Last week, I wrote that the Eagles only had five or six roster spots open, and in the 2008 draft, the Eagles were able to come away with a mix of the players they needed for this year and players and draft picks for the future.
I feel like too many people, including ESPN's draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., are giving the Eagles low marks for their draft, but seriously, that trade with Carolina really was too good of a deal to pass up.
I know, I know. I wanted a big name in the first round, too. But for the 19th pick, the Eagles got a defensive tackle (Trevor Laws) who immediately steps in as the number three player in the rotation, a right tackle (Mike McGlynn) in the fourth round to back up Jon Runyan, and a first round pick next year.
Look at what the Eagles got on the first day. After Laws, they got DeSean Jackson with the 49th pick, and they traded a fourth round pick for Lorenzo Booker, a running back that they liked last year, who will fill the role that Ryan Moats never seemed to grow into.
The problem with us Eagles fans is that we look at every move individually, instead of as a whole. If I said last week that the Eagles would get one of the top wide receivers in the draft, a 300-pound defensive tackle who led Division I in tackles last year, and the 2009 first round pick of a team that didn't make the playoffs last year, all without trading Lito Sheppard, you would have called me nuts and said that it was impossible.
So with that analysis, doesn't the Eagles draft weekend seem a little smarter? I think it does.
Even further, look at the players drafted between number 19, where the Eagles started the day, and number 47, where the Eagles drafted Trevor Laws out of Notre Dame. Which of those 28 players can you honestly say the Eagles need more than Laws or DeSean Jackson?
The only one that comes to mind is Kenny Phillips, the safety out of Miami. But because of the complexities of Jim Johnson's defense, Phillips wouldn't even be a contributor this year, which means that Andy Reid and company looked at the present and actually drafted guys who will step onto the field this year.
More importantly, the Eagles now have two first round picks in 2009. These picks mean that the Eagles now have more ammunition to pursue a trade for a top wide receiver as the summer goes on.
They could even keep Lito Sheppard (which I doubt will actually happen) and just use the two first round picks to trade for Chad Johnson. As I've stated before, the cap hit the Bengals will take by trading Ocho Cinco drops dramatically after June 1. Imagine if the Eagles kept Lito and brought in Ocho Cinco.
Yes, I know I'm dreaming in that scenario because it just makes too much sense to keep the top secondary in the league intact and bring in a Pro Bowl wide receiver. The gods would never let those of us who bleed green be that happy.
What is more likely to happen is that the Eagles will trade both first round picks next April to move up and draft the best offensive lineman coming out of college. I can already hear you asking why the Eagles didn't just take offensive tackle Jeff Otah at number 19.
Well, simply, Otah would have been the sixth offensive lineman drafted at that point. Do you really want to trust the sixth best lineman in the draft to protect your quarterback's blindside? Otah wouldn't play this year anyway because Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas are the starters, so wouldn't you prefer that the Eagles wait until next year and package those two first round picks to move up and draft the best offensive tackle coming out of college instead of the sixth best?
I'll be honest with you. It took me two days to reach this point of rational thinking. At just after 5 p.m. on Saturday when the Eagles went on the clock, I was screaming for Devin Thomas or Kenny Phillips. But the truth is, the Eagles don't have that many holes on their roster, and you can't keep drafting 10 or 11 guys just to replace other young guys that have been blocked by starters.Does it really make sense to cut guys like Max Jean-Gilles, Scott Young or Victor Abiamiri just to replace them with newer versions so you can say you had a productive draft? Isn't it better to keep those guys, fill in the holes where you can and plan for the future? Personally, I'll take the latter, especially because DeSean Jackson's 4.35-second 40-yard dash means that Reno Mahe and Greg Lewis won't be returning punts for the birds next year, or even make the team.
Quick hits on the draft picks:
Trevor Laws, DT: Drafted number 47 and immediately gets playing time in Jim Jackson's four-man rotation at defensive tackle. How can you not like a guy who had 112 tackles as an interior lineman?
DeSean Jackson, WR/KR: He's lightning quick and can stretch the field if the Eagles put him in motion so he doesn't get bumped at the line of scrimmage. He also solves the Eagles' revolving door of kickoff and punt returners.
Bryan Smith, DE: At approximately 230 pounds, he's too light to play defensive end, but with his speed, he'll make an excellent special teams player on kick coverage, which was a weakness for the Eagles last year.
Mike McGlynn, OL: Andy Reid must have had the shakes by the 109th pick in the draft, and instinctively chose an offensive lineman. Experts project him as a guard, which could mean that the Eagles are planning to move Shawn Andrews back to tackle after Jon Runyan moves on next offseason.
Quintin Demps, S: The Eagles waited until the fourth round to draft a safety, which means they probably are just looking for depth at the position, and possibly special teams help. They'll need to find Brian Dawkins' replacement next offseason through free agency.
Jack Ikegwuonu, CB: I like this pick, despite his alleged criminal past and his current knee injury. Before the injury, Ikegwuonu projected as a first day draft pick, so the Eagles can stash him on the IR this season and have themselves a solid replacement for Lito Sheppard in 2009.
Mike Gibson, OG: I doubt he'll make the squad unless there are several injuries on the offensive line this summer.
Joe Mays: LB: He fits in as a pass rusher at linebacker, but the Eagles are already set at the position with guys under 25 years old, so he probably will find his way to the practice squad.
Andy Studebaker, LB: Andy comes from Wheaton (a college I have never heard of), but dominated Division III by consistently causing havoc in the other team's backfield. If he gains some confidence in the rookie camps, he has a chance to stick around. Guys with his instincts don't disappear that easily.
King Dunlap, OT: This guy is huge! He's 6-9, 310, but couldn't keep his starting job at Auburn, so why would he make the Eagles?