OK, in my opinion, reading mock drafts written by national heads is a exercise in futility. Take Rivals.com for instance, as they have mused that the Birds will select PSU’s Dan Connor with the 19th pick. Brett Myers would call the editor of Rivals.com a “retard” if he read that mock. Hey I didn’t say it, Brett Myers did. Don’t shoot the messenger.
Dan Connor is the top ranked MIKE linebacker as rated by NFL.com’s draft guru Mike Mayock. Considering Jim Johnson’s effusive praise of Stewart Bradley (3rd round pick) and his related statement that Bradley looks like his starting MIKE heading into 2008, I’d say the chance of the Birds making Connor their 19th pick is about a million to one.
So your saying there’s a chance…yeah…I read you.
Actually no. So here’s what I propose:
NFLDraftCountdown.com has a list of the top 100 prospects heading into the draft. I ‘d like to see a three round mock based on these rankings. First a couple of rules:
1. You cannot select a player rated higher than the Birds’ respective draft slot. Thus, you cannot select the 18th rated player with the 19th pick. You cannot select the 48th rated player with the 49th pick. Got it? Need more examples? Didn’t think so.
2. You cannot select a player with the 19th pick that is rated lower than the next Birds selection. For example, you cannot select the 50th rated player with the 19th pick. Not that you would, considering, the 49th pick would seem useful in that situation.
3. You CAN select a player not included on the top 100 list, i.e. Jordy Nelson with any pick.
OK. Again, here is the link to the top 100 list. You can post your mock in the comments section or you can email it to me directly (eaglescoutblog@yahoo.com) with a little personal analysis/reasoning and I’ll post them here on the main page.
The winner takes home a used Max Jean-Gilles jockstrap. It’s fun at parties, just strap it on the face of the first guy who passes out, Revenge of the Nerds style.
I’ll kick the draft off with my own little best case scenario:
1st Round - 19th pick: Mike Jenkins, CB, South Florida, 5′10″ 197
Among talent evaluators, Jenkins consistently falls into the category of a top 3 cornerback prospect in the 2008 draft. Jenkins is skilled in press coverage and can run with any receiver. Also has free safety experience, as NFLDraftscout.com preaches that he has “Brian Dawkins like qualities.” Limited kick returning duties, however, took a kick 100 yards for a TD against Cincinnati. Who cares if he was tasered by the cops after a bar fight in early 2007 - show of hands of people who haven’t been tasered??
2nd Round - 49th pick: Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame, 6′0″ 302
First off, I don’t think Laws falls this far, but we’re going by rankings here. Laws is a quick penetrating DT the Birds seem to always gravitate towards. Only down lineman in collegiate football who had 100+ tackles in 2007. One of the most outstanding performers in both the Senior Bowl game and practices. Laws is a low center of gravity brute a la Mike Patterson, who paced the Irish is sacks and stops behind the line of scrimmage in 2007.
3rd Round - 79th pick: Donnie Avery, WR, Houston, 5′10″ 192
The media would jump on this pick like crazy…….Kolb gets his man!!!! Tough decision here with other wide receiver talents Eddie Royal (VTech), and Jordy Nelson (K-ST) still available. In reality, I’d take any of the three, but to me Avery is the best athlete with the highest level of consistent production at the collegiate level among the bunch. Avery is the prototypical “playmaker” with speed the Birds could be looking for. Size is a detriment, but Avery showed steady improvement every year in college. Avery could also step in on day one and return kicks for the squad.
There you go….the Birds get their starting nickel corner, and Sheldon Brown replacement (2 or 3 years down the road) or if need be, their Brian Dawkins replacement. They get a rotational DT and increased line depth, and they snag a big play WR who could step in day one and contribute on special teams as a returner while he learns the offense.
I could have gone a thousand different ways here. I was also considering:
19th: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
49th: Justin King, DB, PSU
79th: Eddie Royal, WR. VTech
I’d like to see what everyone else thinks here……
15 responses so far ↓
1 Tracer Bullet // Mar 5, 2008 at 5:11 pm
As of right now, Sheppard is still on the team so I don’t NEED a CB, I don’t love any of the WRs at this point and I can’t take Kenny Phillips. The only glaring need this team still has is PR/KR but #19 is too high for that. Following the team’s preference for linman early in the draft, I’ll take Jeff Otah, the OT from Pitt. He’s kind of a project, but they’ve got at least a year before he needs to contribute. Put him next to Andrews and the right side of the line is more than 750-pounds.
#49 Thomas DeCoud, S, Cal, best safety still on the board, recruited as a CB so I know he can cover and at almost 6-foot-2 and 207, he can afford to add a few pounds.
#79 Dexter Jackson, WR, Appalachian St. I don’t care if he ever catches a pass, I just found my dynamic return man.
2 Bill // Mar 5, 2008 at 5:16 pm
19 - Chris Williams, Vandy. It’s either him or Otah, Eagles love to load up on O-lineman and word is that Andy loved this guy at Sr Bowl. Draft him for a year and let him learn before he takes over at LT next year. If Cromartie were still around he’d be the guy here, though.
49 - Godfrey, CB Iowa. Eagles seem to have a thing for Iowa DB’s (Mikell and Considine) and this guy is listed as an athlete with upside who has played Safety before also. Need another physical DB
79 - Eddie Royal. Return man and WR that finally supplants GLew
3 eaglescoutblog // Mar 5, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I like it. There are so many different ways you can go. Otah looked like crap in the Senior Bowl and combine drills, but that’s not the type of player he is - he’s a mauler who’ll never be a technique guy. I’m not against drafting an OT in the 1st round but I know the uproar would be tremendous. DeCoud looks like an intriguing prospect. Dexter Jackson is a speed merchant.
4 Tracer Bullet // Mar 5, 2008 at 7:12 pm
I like this exercise. If we expand it further, I’d take a flier on Frank Okam, DT from Texas, in the 4th. Supposedly he takes plays off, but I only want him as a rotation guy and the NG when the Eagles shift into the 3-4. At 6-foot-5 and 350-pounds, he better be able to anchor the line and do some real damage on the goal line.
5 eaglescoutblog // Mar 6, 2008 at 9:56 am
Bill, I had no clue Godfrey existed - he look like an intriguing prospect though. I’d take Williams with the first pick, it’s a need and everyone knows it.
6 Mike // Mar 6, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Safe choices would be:
19- Jeff Otah OT
49- Justin King CB / possible RS
79- Eddie Royal WR / RS
This would be a smart draft - OT is probably the best value at 19 if with Otah. If we could somehow get Chris Williams even better.
King is a hedge against Sheldon to FS and along with Royal focus on RS which needs to be fixed.
Just to be different though I’ll put out there:
19- Branden Albert G
49- Dre Moore DT
79- Quintin Demps FS
Albert would push to start at G allowing the experienced Herremans to move to whichever T position is vacated by a departing veteran.
Dre Moore would offer a great #3 DT to rotate with Bunk and Patterson contributing to what I hope will be excellent pass rush for our Def in 08.
Demps arrives to sit behind Dawk this year as FS of the future.
7 eaglescoutblog // Mar 6, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Another DT for additional depth would be nice in case Bunkley or Patterson go down during the year, which is a scary thought considering the Birds current depth.
8 jerry abarno // Mar 7, 2008 at 10:33 am
I’d like to give you my list then follow that with what I think Andy will do. We’ll start with mine:
Pick 19 (29 of 100) Felix Jones, RB, Ark. People will say this is a terrible reach and I will respond, yes, but I just got one of the fastest guys in the draft, a helluva RB, a pass catcher with hands and an All-America kick returner with one selection. What’d you get?
Pick 49 (75 of 100) Dre Moore, DT, Md. (another “reach”). One of the quickest DTs in this draft. Shut down Steve Slayton in W. Va. game. And he’s BIG.
Pick 80 (80 of 100) Donnie Avery, WR, Houston. A blazing wideout for # 5 and KK.
Here are the picks I think Coach Andy might make:
Pick 19, Jeff Otah, OT, Pitt. Nothing more need be said. A natural here.
Pick 49, Marcus Harrison, DT, Ark. Big, fast DL reinforcement. I like this one, Coach.
Pick 80, Roy Scheuning, OG, Oregon St. I don’t know, ask Andy.
Thanks. I enjoyed participating.
9 Andrew2 // Mar 7, 2008 at 11:01 am
I don’t know a prospect, but it would sure be nice to fine a STRONG safety somewhere. Feels like we are stacked with free safeties, but haven’t come up with one real strong safety. Considine is not really the right size for it, neither is Mikell. I’d be happy with either of them (or Sheldon Brown) at free safety after Dawkins retires. But who can play STRONG?
10 Mike // Mar 7, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Well, I know I’m really not wanting Max’s jock strap.
11 eaglescoutblog // Mar 7, 2008 at 2:37 pm
If I actually had a Max Jean-Gilles jock strap I would think most of you guys would stop reading this site immediately.
12 Tracer Bullet // Mar 7, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Not immediately, I’d want to know how, and why, you got Jean-Gilles’ jock strap. Then I’d stop reading.
And what the heck? Since I’m here:
#19 James Hardy, WR, Indiana. Not particularly fast or polished but 36 TDs in 33 games? That’s good enough for me.
#49 Red Bryant, DT, Texas A&M. Durability and motivation issues, but I only need him as a rotation guy and the NG in the occassional 3-4, so he should be able to go hard and stay healthy going 20-25 plays per game. (But I really want Laws)
#79 Tracer Porter, CB, Indiana. Great special teamer and return man with 4.37 speed. I can hide him as the 4th CB this year, give him a chance to compete for as the nickleback his second year and see if he can eventually become a starter.
13 Monroe // Mar 7, 2008 at 9:54 pm
#19 Derrick Harvey,DE, Florida if he really is sitting there at 19 Reid will grab him up but I don’t think he will so Reid will look for Chris Williams from Vandy or Jeff Otah from Pitt but both those will most likly be gone so maybe Carl nicks from Nebraska and don’t rule out trading out of the first round again to pick up more 2nd round picks this year since that’s where the value is at.
#49 Chris Johnson,RB,E.C.U. fast shifty RB played some at WR also. think of a fast Reno Mahe. if he’s here at 49 he won’t be at fifty plus he fills the need for KR ran the fastest time at the combine in the 40 at 4.24 won’t be here for real so look for them to move up.
getting to were the iggles really shine the late rounds 3- 6. hard to narrow this down depends on what happens with Lito
#79 Antwaun Molden,CB, Eastern Kentucky fast cover corner might have problems without being able to bump so much but good value here.
might go after another TE maybe Brad Cottom or Martellus Bennett, FB is another option with Peyton Hillis on the board and maybe a flier at LB Xavier Adibi
other names to watch :
-Dre Moore DT Maryland great physicals and Andy likes local kids.
-Matt Sherry TE Villanova most like a FA pick up but sticking with the local small schools.
-Jacob Hester FB LSU need a full back and he will be a late riunder or FA signing.
-Kendal Langford DE Hamptom big DE could play some 1 gap tackle he’s got a mean streak!
-Justin king CB Penn State if around past the 3rd round .
14 Your Majesty // Mar 8, 2008 at 11:45 am
If I win Max’s jock, I’d put it on Mel Kiper’s head and train him to look straight ahead.
Here are the players I think the Eagles will take vs. the players they should take:
#19: Will draft Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt. Andy Reid and Tra Thomas simultaneously wet their pants, albeit for different reasons.
Should take Reggie Smith, S, Oklahoma. They traded out of Round 1 last year because the only good safety wasn’t available. What changed?
Wish list: Trade up for Kenny Phillips, S, Miami. Or hope Limas Sweed, WR, Texas falls.
#49: Will draft Trevor Laws, DT, Notre Dame. Need DT depth badly.
Should take Laws. If not available, then John Carlson, TE, Notre Dame. Extending drives by replacing LJ Smith’s hands of steel should be a priority.
Wish list: Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona. Ball hawk.
#79: Will draft Donnie Avery, WR, Houston.
Should take: Avery (or another WR) unless they take one earlier. In which case, a DB for depth and special teams help makes sense.
Wish list: Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida. Looks worth trading up to get.
15 Jay Strock // Mar 8, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Jeff Otah (OT)–this kills me, but Justice is probably better suited to play RT and Otah played LT. The pisser is the Andrews played too well at RG to justify moving him to RT when Runyan leaves, but that’s still a possibility if Justice can play LT. I’d rather see a safety here, but that can’t happen pursuant to your sissy rules.
Chris Johnson (RB)–I’m worried this guy is Ryan Moats, Jr., but he’s super quick and can return kicks. If he lives up to his potential, I can live with a backfield of Westbrook, Johnson, and Hunt. Maybe it’s not an accurate comparison, but it seems like this guy can be a 3d down RB like Kevin Faulk.
Martellus Bennett (TE)–Let’s write LJ’s ticket out of town. Bennett seems to have a ton of potential and he’s a big body who could be the big red zone target Basket is not allowed to be. Maybe the second coming of Chad Lewis with better upside?
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