The Philadelphia Eagles had quite a successful draft weekend. They were able to land three eventual starters with their first three picks and guys who can contribute in some manner right away. 1 (19) - Jeremy Maclin - WR - Mizzou
Maclin was perhaps the surprise pick of the draft at number 19 overall. The surprise comes not only as to where he was taken, but who took him. Then on top of that, the Eagles passed up Brandon Pettigrew to take him.
Nobody expected the Eagles to draft a wide receiver in the first round because that’s just not Reid’s style. But not only did they draft a receiver, they traded up to get him.
How’s that for throwing a wrench into the system?
I look for Maclin to make an immediate impact in the same style D-Jack did last year. The Eagles have to have one of, if not the, fastest receiving corps in the league. Kevin Curtis, D-Jack, and now Maclin.
Ridiculous.
2 (53) - LeSean McCoy - RB - Pitt
A Harrisburg, PA native, McCoy has been around the area for a long time. He played his high school ball at Bishop McDevitt, a local catholic high school in Lancaster county.
From there, he went and played his college ball at Pitt, where he was thrown to the forefront of top NFL prospects.
Now McCoy doesn’t have to leave Pennsylvania at all. He can make an immediate impact and the Eagles will look for nothing less. He must improve on his blocking, and once he does that this local boy will look to make an immense impact on the 2009 Philadelphia Eagles.
Coincidentally, another former Eagles’ running back used to play at Bishop McDevitt; Ricky Watters. He was pretty good for us, huh?
5 (153) - Cornelius Ingram - TE - Florida
Ingram is a guy who I’ve been screaming for the Eagles to grab for a long time. Ever since his 2007 season, in fact.
Ingram missed out on 2008, which caused his stock to fall this year. However, injury or not, the talent and big-playmaking ability is impossible to deny.
If his knee is fully-healed, Ingram is an absolute steal in the fifth round. But even if it’s not, he was only a fifth round pick. That said, I look for Ingram to play behind Celek this year, but to become a big-time threat in the near-future.
The Rest of the Pack:
5 (157) - Victor “Macho” Harris - CB - Virginia Tech
5 (159) - Fenuki Tupou - T - Maryland
6 (194) - Brandon Gibson - WR - Washington State
7 (213) - Paul Fanaika - G - Arizona State
7 (230) - Moise Fokou - LB - Maryland
Honestly, there’s not a whole lot to know about the rest of these guys. They look to be depth guys, but hopefully some of them step up and surprise us like guys before them such as Omar Gaither, Brent Celek, Trent Cole, etc.
Harris out of VT looks to be a fairly talented and bigger (almost 6’) corner who will compete with Ickegwuonu for that final corner spot. Could also be kicked inside to safety depending on his coverage skills.
Tupou and Fanaika are really depth guys who will have to scratch and claw their way onto the roster. It hadn’t happened yet, but you knew the fifth round was just the absolute latest Reid could go without taking a lineman.
Gibson is a decent sleeper guy here. He did a lot of good things in Washington State, but a sixth-round guy usually doesn’t transfer to the NFL well (yes, I know Tom Brady went in the sixth).
Fokou is a guy who could push for a roster spot depending on how much the Eagles like Tracy White. Either way these guys are nothing more than a special teams presence, but it will be exciting to watch him battle it out to try and make this roster.
Veterans Added Via the Draft:
Jason Peters for a 1st and 4th (along with a 6th in 2010)
Ellis Hobbs for two 5th-round picks (137 and 141)
The Jason Peters trade has been analyzed to death. I love it. Moving on.
Who would have thought that the Eagles would have traded for a cornerback? Well, I guess it’s not that big of a surprise considering the Sheldon Brown situation. Even though Reid denies it, I think it’s fairly obvious that this is a direct result of that situation.
All the reason to love the trade even more. I’m a big fan of Ellis Hobbs and I believe he’s underrated. He led the AFC in kick return yardage last year and, oh yeah, the man can play corner as well.
He’s only 5’9” but he plays like he’s 6’1”. He should help immediately.
Overall Grade: A-
I know the draft grades are dumb but it’s really all we have to show our approval/disapproval with the draft.
The “A-” means that the Eagles got all the positions I was hoping for, but there were a few moves that left me scratching my head.
Such as why no blocking tight end? Not a huge deal I guess but it would have been nice. The Eagles are sitting there in the seventh round with Rashad Jennings still on the board (a guy who was projected as a third or fourth-round pick) but instead they draft a linebacker who nobody has ever heard of.
Jennings would have been a steal there and didn’t go until 250. My only thinking is, perhaps something was wrong that we just don’t know about.
Either way, this weekend was a resounding success for the Eagles and should translate into some rookie help for ‘09.
If I was forced to give a bold prediction, I would have to give two.
1. Don’t be surprised to hear Maclin’s name in the running for Rookie of the Year.
2. LeSean McCoy goes for about 500 yards rushing, 300+ receiving and about eight total touchdowns in spot duty.
BONUS: 3. Westbrook is back to Pro Bowl form because of McCoy.
There we go. But one last thing, what’s with all the funny names?
