Philadelphia Eagles Fans Hope Brandon Graham Isn't the New McDougle

The Philadelphia Eagles have a poor track record when it comes to moving up in the draft and selecting undersized defensive ends. If Eagles fans are having that same deja vue feeling again it is for good reason.

Last night, as is well established organizational practice, the Eagles made a trade to swap draft positions. This year they decided to move up in the first round to grab the apparent "apple of their eye"— namely Brandon Graham.

Graham is an outside linebacker— I mean, defensive end out of Michigan. The 6' 1", 268-pounder is the type of "tweener" that the Andy Reid era Eagles have routinely coveted and had NFL player personnel pundits slotting him as a pass rushing linebacker.

The team's previous history makes this pick a little bit troubling. And, the fact that Reid and Howie Roseman parted with the No. 24 pick and both third rounders to move up 11 places makes it especially scary.

If the Eagles were going to expend that type of ransom, getting much closer to a "sure thing" would have been more in order.

For a team that just traded their franchise quarterback for 2nd and 4th round picks just a few weeks ago, a first and two third's seems a bit steep for what amounts to a roll of the dice. Perhaps the odds are pretty good— but history tells us that perhaps they are not.

Another Reid regime pulled a similar move in 2003 when they moved up 15 slots to take Miami defensive end Jerome McDougle. Despite parting with first and second round picks, the team was ecstatic to get the 6'2", 264 pound player with the 15th overall selection.

McDougle was also considered undersized around the league and projected as a pass rushing linebacker. Apparently the consensus opinion proved right as the defensive end was oft-injured and could manage a total of three sacks over four NFL seasons. Gulp!

Of course, several years earlier the Ray Rhodes regime helped establish an ignominious distinction similar to the "Mendoza Line" in baseball by paying a king's ransom to move up five slots and draft Mike Mamula with the 7th overall pick. Mamula became synonymous with reaching way too high to get a bust.

Mamula had the length at 6'4", but at 252 pounds was usually overmatched and often appeared to be a boy amongst men. He was a classic workout warrior that vaulted up the draft rankings despite an unremarkable college career.

The team fared a little better with the Boston College defensive end. He lasted five seasons and recorded 31.5 sacks. Much better than McDougle— but hardly what the Eagles envisioned getting in return for the 12th pick and two second rounders.

Stats aside, those fans who watched his body of work know full well that Mamula was a big bust.

Now fans have Graham donning midnight green under similar circumstances. Of course, all hope that he turns out to be the next Hugh Douglas or even Trent Cole as Reid compared him.

Skepticism induced by previous experience tends to creep in, though. The first difficulty with this comparison is that Douglas was an inch taller and 15 pounds heavier. The other is that although Cole has been good, fans also see that he can be overmatched and worn down by the much larger tackles he faces.

Comparing Graham to Cole also triggers a head scratching reaction. After all, he was selected in the 5th round— which might suggest that the team could have gambled on a fast, undersized "tweener" much later in the draft. Perhaps they could have used both third rounders for that purpose?

For what it is worth, Graham described himself as "a great pass rusher, a disruptive run stopper, a high motor guy, a humble guy." Well, maybe not that humble, but the Eagles and their fans would gladly take the first three regardless of the last.

Lets hope that Brandon Graham turns out to be the type of difference maker the team would hope to get for what they gave up. Unfortunately, history is not on their side.

Philadelphia Eagles Should Boldly Move Up and Draft CJ Spiller

All the various mock drafts and recommended selections for the Philadelphia Eagles, including my own, have centered on filling team needs. This has become the norm as opposed to the old "take the best available athlete."

The more contemporary approach is for teams to evaluate their roster and identify their specific areas of need. From there, it becomes a matter of evaluating the talent pool, predicting how other clubs may draft and projecting the likelihood of the team's targeted prospects being available in their draft slots.

Sometimes it makes sense for a team to break from conventional wisdom. This year may be one of those times for the Eagles.

Chances are that Kansas City will stay put and draft Eric Berry with the fifth pick. If not the Chiefs, Berry will likely be chosen by one of the first six teams on the board.

Assuming this to be the case, the Eagles should make a bold move to trade up to the 7th to 10th spot to select a true difference maker. They have the ammunition to do it.

With Berry most likely not an option, Andy Reid and company should shock the football world by selecting Clemson running back C.J. Spiller.

There will be players that can help them if they stand pat and select in their current slots— players who have the potential to be good to very good. However, Spiller would give them a player with the potential to be great.

The team just traded its franchise quarterback in favor of keeping a "West Coast" formula quarterback who does not seem to have the arm to stretch the field or the legs to turn a sack into a gain.

Earlier this offseason, the Eagles released one of the best running backs in team history. In his place, the team will have second year player LeSean McCoy, who is solid, but does appear to have the potential to be great.

Adding an explosive playmaker like Spiller would provide balance and open up the short passing game that the team will now employ. It would also take tremendous pressure off of Kevin Kolb by forcing defenses to always account for a running back who is a touchdown waiting to happen.

Drafting Spiller would be like going back in time and getting a healthy, 22-year old Brian Westbrook. Or, getting another Chris Johnson— the 2009 NFL Player of the Year. Like the Titans' back, he runs eye popping times (4.27 to 4.37 in the 40.)

Spiller has a resume filled with success, but often flew under the radar because he spent much of his college career splitting time. Last season he rushed for 1,212 yards, grabbed 36 passes for another 503 yards, and added another 965 yards returning kicks.

Overall last year, he found the end zone 20 times, including four TD's on returns. If that was not enough, Spiller also tossed a touchdown pass each of the past two seasons. And, he averaged 5.9 yards per carry over his four year career at Clemson.

Neither the Browns at No. 7, Bills at No. 9 or Jaguars at No. 10 would list running back amongst their greatest needs and might be inclined to trade down in order to fill a couple holes. Perhaps the Eagles first rounder and their own second round pick would get it done?

Spiller, along with Berry, appear to be best able to step into the NFL and make an immediate impact. And, even more importantly, a running back tandem of Spiller spelled by McCoy, along with DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek, Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant sure would make the transition to Kolb so much smoother.

With the Redskins' pick at the top of the second round and two more picks in the third round, the Birds should be able to get a pretty good safety, linebacker and/or defensive end.

Call me crazy, but if this team wants to win a Super Bowl, they should go for it. Find a top ten trade partner and put Spiller in midnight green. I can think of another former Clemson Tiger player who looked pretty good in those colors.

Philadelphia Eagles 2010 Draft: Predicting Success Based On History

The Philadelphia Eagles entered the offseason with some clear needs on both sides of the ball. As the team heads toward the 2010 NFL Draft on Thursday, the front office's activity over the past few months has served to increase both the wish list and the number of selections available to address it.

The debate in Philly continues to rage whether the Eagles are in a rebuilding mode or simply passing the torch to younger players who can maintain the same level of play. For what its worth, new GM Howie Roseman and Andy Reid have both proclaimed that the team is not rebuilding.

The Eagles organization reportedly believes that they can adequately address holes with the abundance of picks they have accumulated in a deep draft.

Most experts and fans would agree that the team needs are the following:

1) safety, 2) linebacker, 3) cornerback, 4) defensive end, 5) center, 6) guard, and 7) running back.

With the Easter evening trade of Donovan McNabb, the Eagles now have a total of 11 picks, including seven in the first 4 rounds. Here is a breakdown showing the round and placement of the Eagles 2010 draft picks:

1.24, 2.05, 2.23, 3.06, 3.23, 4.07, 4.23, 5.06, 6.31, 7.36, 7.37.

When the NFL kicks things off on Thursday night, how the Eagles brass goes about using that abundance of picks will reveal whether the team will seriously compete in 2010 or whether they are in the midst of a longer range rebuilding program?

Although the Reid era Eagles have a history of taking players that are not necessarily immediate team needs, players, fans and the front office all know that failing to address clear weaknesses will send a strong signal about what to expect this season.

Assuming that Roseman's and Reid's proclamations are not disingenuous, the question becomes what is the likelihood of the Eagles filling their many needs? And, more importantly, what are the chances that the team will draft enough difference makers to position itself for ongoing success?

Even with a good draft, the reality is that only a few picks each season make a significant impact. For every Brent Celek there are three Tony Hunt's.

In order to put it in perspective, I have reviewed the previous 11 draft classes in the Reid era. Although the number of picks and spots can vary quite a bit, assessing the impact of each year's selections helps us to predict what to expect this time around.

For purposes of assessment, the players are assigned to these categories:

Franchise Players- Perennial star players recognized amongst organization's best

Quality Starters- Above average performers who are Pro Bowl candidates

Average Starters- Legitimate NFL starter of average quality

Reserves- Worthy of earning and retaining a roster spot

1999

1.02 QB Donovan McNabb

2.04 LB Barry Gardner

4.33 DB Damon Moore

4.35 WR Na Brown

6.03 RB Cecil Martin

6.32 WR Troy Smith

7.02 TE Jed Weaver

7.45 DL Pernell Davis

Analysis

Donovan McNabb was a franchise changing selection with the second overall pick as he went on to the lead the team to a 92-48-1 record over 11 seasons. Apparently the Eagles' brass felt so good about the pick, they took off the remainder of the draft.

Impact Report Card

Franchise Players 1 McNabb

Quality Starters 0

Average Starters 0

Reserves 3 Gardner, Moore, Martin

Overall Impact to Team A+

2000

1.06 DL Corey Simon

2.05 WR Todd Pinkston

2.30 OL Bobbie Williams

4.05 WR Gari Scott

6.05 RB Thomas Hamner

6.12 DL John Frank

6.26 OL John Romero

Analysis

Corey Simon anchored the middle of the Eagles defensive line for five seasons, possessing the mass and leverage to stuff the run and collapse the pocket. As injuries continued to erode his effectiveness, the team moved him in 2005. Bobbie Williams turned in a few solid seasons for the Birds before joining the Bengals as a free agent. The fact that the rail thin Todd Pinkston started for the Eagles for four seasons serves as testimony that the team had a horrible receiving corps until Terrell Owens joined the team in 2004. He was surely not an NFL starting caliber receiver.

Impact Report Card

Franchise Players 0

Quality Starters 1 Simon

Average Starters 1 Williams

Reserves 1 Pinkston

Overall Impact to Team C-

2001

1.25 WR Freddie Mitchell

2.24 LB Quinton Caver

3.01 DL Derrick Burgess

4.26 RB Correll Buckhalter

5.16 TE Tony Stewart

5.24 QB A.J. Feeley

Analysis

First round pick Freddie Mitchell had his "4th and 26" moment in the sun and was otherwise a huge bust. If he had not been a first round selection and played on the worst receiving unit in the NFL, he may have never played in the league. Caver was a deja vu second round bust like Gardner. Burgess showed potential on the Eagles before signing with Oakland and starring for a couple seasons. Buckhalter was oft injured, but a solid reserve. Birds fans once favored Feeley to take the starting role from McNabb, but he eventually proved that he belonged as a back-up.

Impact Report Card

Franchise Players 0

Quality Starters 1 Burgess

Average Starters 0

Reserves 3 Buckhalter, Feeley, Caver

Overall Impact to Team D

2002

1.26 DB Lito Shepard

2.26 DB Michael Lewis

2.27 DB Sheldon Brown

3.26 RB Brian Westbrook

4.26 OL Scott Peters

5.27 WR Freddie Milons

6.26 LB Tyreo Harrison

7.27 DL Raheem Brock

Analysis

This was the best draft in the Andy Reid era. Lito Shepard started five out of his seven seasons in Philly and was mostly a Pro Bowl quality corner. Contract squabbles eventually put him on the bench and punched his ticket out of town. Michael Lewis turned in a few strong seasons as the starting strong safety, including 2004 when was selected for the Pro Bowl and All-Pro Team.

Although he did not receive the same level of league recognition, Sheldon Brown turned out to be the best of the three D-backs. He became a fixture at cornerback before money issues led to his departure this month. Brian Westbrook proved to be an absolute steal and went on to become one of the Eagles all-time greats before getting the fateful ring from Andy Reid on his cell phone in March.

Impact Report Card

Franchise Players 1 Westbrook

Quality Starters 2 Brown, Shepard

Average Starters 1 Lewis

Reserves 0

Overall Impact to Team A+

2003

1.15 DL Jerome McDougle

2.29 TE L.J. Smith

3.31 WR Billy McMullen

4.34 DL Jamaal Green

6.12 OL Jeremy Bridges

7.30 DB Norman LeJeune

Analysis

The Eagles traded up to take Miami's Jerome McDougle with the 15th pick hoping that he would terrorize opposing quarterbacks. After registering two sacks in his three seasons, the team cut him loose. The "high ceiling" L.J Smith spent six seasons in Philly dropping passes and missing blocks before being released.

Impact Report Card

Franchise Players 0

Quality Starters 0

Average Starters 1 Smith

Reserves 1

Overall Impact to Team F

2004

1.16 OL Shawn Andrews

3.26 DB Matt Ware

4.33 DB J.R. Reed

4.35 OL Trey Darilek

5.30 RB Thomas Tapeh

6.20 QB Andy Hall

6.27 DB Dexter Wynn

7.26 OL Adrien Clarke

7.41 RB Bruce Perry

7.42 OL Dominic Furio

Analysis

The Eagles chose mammoth Shawn Andrews with the 16th pick despite having a reputation as being an under-achiever lacking drive. It appeared to be a brilliant move as he appeared headed for Canton until the wheels came off the bus with multiple injuries and bouts of depression. Thomas Tapeh filled a full-back role for a few seasons, while Reed hung on as back-up. After one season in Philly, Ware still plays for the Cardinals.

Impact Report Card

Franchise Players 0

Quality Starters 1 Andrews

Average Starters 0

Reserves 2 Ware, Reed, Tapeh

Overall Impact to Team C+

2005

1.31 DL Mike Patterson

2.03 WR Reggie Brown

2.31 LB Matt McCoy

3.13 RB Ryan Moats

4.01 DB Sean Considine

4.25 OL Todd Herremans

5.10 DL Trent Cole

5.36 OL Scott Young

6.37 OL Calvin Armstrong

7.33 DL Keyonta Marshall

7.38 LB David Bergeron

Analysis

Similar to this season, the Eagles stockpiled 11 picks. Mike Patterson continues to provide a solid presence on the interior of the defensive line and Todd Herremans is a versatile starter on the offensive line. Fifth round steal Trent Cole is one of the top picks in the Reid era as the team's best pass rusher over the past five years. Reggie Brown, Sean Considine and Ryan Moats are all hanging on elsewhere.

Impact Report Card

Franchise Players 0

Quality Starters 1 Cole

Average Starters 2 Patterson, Herremans

Reserves 3 Brown, Moats, Considine

Overall Impact to Team B+

2006

1.14 DL Broderick Bunkley

2.07 OL Winston Justice

3.07 LB Chris Gocong

4.02 OL Max Jean-Gilles

4.12 WR Jason Avant

5.14 WR Jeremy Bloom

5.35 LB Omar Gaither

6.35 DL LaJuan Ramsey

Analysis

Although the team has gotten substantial mileage out of six players from this draft and all have started, none are above average. Broderick Bunkley is a solid part of the defensive line rotation. Winston Justice and Max Jean-Gilles emerged as starters in 2009. Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong appear to be falling short of their projected potential, with the latter having been traded in the offseason. Jason Avant is a sure-handed, tough possession receiver and possibly the best of the bunch.

Impact Report Card

Franchise Players 0

Quality Starters 0

Average Starters 3 Bunkley, Justice, Jean-Gilles

Reserves 3 Avant, Gaither, Gocong

Overall Impact to Team B

2007

2.04 QB Kevin Kolb

2.25 DL Victor Abiamiri

3.23 LB Stewart Bradley

3.26 RB Tony Hunt

5.22 DB CJ Gaddis

5.25 TE Brent Celek

6.27 DB Rashad Barksdale

7.26 RB Nate Ilaoa

Analysis

This could prove to be one of, if not the, best drafts for Reid—or his undoing. Brent Celek emerged as a Pro Bowl caliber tight-end who has the potential to be one of the league's best. Stewart Bradley was asserting himself as a scheme diverse linebacker before tearing up his knee. Victor Abiamiri has flashed potential, but cannot stay on the field and is wearing out his welcome.

The variable that could push this way up the list is Kevin Kolb if he realizes the potential envisioned by his coach and many fans. Of course, if he turns out to be an AJ Feeley facsimile, this draft class could have tremendous negative impact on the franchise for years to come with McNabb now in a Redskins uniform.

Impact Report Card

Franchise Players 0

Quality Starters 1 Celek

Average Starters 2 Bradley, Kolb

Reserves 1 Abiamiri

Overall Impact to Team B (semester still in session)

2008

2.16 DL Trevor Laws

2.18 WR DeSean Jackson

3.17 DL Bryan Smith

4.10 OL Mike McGlynn

4.18 DB Quintin Demps

4.32 DB Jack Ikegwuonu

6.18 OL Mike Gibson

6.34 LB Joe Mays

6.37 LB Andy Studebaker

7.23 OL King Dunlap

Analysis

DeSean Jackson stands out in this draft group with a strong rookie campaign, followed by a Pro Bowl season in 2009. His explosiveness makes him the key component of the team's revamped offense. Quintin Demps showed potential in his first year, but has struggled since. Trevor Laws has the makings of a bust, but the team is going to give him a shot in training camp to prove that wrong. Mike McGlynn, Joe Mays and King Dunlap continue to hang on as reserves for now.

Impact Report Card

Franchise Players 0

Quality Starters 1 Jackson

Average Starters 0

Reserves 5 Demps, Laws, Mays, Dunlap, McGlynn

Overall Impact to Team B+

2009

1.19 WR Jeremy Maclin

2.21 RB LeSean McCoy

5.17 TE Cornelius Ingram

5.21 DB Victor Harris

5.23 OL Fenuki Tupou

6.21 WR Brandon Gibson

7.04 OL Paul Fanaika

7.21 LB Moise Fokou

Analysis

As the surprise 19th pick, Jeremy Maclin was solid in his rookie campaign, but did not demonstrate the same explosiveness as Jackson. LeSean McCoy is the starter with Westbrook gone, but has not yet displayed a lot of burst and falls in the bottom third of NFL starting running backs. Both are young and have the potential to blossom into quality starters, though, as they continue their NFL education.

Macho Harris was a playmaker in college, but not so much in the NFL. Although he appears a step slow to play corner, he still may work out at safety. Moise Fokou is listed as a starter on the depth chart, but the Eagles will almost surely attempt to upgrade the position in the draft. The team took a flier on Cornelius Ingram, but after re-injuring his knee last summer, his upside potential may never be realized.

Impact Report Card

Franchise Players 0

Quality Starters 0

Average Starters 3 Maclin, McCoy, Harris

Reserves 1 Fokou

Overall Impact to Team B (but could go higher)

The Final Word

Over the past 11 years, the Eagles have added two "Franchise" players (McNabb, Westbrook), eight "Quality Starters", and 12 "Average Starters." That averages out to exactly two starters per draft—with one being a star caliber player.

The impact of each year's draft has ranged from an "A+" in 1999 and 2002 to an "F" in 2003. Overall, the Eagles have averaged a B- throughout the period.

Those seeing the situation as "glass half full" will point to the number of picks that the team holds and the depth of quality of this year's draft class.

The historical perspective may tend to toss the contents of that glass on those optimists by recognizing that the draft might not yield enough impact players to adequately fill current needs.

Comparing this season with the 2005 and 2008 drafts when the club possessed a similar abundance of picks would suggest that the Eagles could come away with one star caliber player and two starters.

Of course, the team and fans hope for a 2002 type performance that, along with Kolb meeting expectations, could propel the team to continuing prosperity. If instead they fall around historical average, will the impact be enough?

Prediction:

1. The Eagles will draft both a safety and linebacker that will step into starting roles and eventually become impact players.

2. They will also draft a defensive end, but once again come away with a player that disappoints.

3. As they have done in the past, the Eagles will draft a cornerback, groom him next season and then plug him into a starting role for several years.

4. Lastly, with this year's depth and Reid's eye for offensive lineman, they should come away with a starting quality guard or center.

Expect the impact players to come from these names:

Safety- Taylor Mays or Nate Allen

Linebacker- Sean Weatherspoon or Navorro Bowman

Cornerback- Devin McCourty or Chris Cook

OL- J.D. Walton, Eric Olsen, Mitch Petrus, or Marshall Newhouse

And, one last note—the Eagles brass will be feeling some pressure when pick 2.05 comes rolling around. Neither Reid nor Roseman want their legacy to be that they traded Donovan McNabb for Reggie Brown or Todd Pinkston.

2010 NFL Draft: Eight Prospects the Philadelphia Eagles Should Be Targeting

As NFL teams embark on the annual offseason process of evaluating their existing personnel and identifying team needs, the landscape will be different this year. With the absence of a collective bargaining agreement, teams will need to do it the old fashioned way.

Specifically, filling team needs will mostly have to come through trades and the draft since free agent movement will be very limited. Considering that NFL GM's have largely displaced the art of trading in a world cluttered with caponomics and combine rankings, it would be unreasonable to expect very many player for player trades.

Accordingly, this leads clubs back to the draft to fill current and future voids on their particular team. This becomes even further refined for the Philadelphia Eagles, who like their brethren across the street, are likely staring at a relatively finite window of opportunity.

Barring a trade, Donovan McNabb is currently the team's starting quarterback- and at the age of 33 projects to have 3 or 4 more years of prime production.

Additionally, as I detailed a few weeks ago in The Philadelphia Eagles: Seven Semi-Controversial Steps to a Super Bowl Title, despite a disappointing and revealing season ending, it seems that a handful of reinforcements could put the Eagles back into the Super Bowl mix.

So, simply put- the time is now. With the clock ticking and the fanbase becomingly increasingly restless, the Eagles would be very wise to avoid projects in the draft and set their sights on players who can make an immediate impact.

Certainly, this equation could change significantly if the team decides to move McNabb and install Kevin Kolb as their starting QB. But, with this situation yet to unfold, the assumption here is that McNabb will be behind center come September.

Right now, the team has the following picks: 1st round (24), 2nd round (23), 3rd round (6), 3rd round (23), 4th round (23), 4th round (29), 6th round (31)

Considering team needs and the current scenario, here are the players that the Eagles should target in the upcoming draft.

1 Taylor Mays S USC Round 1

6' 3" 231 pounds 4.45 40 Time

A few weeks ago, Taylor Mays looked tailor-made for the Eagles, but likely out of their reach at the 24th slot in the first round. Subsequently, due to a somewhat lackluster showing during Senior Bowl week, many concerns arose about his pass coverage ability and Mays has dropped in many rankings.

This could prove to be a win-win for the Eagles as he fills the teams greatest need and might now fall to them at 24. Mays is one of those rare freaks of nature that combines size, speed and athleticism. And, importantly, he brings the wood by delivering the type of bone jarring hits that was sorely missing with the departure of Brian Dawkins.

After being revered by scouts a year ago, the buzz started to surface and then hit a full crescendo at the Senior Bowl that Mays did not possess the instincts or footwork to cover NFL receivers.

For Philadelphians though, he may represent the closest facsimile to the beloved Dawkins and would appear to be a great fit for their defensive scheme. "Dawk" was never known for his pure cover skills, and proved in recent years, that a hard hitting free safety with the versatility to support the run, blitz the quarterback, force some turnovers, and intimidate pass catchers across the middle is most important.

2 Sean Weatherspoon OLB Missouri Round 1

6' 1" 241 pounds 4.54 40 Time

The Missouri outside linebacker is the type of highly athletic, scheme diverse player that the Eagles lacked a season ago. With the absence of Stewart Bradley, opponents took advantage of the team's need to rotate personnel to mask deficiencies.

At season's end, the Dallas Cowboys took this to an entirely different level by simply using the personnel to read the defensive play call and adjust accordingly. Tony Romo repeatedly called audibles to exploit the formations and weaknesses of the Eagles players on the field.

Sean Weatherspoon fits the Eagles 4-3 scheme, possessing the size and athleticism to defend the run, drop into coverage and still rush the passer off the edge. He also has the bulk to slide into the middle if necessary should Bradley be delayed in his recovery.

Weatherspoon is also the type of vocal, fiery leader on the field that has been lacking since Dawkins left town. Scouts see him as football smart with a knack for being in the right position, which Eagles fans did not always witness with last year's linebacking corps.

The Eagles can ill afford to repeat last year's mix and match approach at linebacker. They also would be very wise to alter recent protocol of sacrificing size for speed.

3 Navorro Bowman OLB Penn State Round 1-2

6' 1" 232 pounds 4.65 40 Time

Football pundits are mixed in the assessment of Navorro Bowman and project him going anywhere from late in the first round to the end of the second round. Most everyone agrees, though, that he is probably a mid-first round talent.

So what's the rub? Bowman has had some brushes with the law and been on probation a couple times over his stay in Happy Valley, so his character and maturity are in question.

If the Eagles staff can get comfortable that these incidents relate to a kid making some bad decisions, but will not be an ongoing problem, Bowman would bring similar skill sets as Weatherspoon. Similarly, he has the potential to be a defensive stalwart for years to come with star potential.

The junior linebacker has already completed his degree and feels that he is ready for the NFL. His size, speed, instincts, and big play capability would be a great addition to the Eagles defense.

4 Nate Allen S South Florida Round 1-2

6' 1" 205 pounds 4.50 40 Time

South Florida's Nate Allen has been moving up the rankings, perhaps as teams consider him with Mays moving in the opposite direction. There is growing sentiment that Allen has better all around skills than Mays, but does not have the same high ceiling.

Although he does not quite possess the same stature, Allen does have ample height and bulk to fill the Eagles needs. He has also been a playmaker with ballhawking abilities and the range to play "centerfield."

Like Dawkins, he was a team captain, vocal leader, and a physical tackler. Having flown a bit under the radar, the Eagles could potentially move down into the last first or early second round and pick up a very solid player for the important free safety position.

5 Donovan Warren CB Michigan Round 2-3

6' 0" 185 pounds 4.40 40 Time

Could the Eagles use another Donovan? Absolutely, if it is Michigan's cornerback Donovan Warren.

Warren is still a potential value pick as he has been somewhat underrated and had once been slotted in the third round. Some scouts expect his stock to rise further once he gets more exposure at the Combine, so the likelihood of grabbing him in the third round appears to continue to drop.

The cornerback is fast, athletic, and physical— equally adept at playing the run and pass. Many love his intangibles as he is highly confident and competitive.

Grabbing a true stud safety would be ideal for the Eagles, but Warren would provide options if that does not happen. Either Sheldon Brown or Warren could slide over to play the safety position. Of course, adding depth at cornerback is never a bad thing.

6 Chris Cook CB Virginia Round 3-4

6' 2" 185 pounds 4.45 40 Time

Virginia's Chris Cook impressed scouts during Senior Bowl week. He displayed a great deal of raw talent with substantial upside.

Cook is lanky, but scouts are impressed with his smoothness and ability to maneuver. His size will allow him to play press coverage and would fit the Eagles scheme, especially with Asante Samuel lacking in that capability.

If he were to drop to the fourth round, Andy Reid would have to think hard before passing him up with one of the team's two picks.

7 Myron Rolle S Florida State Round 3-4

6' 2" 218 pounds 4.60 40 Time

Most scouts did not know what to expect with Myron Rolle when they assembled for Senior Bowl week. He elected to forego his senior year at FSU to study abroad as a Rhodes Scholar, so there was a great deal of skepticism whether he would return in shape or truly interested in an NFL career.

Most everyone was pleasantly surprised to see that he had remained in top physical condition and overall showed well throughout the week. Most teams still see him as a gamble due to being away from the game for a year and his interest in becoming a neurosurgeon.

Conversely, he is obviously very intelligent as well as an excellent physical specimen. Rolle has the size and strength to defend the run and range from sideline to sideline. While at Florida State, and during Senior Bowl week, Rolle showed excellent cover skills as well.

If the Eagles do not grab a safety earlier in the draft, Rolle might be a steal in the third or fourth round. His combination of athleticism, intelligence, character, and leadership are very rare—and would do well in midnight green.

8 Eric Berry S Tennessee Round 1

5' 11" 195 pounds 4.40 40 Time

This might be a pipe dream, but stranger things have happened. This scenario would have the Eagles trading Kevin Kolb and their first pick to the St. Louis Rams or Cleveland Browns in exchange for their No. 1 pick— then take Eric Berry.

With a little luck, Berry could drop to the seventh slot, and if he does, the Eagles should jump on this opportunity. The scenario with the Rams might be an even longer shot since they have the first pick overall, but considering that there is not a clear consensus top player who stands above the crowd, it might be doable.

The Rams would get a starting QB to build around and another first round talent to plug into one of their many holes. Meanwhile, the Eagles would get a true difference maker on defense who would fill a glaring void.

Many scouts and pundits compare Berry to Ravens All-Pro Ed Reed in terms of style of play and impact. If the Eagles could pick up a player with Reed-like impact, they could be a top ten defense for year's to come— not to mention a Super Bowl participant next February.

The Final Word

The Philadelphia Eagles have rarely stood pat on draft day in the Andy Reid era. They have either traded up or down based on their value board, so it is reasonable to expect a similar approach this April.

With six picks in the first four rounds, the Eagles have a good chance to grab at least two or three of these players. Their most pressing needs are clearly free safety and outside linebacker—and it is critical that they come away with talented players ready to step into the roles immediately.

Beyond that, need positions to address in the draft are cornerback, defensive end, and running back. You can add quarterback and move it up to the No. 3 spot if the team trades Kolb.

Lastly, this is not the year to draft an offensive lineman. The Eagles should look to fill any need this season by signing an aging veteran, even if it means releasing the Andrews brothers.

For many reasons, this year's draft is one of the most important for the Eagles in the past decade. If they sign one or two impact free agents and they play their cards right here, they could come away big winners with a team prepared to compete for a title.