Nfl-draft 

If you're a football fan of any nature, if you like or don't like what the Eagles have done this off season, one thing that every Eagles fan should look forward to, is draft day (now draft weekend) and its new format. Under this new format, the first round will be held Thursday night, April 22nd. The second and third rounds will be held Friday night, April 23rd.  And the final four rounds will be held during the day Saturday, April 24. One thing this format immediately brings is drama, teams will now have an entire day to evaluate what talent is left after these rounds and that gives those teams much more time to make deals.  More after the jump.

Now let’s get to what the Eagles should/will address, and what you can be prepared for on draft day.  The Eagles have 5 of the first 87 picks (24, 37, 55, 70, 87) they could either use all of these picks, or trade a some picks next year to move up and select a player, one of the players rumored to be targeted by the Eagles is Eric Berry, the "cant-miss-safety" from Tennessee, more on him in a bit.  The side of the ball I think the eagles will address with the most urgency this weekend is the defense, the D "soiled the mattress" the last 9 weeks of the season giving up over 26 points a game over 8 of those 9 last games (removing the falcons game).  By trading for Ernie Sims they have eliminated their need for a Linebacker, but they still need a DE, Safety, and a CB, we also all know they will draft an OL, perhaps a DL, and most definitely a QB… here are who I expect them to target early.

We'll start with the "We may trade up for you" Section.

Eric Berry, S, Tennessee:  In a perfect world the eagles trade their first round pick next year, their 2nd round pick this year (not the McNabb pick), and some late round picks and end up in the top 7 and draft the best DB in the draft, he has speed, a nose for the football, great cover skills, and is a hard hitter, hes a tad small (5'11 200 lbs)… but who cares. If the eagles trade into the top 10, you have just read about the eagles next great safety.

Joe Haden, CB, Florida:  He has the best cover skills in the draft but ran a shaky 40 time at the combine, a 4.57 but followed it with a 4.39 at his pro day and is expected by many to be the first CB taken.

Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State:  The people that don't think Haden will be the first CB taken, believe Wilson will be taken first, to compare his speed to Haden's, he ran a 4.43 which disappointed people, but scouts believe a tweaked hammy caused that.  He has great cover skills, speed, good nose for sniffing out plays, can play zone and man coverage and has all the tools to be a great CB in the NFL.

Earl Thomas, S, Texas: This guy left Texas after 2 impressive years playing safety for the horns, his drawback is experience and size, at 5'10 195 he is built more like a corner than a safety, and personally if the eagles would trade up for him, why not just trade up for Berry? But he had 8 picks last year and 16 passes defended, so hes always around the ball, and doesn't like to let the other team catch it.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, USF: Once a highly touted high school prospect Paul attended junior college before transferring to USF, the 6'6 260 LB Defensive End put up 12 sacks and 31 tackles for a loss in the last 2 seasons, he lacks experience and dominant college numbers, but when a man of that size runs a 4.6 40 (the fastest by any DE) he gets noticed, the thing about Paul is he could also slip down to 24.

Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech: Think if Victor Abirimiri ever lived up to his potential, he would be Derrick Morgan. This guy had 18.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks on a defensive line filled with Mike Zolteks so he got all the double teams, all the attention and put up those numbers, I shouldn't have to say more, if the eagles want to trade up to get the best DE in the draft… here he is.

The stay put bunch.

Taylor Mays, S, USC: If they stay put Mays could slip down to the eagles at 24. Going
into this season Mays was projected as a top 5 pick as he was an all American
Safety, and finalist for the Jim Thorpe award in 2008, but a lackluster season
for USC overall last year and a shaky senior bowl performance has some people
down on him.  Mays has great size and
athleticism but comes with concerns, many of his “downsides” have been things
like his backpedaling, his tendency to bite on play action and pump fakes, and
his tackling ability, but these are all things that can be fixed with good
coaching. So if they like mays they could stay at 24 and take a chance on him.

Sergio Kindle, DE-LB, Texas: This guy is a prototypical 3-4 LB/DE, so why put him here? well hes a speed rusher, and hes someone that if he goes on the same diet i'm on, could put on the lbs to be a very solid 4-3 speed rushing downhill DE… you cant teach speed, but you can "teach" weight.

Everson Griffin, DE, USC: I personally like, and don't like this guy, he has all the talent and ability to be a star but he is one of those guys that seems to take plays off, the Eagles hate that, the fans hate that, but if he slips to 24 he would be hard to pass up, and if motivated could be a steal at 24.

The post first round section, AKA im tied of typing long descriptions section


The following are all players I could see the eagles drafting in the 2-4th rounds (in no order), what happens after that round is completely unpredictable, not that the earlier rounds are any different.

Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida: Big, Scary, Athletic Backfield Menace, but will the eagles take the risk with his off field issues? I personally think this guy will be a good DE in the NFL and is worth the risk, but is he worth a first round pick is the big question. I can see him falling out of the 1st round, and I can see the eagles picking him at 24 or at 37… Thats why he is here.

John Skelton, QB, Fordham: Big Frame, Big Arm, Big Project, need I say more?

Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford: Big power back that ran a 4.53 40, could be head 3 of a new 3 headed monster.

Nate Allen, S, USF: If they don't go safety in the 1st round, could be there in round 2.

Myron Rolle, S, FSU: This is the Rhode Scholar guy that left FSU to go to oxford, the eagles like smart players.

Jon Asamoah, G, Illinois: Durable, Big, Run Blocker that has flown under the radar, would be a steal in round 2.

John Jerry, G, Miss: Big guard that could end up playing tackle if need be.

Tony Washington, G, Abeline Christian: Well, um… lets see this guy is big, plays a mean Guard, and had consensual sex with his 15 year old sister in 2003, besides that… he can play

Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse: Would be a first/second round pick if he didn't have knee problems… need i say more?

Perrish Cox, CB, OKST: He's only here because of his name. 

Correy Wootton, DE, NW: Another speed rusher that tallied 20 sacks during his time at Northwestern.

Reshad Jones, S, Georgia: Reading his scouting reminds me of what they wanted out of Quentin Demps.

Mike Williams, WR, Syracuse: Big 6'2 WR with good hands and play making ability, probably a bit of a project but they don't need a guy to play week 1.


Now that my eyes have crossed, and are working on a full rotation inside of my head from typing this, and reading scouting reports… thats all I have.  If the Eagles draft these players, you can high five me when you see me, if not… this post never happened.  Either way I hope you all enjoy the draft as much as I do, and if there's anyone you think the Eagles will target that I didn't mention… post it and discuss!