PhillySportsline - Eagles Draft Report Card
…And let the little children come to me…
After watching the Eagles fumble around with free agency during the first three
months of the off-season, it became evident that their main avenue of re-stocking
the roster with impact players and difference makers would not come from the
rosters of other teams, but from the draft.
That strategy, which has been the cornerstone of the Andy Reid era (with the
notable exception of 2004 of course, i.e. Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse), has
worked well.
Up until last year, that is.
One would think that a 6-10 season might scare the Eagles away from leaning too
heavily on rookies and unproven second-year players, like they did last year. One
would think that if the Eagles wanted to turn things around quickly, they would have
done so in free agency, with players who are ready to play right away.
But that’s not Reid’s style. Reid likes to go with the kids. And, truth be told, with the
exception of 2005, his strategy has worked.
So, coming off 6-10, this year’s draft was Reid’s most important since his first draft
as Eagles Head Coach back in 1999. The good news is that this appears to be his
best draft. At least, his best draft in as much as you can tell when no one has
strapped on a single pad or put on a swath of uniform yet.
With that, let’s take a look back at the kids who will attempt to dig the Eagles out of
the deep hole they’ve dug for themselves in the NFC East…
Mark Constan – Grade B
OK, I do really like the first pick the Eagles made in Broderick Bunkley. He seems to
be what Corey Simon was six years ago… same school, similar size and similar
explosiveness. The pick was an absolute no-brainer.
Getting Winston Justice in the 2nd round seems like an steal, but why was this guy
still around at 39? Would he have been around at 45, the initial 2nd round pick we
had? Justice has had some off-field issues, and some teams were not impressed
with him during the interview process. As of now, I think Justice was a good pick
because he is a talented and HUGE man.
Not only that, drafting Justice and Bunkley made veterans Hollis Thomas and Artis
Hicks expendable.
In the 3rd round, Eagles selected 1-AA phenom, Chris Gocong.
1-AA Phenom. Just wanted to mention that part again.
Gocong recorded 23 ½ sacks last year at DE, but the Eagles feel he is athletic
enough to switch to OLB and challenge Dhani Jones for that spot.
With two 4th round picks, the Eagles selected OG Max Jean Giles and WR Jason
Avant. The best I can hope for from these two are being serviceable backups if we
need them. Giles may have a chance to battle for a staring spot, depending on
where Justice plays this year. Avant will be our #5 receiver and will contribute on
special teams as well, which in turn means bye-bye to Billy McMullen and probably
Darnerian McCants as well.
Jeremy Bloom in the 5th round is a pick that I am in love with. Even though he has
not played in two years, he is a very explosive player and will immediately impact
our special teams. I am not so sure that Omar Gaither and LaJuan Ramsey make the
team, but at that point in the draft, I guess you just take the best available player.
All in all, I am pleased with the draft. I’m a little disappointed that we did not
address the secondary at all considering both out starting safeties are free agents at
the end of this year, but overall it was a solid draft.
John Stolnis – Grade B+
Round One: Call it a gift from above, but Brodrick Bunkley, the athletic DT from
Florida St. was supposed to be gone by the time the Eagles picked. But because
Buffalo reached for Donte Whitner at safety with the #9 pick, Bunkley magically fell
to the Eagles at 14. It was a stroke of luck and the Eagles took advantage.
Round Two: It’s not every draft that you’re able to draft a consensus Top 15 pick in
Round #2, but that’s just what the Eagles got in OT Winston Justice. Character
questions caused this fall, but there’s no debate about his talent. Every mock draft
on the planet had this guy as the second-best offensive lineman in the draft, and
the Eagles got at 39. Simply stunning.
Round Three: Andy Reid likes productive college players, no matter where they
played. Which is why the Eagles selected Chris Gocong, the nation’s sack leader at
DE. Granted, Gocong did play in Division 1-AA, but so did Brian Westbrook. I’d say
that’s worked out pretty well. The Eagles are hoping Gocong can supplant Dhani
Jones at OLB in 2005.
Round Four: The Eagles are getting rave reviews for their first of two 4th round
selections, OG Max Jean-Giles. Most experts had Jean-Giles as a 2nd-rounder, but
once again, the Eagles got a little luck, and he fell into the 4th round. He could be a
starter in 2005. With their second pick in round #4, the Birds took Michigan WR
Jason Avant. Most think he’s got some talent, but a WR in Andy Reid’s system takes
at least two years to be productive; so don’t expect much out of him in 2006.
Round Five: The Eagles went for a dynamic special teams player here by selecting
Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom. He’ll compete with Bruce Perry to handle kick-off and
punt return duties.
Anything after the fifth round is pointless to dissect. Neither player will probably
make the team.
All in all, the Eagles get high marks for their 2006 NFL Draft. And while most of
these guys will probably turn into productive NFL players, how much help can they
really be in 2006? The Eagles run a complicated offensive and defensive system, and
it will take some time for these players to acclimate themselves to it.
If the Birds are expecting all of these guys to be impact players right away, it’s not
going to happen. Not only that, the Eagles are still woefully shorthanded at WR, and
I’m surprised they didn’t address their need for a bigger back in the draft as well.
All in all, the Eagles draft would have to be called a success. But it remains to be
seen if their 2006 season will be as lucky.
Story by Mark Constan & John Stolnis
http://www.Phillysportsline.com
Staff Writers