Draft thoughts: Jarrett, Marsh and Asomugha
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Draft thoughts: Jarrett, Marsh and Asomugha
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Here are some thoughts after the first three rounds of the draft.
HOW MARSH FITS IN
Going into the draft, we knew the Eagles needed to address the cornerback situation.
But looking back, it probably should have been obvious all along that if the Eagles did not get one of the top three corners - Patrick Peterson, Prince Amukamara, Jimmy Smith - they were likely going to have to address this need via free agency or a trade.
And so that's where we are after two days. The Eagles picked up Utah State cornerback Curtis Marsh in the third round Friday night, but considering his limited experience and the fact that he converted to defense just a couple years ago after beginning his college career as a running back, it seems extremely unlikely that he'll compete for a starting job in 2011.
Let's look at the Eagles' cornerback situation as a whole. Asante Samuel is the starter; Joselio Hanson is the nickel; Trevard Lindley and Marsh should settle in as the fourth and fifth corners on the roster.
We still don't know when free agency or trades are going to be allowed, but whenever that happens, we can now say with near certainty that the Eagles' No. 1 priority (by a longshot) will be to find a corner to play opposite Samuel on the right side.
Which brings us to...
ASOMUGHA, KOLB AND THE LOCKOUT
His name started to get mentioned pretty much as soon as Michael Vick's season-ending pass was intercepted by Tramon Williams in the wild-card round at the Linc: Nnamdi Asomugha.
The Pro Bowl cornerback will be the most sought-after free agent on the market. Just last night, ESPN's Adam Schefter pointed out that the bidding could start in the NFC East with the Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins. None of the three teams spent a first- or second-round pick on a cornerback.
Schefter threw the Ravens in there too, even though they drafted Smith in the first round. And there could be a large number of other suitors as well.
Asomugha has not been hurt at all by the lockout. If anything, it might help him. By the time teams are allowed to pursue Asomugha, much of their rosters will be set. The draft will be over and their needs will be as well-defined as ever. For a team like the Eagles that is expecting to compete for a Super Bowl in the next couple years, the difference between adding a player like Asomugha and other options at cornerback is enormous. The same can probably be said for others.
Meanwhile, Kolb finds himself in quite the opposite situation. In the first two rounds, six QB-needy teams drafted that position: the Panthers, Titans, Jaguars, Vikings, Bengals and 49ers.
Had this been just a regular offseason, I'm fairly certain that Kolb would be gone and the Eagles would have a one or two more players on their roster after the first two rounds.
Instead, the Birds continue to wait and see when they'll be able to make a deal. And the market for Kolb shrinks. Who's left among the QB-needy teams? The Raiders, Broncos, Bills, Cardinals, Browns, Redskins, Seahawks and Dolphins.
The most likely teams among that group to make a move are probably the Cardinals and Seahawks, but Arizona has been linked to veteran Marc Bulger. Whenever the dust settles and teams are allowed to make a deal, it will be interesting to see just what the market is for Kolb. As some of you pointed out via Twitter, all it takes is one or two teams. And that's true. I still tink Kolb will get dealt, but we'll see just how much the lockout hurt the Birds in terms of compensation.
JARRETT AND 2ND-YEAR PLAYERS
In the second round, the Eagles took Temple safety Jaiquawn Jarrett. So how does he fit in?
Well, it could mean that free agent Quintin Mikell is gone. Let's say, for a moment, that that's going to be the case. Here are the players likely to make up the Eagles' secondary: Samuel, veteran RCB to be named later, Joselio Hanson, Lindley, Marsh, Jarrett, Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman. Of that group, five of eight players figure to be first- or second-year players.
If you throw in the veteran cornerback, six of eight figure to be in their first or second seasons with the Eagles - Samuel and Hanson being the exceptions.
For that reason, I'm not ready to say that Mikell is 100 percent out of here. Couldn't those young players benefit from a veteran presence? And it's not like Mikell is a liability. He's still one of the better players on the Eagles' roster.
It will come down to what the market is for him and how many teams need to add safeties after the draft.
Either way, the Jarrett addition immediately creates competition for Coleman, last year's seventh-round pick, who eventually became a starter after Allen went down.
I think the Eagles like Coleman, but remember, just because a guy sees the field as a rookie does not guarantee him a roster spot the next season. There's always new competition. Just ask Macho Harris, who started as a rookie in '09 and then was cut the following year.
The second-year players are probably hurt the most by the lockout. We'll see how much the Birds can count on guys like Coleman, Jamar Chaney, Keenan Clayton, Brandon Graham, Daniel Te'o-Nesheim and Lindley to make that leap in 2011.
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Thar nitwit giants fan is right about one thing. You morons need to stop with the Petersen for Kolb nonsense. The cards are not that stupid— blaqjaq- @ phink - How can you say Fat Andy is going to blow the trade? He'll trade Kolb for a 1st and a 2nd. Which he'll THEN turn into a 2nd, 2 3rds and a 5th, PLUS a 6th the following year. Which he'll then turn into 3 5ths. No way he screws up a draft when he has 15 picks on the final day. Right? *sigh* This regime HAS to end soon, I'm losing my mind...— Doctor D
- Arizona will sign Bulger and the Vikes will go after McNabb. If the Birds make a trade for a CB I see Kolb for Joseph from the Bengals. A Kolb to Seattle trade may happen but I can't speculate what the Seahawks have to offer.— Warhound
- Count on Vick missing at least 3 games this season. If Kolb's gone, we better hope Whatshisname can play.— p-diddy
- The Giants must be part canine,because he KILLED them TWICE last year. Stings,don't it?— bkg126
- STOP with the Peterson for Kolb nonsense! Peterson has HOF potential at corner. They will not,i repeat,will NOT move him to The eagles or any other team. That kid is going to be the cornerstone of their secondary,which right now looks like the best in the league. Seasttle is the most likely destination for Kolb,because no matter what Pete carroll says,there is no way he can sell Charlie Whitehurst as his starting QB to that fanbase.— bkg126
- Hey MRD, when you see your boy Plax, give him some advice from me.....tell him, "If your gonna' be packin' you can't be wearin' sweatpants yo!"— Geno D
- Geno, MRD thinks grammar is a prize they give for music. So sad that he has to look forward to more seasons of ELI leading the world in INTs isn't it? And how many straight games have the Eagles beaten the Giants now? 5? 6? So many I can't recall. If the Eagles are losers what does that make them? Hahaha, MRD = Giant fan = big "blue".— tpizza
- Oops! I spelled grammar wrong! But MRD wouldn't have noticed it anyway!— Geno D
- Come on people...Get Really! ....Maybe MRD should go back to school and learn proper grammer or should i say english because he probably doesn't know what grammer means...maybe he should study geography where he might learn that the giants actually play in new jersey. by the way, why don't you get your own stadium! If you root for new york you must be a buffalo bills fan,seeing that's the only NFL team that plays in new york.I guess that punt return still hurts or maybe its Herm Edwards spiking the ball in the end zone! ha! ha!— Geno D
- kolb is NOT GOOD as a qb I don't see any team needing him no arm limited mobility can't take a hit he should retire after stealing over 12 million bucks last year for doing absolutely nothing he is the 2nd coming of danny wurffel.— only 9
- What about RT? I read an article that they're going to stick with W Justice. That surprises me.— doc35
- 1) When the Lock out ends....We will still be a team that needs a top notch Corner.
2) Arizona will still be a Team then needs a Top notch QB with at least some NFL experience
3) We have Kolb.....They have Peterson....I smell Trade— Bigmike 34 - You Morons really think Asomugha would come to a loser team who has never won a Super Bowl? Come on people....Get really! I'd Choose the Skins or Dallas before signing with losers like you! A dog killer as my QB...who wants that! Maybe just you morons from Philly!— MRD
- Right, sign with two teams that haven't won a playoff game since Brett Favre was young. Real good choice when you want to win a Super Bowl in your career. Oops, my mistake, Dallas won that one against us after we lost our fourth starter on our offensive line, then got trampled in the second round.
Stop being so bitter about Cliff Lee MRD, we're trying to talk football. - all we need to do now is get asomugha and then trade Kolb for a pocket collapsing DT.— HeelYes
- Big Blue I am.....Romus! and the 3 trophies that come alone with it!— MRD
- GET ASOMUGHA if they can the guy is too good in a key needed position to pass up. Keep Korn on the Kolb for insurance and get some linebacker and o-line help in free agency and lets win the SB. Trade Kolb only if the offer is too good to pass up. AS much as I like Vick, a missed assignment on the o-line or Vick running for the extra yard could have him out with an injury for enough games to miss the playoffs.— VegasEagleFan
- Pete Carroll, Seattle half-heartedly referred to making a pitch for Hasselback to return after the lockout---seems like he had to say it----may honestly try to get KKolb.— Romus
- 'MRD' must be a Big Blue guy.— Romus
- Graham and Teo don't have anything to worry about as Eagles did not get a high pick at DE.— P Even
- Igglesphitin is making sense. Trevard Lindley was drafted to take that right corner spot, and I doubt he has any plans to settle in as the 4th corner on the roster. He and Patterson will get plenty of chances to show they can start. If you're going to pay Asomugha $15 million, it would be for the previous three years, not for the next three. Fans should be mad if the Eagles sign him. Just a ridiculous price for someone who is not as good as Revis, nor as young.
The Eagles probably did not draft a corner because they saw no one as good as Lindley after #19. And that's no surprise to them. Last year they probably looked at the next class of corners and didn't see a lot of starters after Peterson and Amukamara. Curtis Marsh was a good pick. He has a chance to play in this league. No telling if he'll always be a backup or eventually start.
I think we're weaker at safety than corner, relying on Allen, Jarrett, and Coleman to be healthy and experienced enough. And despite what many think, Asante Samuel is not half of a Super Bowl set of corners. He's a great ballhawk, and otherwise average. Right corner is not the weak spot on the D -- it's similar to where we are at linebacker, left DE, and safety. In other words, the offense will have to carry the team again. Worst thing they could do is throw all their money at a free agent who's about the same age Jim Brown was when he retired. Brown knew when he had peaked. Asomugha wants dough, regardless of what he can show on the field.— armchairGM 
Eagles will trade Kolb for a 1st RD pick in 2012. ANdy will use it to draft a OL from Slippery Rock or another undersized Defensive player. So yeah I would just rather keep him and let him pick splinters from his behind until Vick gets hurt because he has no one to protect his blindside. Maybe the OL from Slippery Rock might not be a bad idea.— Tommy_D- You morons keep thinking Your going to get Peterson! Arizona won't give up their top pick for Kolb. Stop talking and dreaming about it losers. Enjoy your Marsh player while the Giants enjoy the Prince...someone the Eagles couldn't draft.....and the Giants new safety Tyler Sash. Also I hope Jackson is dreaming about how he is going to learn from Jerral Jernigan.— MRD
- "Someone the Eagles couldn't draft..." Because unlike the Giants we made the playoffs so of course your draft pick before ours is going to be someone we couldn't draft. Stop inhaling so many fumes in Newark and go back to wishing you got Cliff Lee. — ChunkyLover53
- What about Kolb to Arizona for their #1 pick Peterson; a behind the scenes deal they had planned all along.— Ascher
- Phink, I agree with you I DONT BIG Red will blow it. Kolb is a KEY CHIP we have-- and I am NOT sure Number 7 can last the season. I give you last year's Washington's game when MV sustained the rib injury. Are you OK with Kafka the primary backup? I am NOT either...— dudega
- Why wouldn't they spend on Asomugha? The salary cap doesn't recognize positions, and in FA you spend for need at position unlike the draft. If they were that high on Lindley don't you think they would have given him a chance to start last year? Hobbs and Patterson were so bad it was embarrassing to watch them play. What do you expect Roseman to say about a kid he drafted?— billro33
- While I like Asomugha, I don't see the Eagles seriously pursuing him. They have already invested a lot of money in Samuel. I don't see them spending top flight money on both corners. And, Asomugha is 29 years old. Even if the Eagles were willing to spend the money, do you really see them agreeing to the 6 year deal it will take to land him?
What I think they will do, based on past signings, is try to find a CB that is between 26-28 years old at a good price (maybe coming off an injury) to play the second RCB position. BUT (not saying I agree with it), I think they are higher on Trevard Lindley than people realize. According to Reid et al., Lindley graded out as a first round prospect but fell because of an injury his senior year. So, to them, they have a first round caliber cb that arguably can step into the starting role. Again, I don't agree, but Roseman has already given him praise this offseason for playing well down the stretch, and I wouldn't be shocked the least bit if they decided to give him a shot at starting this offseason.— IgglesPhitinPhils3 - If the Eagles can't work out a Kolb for Peterson deal with the Cardinals, I say keep him. Otherwise go after Nmandi. Marsh will be an eventual nickelback and hopefully Jarrett can replace Mikell this year or sometime down the road. Good draft for the Eagles so far.
- I dont see all those teams interested in Kolb, Id say more like Cardinals, Skins, Raiders then the others. Would we trade a qb to skins again? I doubt it, also add in Bulger (why youd want him I have no clue), Palmer and McNabb as free agents its slim pickens to deal Kolb. After reading more Im OK with all 3 picks. Watkins could start and protect blind side, Temple guy can hit and works hard and this guy seems real intelligent and has size and speed. Just not sure we needed safety? I like Coleman but the more important factor is hoping these picks stay around and become players, then its a good draft. Whats bothering me more at this point is hearing Castillo as our D coordinator. That still just doesnt sound right and I have my doubts and that includes this draft since you never know. I often think the Eagles window for playoffs has maybe closed and we could be due for some bad seasons if Vick gets hurt etc— peteike
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- You don't like mini-Clay Matthews? — Romus
- I love it, especially how late we got him. He has great potential, but not a stud LB right now. I typed that response long before they drafted him, but I was ecstatic with the pick.
- Our defense under JJ and Sean never emphasized linebackers. Maybe this year that will change, even though I doubt it, but as of now we have a lot of depth at the LB position. There wasn't enough good LBs to draft this year that I'd like over our current core anyway.
- Keep Kolb as insurance. Andy will just blow the draft pick that we get for him anyway.— phink
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