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Also, I would not recommend trading up in this draft.

Among the top 19 picks, who would you not want? The only one I wouldn't be interested in is Matt Ryan. If Mike Jenkins, Talib, Devin Thomas, Chris Williams, etc. fell to the Eagles I'd be very happy.

You seem way higher on Talib than I.

But I see the point- in a draft with no MUST HAVE player(S) in it- and a relatively decent pick- (19), standin pat (gillick) isnt the worst scenario.

Id give up my season tickets if they'd just move Lito and their 2nd to Detroit for Roy W.

Good gravy.

I love Talib.

6'1, 200+ lbs, huge vertical, ball hawk, tons of picks, big INT returns, 5 TDs as a WR, returned a few punts, and ran fast enough (4.48/4.44).

In a division with T.O. and Plax, he's the biggest CB available with the best vertical and he's the best playmaker among all the CBs.

He could bust just like anyone else, but what's not to like? I'm hoping he slides because of speed concerns and the Eagles can snap him up. I'd LOVE it.

I agree completely F-D.

I don't know that they have to trade up, b/c there will still be solid talent @ 19. Is Williams that much better than Otah? Not sure, but why waste Lito just to move up a few spots.

They should either move Lito for a 2nd rounder straight up or stay at 19, take the best guy on the board and use lito as a nickel corner and return man, assuming they don't take a CB in round 1.

If they go CB in round 1 and Lito has yet to be traded, things could get interesting. I still think he gets moved on draft day, but it might be for picks next year. There is no way they should accept less than a 2nd round pick for him. I could see a situation where the Eagles trade sheppard for a conditional pick, wherein if Lito starts all of his games, makes the pro-bowl, etc. the Eagles could get a 1st rounder--otherwise his value is a 2nd round pick.

I also read that the Eagles have had James Hardy and Devin Thomas in for visits over the last few days. I am sticking with the theory that the interest in WR is a smokescreen. It seems that everything the FO admits to the media is done to throw other teams off of their true intentions.
--I would be interested to see who the eagles had visit the novacare complex last year--I'm guessing Kolb was not one of those invited.

The Eagles will take another WR in the draft, but I would be shocked if it came earlier than round 3.

Andy's precious positions are: QB, CB and both O and D line. He took a QB and DE last year, took 2 DT the previous 2 and a OT who was moved to guard the year before that. Logic would say that CB or OT is where they go and I am sticking to it.

I agree, Nova.

When I look at this draft board I just can't see any reason to trade up unless they are absolutely in love with someone.

I mean, they could trade Lito and their second round pick to a team for their first round pick and just take 2 shots in round one if they wanted, but I don't think there's much value in moving up because the talent is solid into the low 20's and the elite, elite prospects will be gone by 7, maybe.

From PFT:

YET ANOTHER WIDEOUT ON PHILLY’S RADAR
Posted by Mike Florio on April 10, 2008, 6:17 p.m.
Amid ongoing reports that the Philadelphia Eagles are taking a close look at some of the highest-rated receivers who will be available when the draft starts on April 26, we’re told that the Eagles also are looking farther down the board at one of the most intriguing prospects in the entire field.

Specifically, the Eagles sent receivers coach David Culley to North Carolina for a private workout with Appalachian State receiver Dexter Jackson.

Jackson ran the 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine in a blazing 4.27 seconds. On the small side at five-nine and 178 pounds, Jackson is projected to be a third-round or a fourth-round pick. He caught two touchdown passes in the Mountaineers’ epic upset of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

I'm pretty sure that they did see Kolb before the draft last year, but who in their right mind would have figured that the Eagles would pick a QB?

Just so there's no confusion- I TOO see no reason to move up---- im just predicting that the FO disagrees with us and will essentially "burn" lito on a move up.

If they do, I'll be pissed.

I would like to see them move up...from their second, 3rd, or 4th round picks to another 1st round pick. I'd like to see them with 2 first round picks. I don't know at all what it takes. But even though I don't see them needing a very high first round, wI ould love to seem them have more higher round quality.

Or move up to another 2nd round pick.

All I am saying is that I would like to see them use some combination of those 11 picks to get another higher pick.

NO RECEIVERS IN ROUND ONE?
Posted by Mike Florio on April 11, 2008, 11:06 a.m.
With the mediocre 40-yard dash generated by Oklahoma Malcolm Kelly and the ill-advised decision to blame the school for his performance, the receiver whom many thought had the best shot at being picked in round one is now likely to fall out of the first round.

And with Kelly’s stock dropping, some league insiders believe that there now could be no receiver picked in round one this year.

Other pass-catchers who are sliding include Limas Sweed of Texas and Early Doucet of LSU.

The last time round one expired without a receiver being drafted was in 1990. That year, Alexander Wright, Reggie “The Human Bobblehead” Rembert, and Mike Bellamy were all second-round selections.

Two years ago, Santonio Holmes was the only receiver selected in the first round, at No. 25.

http://scoutsnotebook.com/modules.php?name=ranknote0708

Scoutsnotebook Returners


This site references some special teamers in the draft. Click on a players name to get a description of his performance. Some are backup receivers, some are backup runners. They all would be low draft picks and I hope the Eagles get one or two of them in the draft since they badly need returners.

Someone made the comment that the only receivers that turn out to be good are RD 1.

So if there are no receivers in RD 1, then I guess the Eagles should take no receivers in the draft.

I was talking about first round WRs in general, so it may have been me.

Roughly 70% of elite WRs are former first round picks and 1/2 of number one guys are 1st rounders.

So, there are plenty of guys to be had late, but the league's current makeup says the good players go early and your odds diminish substantially when trying to find a gem late.

Even though 70% or whatever of the top receivers are first round picks, there was an article in the paper this weekend about how WR is the most difficult position to draft.

During the last decade, 43 WR chosen in first round. Only 46% established themselves as a solid starter.

The best position? You guessed it. Offensive lineman. 90% of the 41 linemen taken in the last 10 years have become solid starters.

So basically your chances of drafting a high-end offensive lineman aren't as good, but your chances of drafting a bust offensive lineman are much lower.

So since we all know how this FO plays not to lose, hello Jeff Otah!

I can understand that philosophy completely and I generally think it's a sound one, but I still believe you have to spend premium picks for the best shot at premium players. If you never spend a first round pick on a WR, for instance, I'd expect your cupboard to be relatively bare at that position.

I'm not even proposing they draft a first round WR this year (this is probably a bad year to do so), but it's hilarious that they never take one in the first round, have a history of sucky WRs, and still can't understand the "obsession" fans have with the position in an offense that passes 70%+ of the time in the first half of games.

90% of the 41 linemen taken in the last 10 years have become solid starters.

32 of them were drafted by Andy Reid.

fd, we're in total agreement. I'm just pointing out the reason they're probably going to go OL.

Another interesting point the article made was that RB had a very low percentage that were successful after being drafted in the first round. However, if you did get a starter out of the group, chances are he was a star. I think they said something like 66% of starting RBs drafted in the first round had made it to the Pro Bowl.

I wonder what the percentage is that any of the draft positions after the second round become starter. If you have 10 draft picks after the second round, do you think you have a shot at 10% of them (ie.1) becoming a solid starter?

I just did a quick count and guessed at what I thought a good player was. Generally, I was looking for a guy who has started multiple seasons based on ability and considered that a "good" player. I took 1999- 2005 drafts and about 12 players per draft panned out on some level (38% of second round picks during that span).

I considered guys like Michael Lewis and Reggie Brown successes, though, because I think they were for 2nd round picks.

Here's R-Diddy's 2008 Sleepers in the draft. He classifies a sleeper as a guy who will likely go after the first two rounds because of average measurables or the school they attended, but have the football instincts and skills that may allow them to become very good players at the next level.

Wide receiver Jordy Nelson, Kansas State, 6-foot-3, 217 pounds, timed at 4.54 in the 40-yard dash. Nelson is likely to be available in the third round because his 40 time is "considered a step slow," Didinger says, adding that teams want a 4.4 or below. But Nelson is "one of these guys who plays faster than he times" because of his size, smooth breaks and "great intelligence and feel for the game." Despite double coverage and facing different defensive schemes every week, Nelson still had 122 catches. Because his size and excellent route-running could make him a nice Red Zone target, "I would love to see the Eagles get him in the third round," Didinger said.

Fullback Jacob Hester, LSU, 5-11, 226 pounds, ran the 40 in 4.62. Hester's expected to be a fourth-rounder, despite rushing for over 1,100 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns for the national champion Tigers, Didinger said. The knocks are he's not quite big enough, not fast enough. But "he plays with great effort and great pride" and played on all special teams at LSU, making him "a solid all-around player who, I think, is real versatile," Didinger said. Hester (no relation to Chicago return sensation Devin Hester) blocks well for his size, showing he can pick up a blitz, and might fit in well with the Eagles, because "he's a real sure-handed receiver," Didinger said, adding, "I really have a feeling about this guy." He wouldn't be surprised if "eight years from now this guy's still going to be playing in the league."

Safety Corey Lynch, Appalachian State, 6-foot, 205 pounds, 4.52. Projected as a fifth rounder despite making 111 tackles for a team that upset Michigan and won the national 1-AA title over Delaware. But he, too, is perceived as "a step slow." But he can play man to man coverage, can blitz, and even blocked three kicks, including a field goal in the Michigan game. During games he even seemed to reposition teammates. "It looks to me likes he was the leader of that defense," Didinger said. Plays free safety or strong safety. On the Eagles, he'd have a shot to succeed Brian Dawkins, but at the very least could help on special teams.

Defensive end Brian Johnston, Gardner-Webb College, 6-foot-4, 275 pounds, 4.9 in the 40. Projected as a sixth-rounder because he's from a small school. But he was twice defensive player of the year in the Big South, and played well in the Hula Bowl, getting six tackles and two sacks, while forcing a fumble against Division One players. "Every year, you just see him getting better and better," Didinger said. Each draft seems to have a couple of small-college linemen who go low but do well, and Johnston might be the next one to join that group, he says. The Eagles, however, probably don't see a big need at defensive end, since last year's second-round pick Victor Abiamiri and off-season acquisition Chris Clemons are expected to join a cast that already includes Trent Cole and Juqua Thomas.

Running back/receiver/returner/quarterback/holder Jayson Foster, Georgia Southern, 5-9, 170 pounds, 4.32 time in the 40. Shhh. Don't tell anybody. This guy's name doesn't even show up in a lot of draft books, Didinger said. But ... "to me, he has the potential to be the most exciting player out of the bunch." Didinger envisions this undersized but "lightning-fast" athlete as "a wonderful wild card player." As a quarterback - yes, quarterback - last season, he rushed for 1,844 yards and 24 touchdowns. OK, he's not going to be an NFL QB, but he's "electrifying," with "tremendous acceleration," and on one 60-yard touchdown run made everyone miss so badly he was hardly touched, Didinger said. Note to the Eagles: Foster was also a threat as a place holder, because he'd run with the ball or throw it. So if used creatively at receiver and maybe running back, as well on as special teams, he could be a dandy asset. If people aren't impressed that he also won the Walter Payton Award as the nation's best small-college player, recall a few other winners: Steve McNair, Tony Romo and the Eagles' Brian Westbrook.

Draft Sleepers from Tony Pauline:

The draft is less than two weeks away and football conversations center around the top prospects from the nation's biggest college football programs. Yet history has shown not all productive players in the draft come from major IA schools.

Lane College's Jacoby Jones, with the Houston Texans, and Illinois State's Laurent Robinson, with the Atlanta Falcons, are just two small-school players who made impacts last year. So who are the top small-school sleepers in this year's draft? Here are a dozen names to remember.

Brad Roach, QB, Catawba: Roach is a 6-foot-6, 250-pound gunslinger who tossed 32 touchdown passes last season. He possesses the physical dimensions for a franchise to develop. The projected late-round selection has privately worked out for the New York Giants and Houston Texans.

Tim Hightower, RB, Richmond: Scouts were surprised Hightower was not invited to the combine in February, especially after he scored 20 touchdowns last season. The 220-pound back later impressed by running 4.51 in the 40 at his pro day. Projected as a solid middle-round pick, Hightower has visited nearly a dozen franchises, including the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders, both of whom are interested in his services.

Arman Shields, WR, Richmond: Shields is another Spider being hotly pursued by NFL clubs. His story is all the more interesting given that he was sidelined after three games last season with knee injury. He came back to run a 4.45 at the combine. Shields, an outstanding receiver and return specialist, is being pursued by more than a half-dozen franchises and has visited the Tampa Bay Bucs and New York Jets.

Brandon Keith, OL, Northern Iowa: Keith, who started his college career at Oklahoma, has watched his draft stock soar the past nine months. He capped off a solid combine performance with an even better pro day, running under five seconds in the 40 after weighing 340 pounds. Keith has visited a number of teams, including a pair of NFC East franchises, the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

Thaddeus Coleman, T, Mississippi Valley State: Coleman could well be the best-kept secret at the offensive tackle position. He stands a shade under 6-8 yet has the athleticism and footwork necessary to protect the blind side. Coleman is fresh off meeting with the Minnesota Vikings and has a host of other squads who want to speak with him.

Shawn McMackin, G, Hofstra: McMackin is one of the most athletically gifted offensive linemen in the draft. His ability to be used at tackle or guard is added value. McMackin's physical skills have caught the attention of a number of zone blocking teams, including the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts.

Brian Johnston, DE, Garden Webb: Johnston could well have been the biggest combine snub of 2008. He is a complete defender who totaled 145 tackles and 38 tackles for loss the past two years. Johnston measured 6-5 and 280 pounds at his pro day last month and ran the 40 under 4.7 seconds. Two dozen teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks, have expressed strong interest in Johnston.

Andy Studebaker, OLB, Wheaton (Ill.): Studebaker was poised for a big senior season until a foot injury ended his season after five games. He led the NCAA in sacks as a junior with 17.5, also recording 24.5 tackles for loss that year. He will be running for NFL scouts April 18 and has already visited with five teams, the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills amongst them.

Vince Redd, OLB, Liberty: Redd is an imposing defender who looks like a man amongst boys on the field. Twenty NFL teams have worked out Redd, a prospect who can play outside linebacker or defensive end. Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage made a special trip to scout Redd at his first pro-day workout.

Joe Mays, OLB, North Dakota State: The All-America linebacker is a fiery one-gap defender effective in run defense and pass coverage. Mays, a consistent three year starter, is being pursued by the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles.

Cary Williams, CB, Washburn: Williams, an opportunistic cornerback and game-changing return specialist, picked off seven passes last season while returning two kicks for touchdowns. He has good size (6-2, 190) and possesses 4.4 speed. The Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers have both shown intense interest in him.

Brandon Carr, CB, Grand Valley State: Carr has terrific size (6-0, 205), speed (4.5) and production (28 pass breakups and eight INTs the past two seasons). He has the ability to be used in a variety of defensive systems and is presently getting close looks from five teams, which includes a visit to the Jacksonville Jaguars and a workout by the Cleveland Browns.

Notes: One of the best human interest stories in April's draft is the life of Nevada linebacker Ezra Butler. The two-time all-WAC defender was born in South Africa and spent his childhood fatherless and living day-to-day before being sent to America by his mother. Butler came to the United States at age 13 and was raised by his uncle, Grammy-nominated jazz musician Jonathan Butler. He entered Nevada as a 285-pound defensive tackle, but lost 40 pounds after undergoing shoulder surgery early in his career and made the switch to linebacker. In a recent interview Butler stated he derives his motivation from the debt he owes his mother and sister, who still live in South Africa.

Go Spiders.

Heckert went on JM the other day and said the team has no real glaring need.

Yep.

The hard part is wondering whether or not it's a smokescreen or if he really thinks that, because either one isn't a stretch.

Heckert can blow me. I'm really gettign sick of his attitude given he:

- Doesn't have a good track record as a GM.

- Is essentially Reid's muse in the draft room anyway.

- Every time he opens his mouth, he says something fucking stupid. Almost every time I hear other GMs, I'm impressed with them and Heckert continues to sounds like a nasally retard willing to go down with the fucking ship.

Note to Heckert (assistant to the real GM): saying you have no needs is "stupid". It makes YOU sound stupid. Everyone knows what your needs are. In fact, spreading misinformation is a better tact that blanket statements reeking of uninteresting lies and a general arrogance normally reserved for assistant-to-the-GMs who have accomplished something in their career.

Please stop saying stupid shit, dumb ass...if that's even possible.

Is it so hard to say "Well, we have some age on the offensive line and we'd really like to add there. We all know what a player Brian Dawkins is and we feel good about Considine/Mikell, but if a safety we like is around, we'd certainly have to think about that.

Statements like these are harmless and actually INCREASE your odds of getting the trades talks flowing.

The attitude and stupidity of this team is absurd...especially from this clown who has NOTHING to do with any of their limited, marginal success a few years ago.

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