More Draft Thoughts

Here’s what I sent a friend who asked my opinion about the Eagles just concluded draft.

 

 

I’m somewhat ambivalent about the draft. I am not in the gnashing of teeth camp that cannot believe the eagles traded the #19 pick. Getting a 2, 4 and a #1 next year is a really good deal, especially for a draft that supposedly had a lot of 2^nd and 3^rd round talent.

 

The eagles wanted to move up to pick Branden Albert, but were outbid by the Chiefs for that pick.

 

Honestly, at #19 there was no one who was going to be the difference maker that everyone was clamoring for. The most obvious pick would have been OL Jeff Otah. But does he really get everyone excited? No. (neither for that matter would have Branden Albert had the Eagles been able to trade up and select him.)

 

I heard some complaining that the Eagles should have gotten Rashard Mendenhall (RB, Illinois) (taken by Pittsburgh in the 20s). Well, but I doubt he would have had a huge impact given how “hard” the Eagles offense is to pick up for rookie skill players.

 

Really, if you wanted a true impact player for 2008, the eagles would have had to move up into the top 10.

 

Having said that, I’m slightly disappointed by the Desean Jackson choice. I can’t believe our first pick was for a guy whose primary job will be punt and kick returner. He’s really fast, but really small. Right now he’s 169 lbs. but hopes to be up to 180 lbs. by training camp  The Jeremy Bloom debacle continues to reverberate two years after we drafted him and nearly one year after cutting him loose with no Plan B for the return game. – to the point where we have to expend a second round pick for a returner who the team hopes can play some WR.

 

I had the same thought about the similarities in size and speed to the great Todd Pinkston . On the other hand, Carolina’s Steve Smith is 5’ 11” 180 lbs so maybe there’s some hope. And he is faster than Pinkston ever was (and 2-3 inches shorter). And Kevin Curtis is only 6 foot, 186 pounds (for what that’s worth).

 

My biggest complaint is that 3^rd rounder they used on the McNeese St. defensive end. Why not take another WR there? Early Doucet was available. That way either one Jackson or the other WR pick could pan out.(weirdly, I though the Skins two WR picks would have been great Eagles picks). Do we really need another small school undersized speed rushing D-End more than a WR? Then again Rich Hoffman makes some interesting observations today about the Giants’ ability to bring front 4 pressure in the super bowl and the Eagles perhaps making a conscious decision to load up the d-line: Cole, Patterson, Bunkley, Thomas, Abiamiri, Clemons, etc.

 

And don’t discount getting Lorenzo Booker. That’s now an experienced pass catching RB the Eagles got for a fourth rounder. Should contribute WAY MORE this season than any fourth round back they could have hoped to draft.

 

They also have this Lito situation still out there. The media in Philly (or maybe just WIP) are either in a panic or doom and gloom about the Eagles inability to trade him. Lots of stuff can still happen. Jason Taylor is being shopped, as is Jeremy Shockey (not saying we’d trade for either one of those guys, only that teams are still trying to trade big names/starters). And then of course are the Boldin, Williams, and Chad Johnson rumors that just won’t die.

 

This draft looks very different if the Eagles eventually land Anquan Boldin for Lito and the Panthers #1 pick next year.

 

I’m also trying to read between all the lines in some of these articles, Reid comments…is it possible that the Eagles extend Lito and Sheldon Brown with new deals to bring them somewhat closer to Samuels’ contract and keep everyone happy and on the team?