
1)Trade Kolb to S.F. for Patrick Willis straight up.
2)Sign a free agent CB (Asomougha?)
3)Use 1st rd pick on an Offensive lineman
4)2nd rd pick on DT, Bunkley blows.
5)Sign Haynesworth to an incentive laiden contract.
6)Sign FA punter
7)Use remaining picks to sure up WR, RB and OL corps.
See that wasn't so hard, except for the unlikelihood that SF would give up Willis for Kolb, I've just drastically improved this team ;)— Mayhem- 1, Willis, no chance, Staley makes more sense. 2,3 definitely. 6, why?
5, maybe not now that AH is in trouble. May be too late.
7? Don't need WRs or RBs for once. We need some beef on the lines.
Love Al Bundy!— tpizza - #1 was just a pipe dream, #6 because Rocca is too inconsistent and #7 I'm not thrilled w/ the WR corp behind the top 2 and Shady McCoy doesn't have a viable backup. — Mayhem
- Can't agree with WRs and I like Harrison. Rocca much better than first year here but if there is an improvement for ANY player available you have to do it. Agree with AJW, more areas of need than WRs and RBs. Right side of OL, LBs a must. Asomougha] is a MUST have. Gives DL more time to get to QB if the secondary has better coverage. — tpizza
- If 1-4 can be pulled off, it would vastly improve the defense. I'd try to sign Haynesworth as the 3rd option with drafting an offensive lineman as 4th option. And, I'd stay away from WRs, just concentrate on DL, LBs and OL. — AJW2009
- The draft is deep in corner, so the Eagles should take an O-lineman. It will be his gift to Mudd for coming out of retirement.— ej610
- True, a reason to go corner in the 1st, line in the 2nd. But, I think the corners available at #23 are better than the tackles. — armchairGM
- Kolb for Willis? hahahhahahhaa— fman727
- Sign 2 linebackers- Rudd for MLB, Anderson for SLB and move Chaney to Weakside.... Draft OL in 1st, CB in 2nd (Harris or Williams)... At some point get a saefty/cb who can return kicks..— fman727
- It's a shame there is no CBA in place, because the Eagles will miss out on signing their annual "who just had a career threatening injury that we can sign for cheap?" move, before other teams get in the mix. Oh wait, other contenders don't sign guys like Marlin Jackson to be a starting DB!! What linebackers are projected to go in the 8th and 9th rounds, since that is where we will be most likely picking one up at.— jimmydugan
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