2009 Eagles Draft - Odds and Ends

by Dawk on Mar 17, 2009 12:38 PM EDT

Hey, a lot of this may be regurgitated slop. If so, I apologize. I have not been actively reading every post of late as there just is not that much interesting going on. Regardless, I am bored and would love your take on these two theories.

1. The Eagles will not draft an offensive tackle in the first two rounds. I don't think Andy and team would leave such an important position reliant on a rookie that they don't even know they will draft. It is way too big of a gamble to take and seems out of style for Andy. Contrary to most reports out there, I don't really believe they did not already plan to move Andrews or Herremans before they let Tra go. Maybe I am just drooling over the prospect of an exciting draft day since the offseason has been pretty bland. Thoughts?

2. The Eagles will not use both picks in the first round. Based on Andy's history, I am pretty confident he moves up in this draft for the guy he wants. Either that or one of the many ridiculous trade rumors may come true and he may trade one of those picks for a players named Boldin, Edwards, Reno Mahe, etc. I just have a very hard time believing he sits on both picks as that is just not his style. It makes the mock drafts pretty meaningless to me. Of course, if he trades up he is likely targeting an OT which counters my original theory. Thoughts?

Ok, here is my fantasy for the rest of the offseason. Sign Weaver (I know, I know). Draft Moreno and Pettigrew in the first round. Maybe a guy like Britt falls to their second round pick. Especially if they can move up in the second round using some of their 25 fifth round picks. Hey, it does not seem that far fetched, does it?

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Well, as for your first point… I think they did take an OT… now… he may play guard for us, but I still think they take a player that’s listed as an OT. I dunno about the second. For once, I could actually see us staying where we are… We can get two really good players during the last third of the first round, where the money isn’t crazy-insane… I’m actually hoping that we use both picks.

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Mar 17, 2009 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

I think Andy has to like Max Unger. Can play everywhere but left tackle and is pretty phenomenal by all accounts.

by Clyde Simmons on Mar 17, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

1. I have said this before, but I would not be surprised if we take an interior O lineman if there is more value than OT. So I half agree with you. I think we are going OL in the first, just not necessarily tackle.

2. Hard to predict. They’re pretty good at not revealing who they are targeting. They’re liable to go in either direction. Maybe it’s one of those deals where we trade our two number ones for an earlier one and a two. I just don’t feel a blockbuster, though.

by MRPH on Mar 17, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

I think they will take an OT in the first round if they keep both picks, so that is sort of 1 and 3. And like foos said, the value in the draft is at 20-30. By value I mean you get the most for your money as you are going to be grossly overpaying for a top 10 pick (for instance think if Matt Stafford were a FA this year instead of a rookie, what would his contract look like…). So it would be smart to keep both since this is a very subtly deep draft. It’s subtle because the top end of the draft is pretty shallow: Curry, Crabtree, 1 or 2 OT, and Stafford if you want to count him. But there are a slew of guys that have mid first round talent that will end up at the end of the first and even into the second (LeSean McCoy, Donald Brown). So it would behoove them to use both picks in the first and get some combo of OT/RB/TE for value.

by TwoTonsOfIrony on Mar 17, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Good thoeries...

The one thing I’ve come to expect from the Eagles around draft time is that whatever you think they’re going to do – they don’t do (not right or wrong, just always somewhat suprising)…

As for your questions, #1 – I’m kind of leaning away from them drafting a tackle too…I think they are comfortable with the guys they have as starters and will draft for depth in the following rounds…

- I feel like they are definitely trying to make some moves one way or the other, just not sure what – trading one for a player or trading picks to move up in the draft

by PoppiDamus on Mar 17, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

should say #2 on the last paragraph...

by PoppiDamus on Mar 17, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Theories

I subscribe to Theory #1. I think our O-Line looks like this:

LT – Herremans
LG – Cole
C – Jackson
RG & RT – The Great Wall of Philadelphia

Or you could put Shawn at LT and play Cole at RG.

As for Theory #2, I agree with Foos that we’ll take two guys there unless we swing one of the picks in a trade.

by ajay on Mar 17, 2009 12:57 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

completely with your O-line projection. I also see Cole getting the nod over Jean-Gilles…and I’m also up in the air with Shawn or ‘touchdown’ Todd out at LT…I DO NOT see us starting a rookie at LT

"What did it feel like? That collision, I didn't feel nothing, because he was pretty much defenseless. It was like running through a cardboard box. Seriously. Cardboard box."- Sheldon Brown on his pounding of Reggie Bush in the '06 Playoffs

by jalarsen1 on Mar 17, 2009 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Cole over MGJ?

what makes you think that? nick cole did play well, but only after MGJ went down with an injury after playing well himself!

if you can’t lose a starting position because of injury, how does MGJ lose his “2nd stringer” status because of injury, especially when he was really turning it on right before he got hurt?

it may be open competition, but if that’s the case, MGJ will win out. he did last year, he’ll do it again this year.

http://poorsportsblog.blogspot.com/

by PoorSports on Mar 17, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

It depends on who they want...

The FO will get their man. Either that will be a blockbuster trade involving a 1st rounder, or we could trade both 1sts to move up, or we could sit right where we are.

I really don’t know who they’re targeting, but I’m confident that they will do what it takes to get him.

I can’t really see us pulling off Knowshon and Pettigrew. They’re both going in the 1st, and probably both gone by 28, which means we’d need to keep the 21st pick and figure a way to also get a higher one….

I know the two of them would be a dream scenario, but I think it’s probably unrealistic

by jalarsen1 on Mar 17, 2009 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

Staying put

While I am sticking to my theory that they move around and don’t use both picks, my preference is that they stay for the reasons Foos stated. I think there is great value there this year compared to the top half of the round. Every mock I see has guys going in the top 15 that I would not want even if they fell to 28. Not much difference in value between pick #8 and pick #21 this year. I hope this is what they do as well. Plus it will make an hour of the draft very exciting for us.

Jalarsen, fair enough. It is probably one or the other at 21 assuming they are both still on the board. I fell into the fantasy trap for a moment. Thanks for bringing me back to earth.

by Dawk on Mar 17, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

LOL

w/ that Reno Mahe shout-out. Priceless!

by jalarsen1 on Mar 17, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Torn between Mahe and Moats

I wondering when someone would comment on that.

by Dawk on Mar 17, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

reno mahe!!!!

only the most dynamic player to ever tote the rock!!!! move over walter payton. anyone for the “reno mahe man of the year award” ?

by snowhill82 on Mar 17, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

If he gets the award...

someone could just deliver it to him at Chickien n Petes. Think he still works there?

by jalarsen1 on Mar 17, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

absolutely.

if there was a madden score for pulling chicken out of a deep fryer he would have a rating of 99.

by snowhill82 on Mar 17, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Reno Mahe

wtf

To me the Eagles are like that girlfriend that pisses u off, then u hate her, but the next morning you wake up and remember that thing u love so much about her

by XxBleedGreen5xX on Mar 17, 2009 1:58 PM EDT reply actions

damn can someone explain these damn block quotes

To me the Eagles are like that girlfriend that pisses u off, then u hate her, but the next morning you wake up and remember that thing u love so much about her

by XxBleedGreen5xX on Mar 17, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the Moreno Pettigrew theory

if we can pull that off screw a reciever we got all the weapons i think we need. But the only thing worry bout is if there both available at 21 and 28

To me the Eagles are like that girlfriend that pisses u off, then u hate her, but the next morning you wake up and remember that thing u love so much about her

by XxBleedGreen5xX on Mar 17, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

I worry

about that as well, the real question is who do you take at 21 if they both are available with the assumption that the other will be off the board at 21.

"Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because I don't feel like carrying you." - Jack Bauer

"Consequences, Schmonsequences, as long as I'm rich." - Daffy Duck

by Badd on Mar 17, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

With LJ Smith to ATL talks falling out...

I can’t see Pettigrew lasting past Atlanta. So while he’s a possibility at 21 – he won’t be an option at 28.

They want a TE who can fit into their heavily run oriented offense and he just makes too much sense for them on that front.

by andyreidswaistline on Mar 17, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Moreno Pettigrew

That would make me so happy. Pettigrew should be taken first because the drop off btw him and the next best TE is huge.

I don’t see us moving up. It’s has become sexy (thanks to the Pats) to hold these late first round/early second round picks. I also don’t think moving up 8 spots or so would warrant giving up both picks. Its not like we can trade these two picks to get in a position to draft Monroe and Smith.

www.okupy.com

by royboy on Mar 17, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions

If Pettigrew falls

to us at 21, we would need to take him there, b/c I don’t see him still available at 28. The Falcons passed on LJ Smith, they still need a TE and they pick 22. If we don’t get Pettigrew at 21, the Falcons will at 22. That of course begs the question: Will Knowshon be available at 28?

by jalarsen1 on Mar 18, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

the more i think about it the more i am as ok with drafting a full back as i am signing weaver. I like Quinn johnson from LSU I think he could blow some dudes up and clear a path for Westy. NFL Network said he had a nice proday yesterday as well. Or if you are looking for a more westcoast guy you got Hafner out of houston or fiametti out of Syracuse. One or both of them may even go undrafted and be available as a rookie free agent

by 0sirys on Mar 17, 2009 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

+1 on Fiametta – we have enough 5th round picks to blow one on a FB like we did with Tapeh a few years back.

by andyreidswaistline on Mar 17, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

No need to draft a FB there are always a ton that you can get after the draft.

by pooch900 on Mar 17, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

So while I agree with Foos and we stay put I will entertain some options ...

I also think we take OL, possibly a future LT who will play Guard for us … (see: Herremans, Andrews).

1. I personally think they take a OT because they have had success at playing these guys interior and have the ability to move them outside. But I understand where MRPH comes from and could see them taking an interior lineman as well. They will take the best OL available.

2. If Andy were to move up it would be irresponsible for him to use both number 1s from this year. I would think he would trade one of the 1sts this year and some lower round picks like a 3rd and 2 fifths. They could even use this years 1st and next years 1st to move up. Then when it comes to the second first we could trade down again for a first rounder next year and a mid round pick to replace one we used to move up.

I just think to waste both number 1s would be ridiculous to move up.

"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"

by Whodie126 on Mar 17, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

they won’t waste both 1st rounders this year. But what I’d like to see them actually draft a top rate tackle to play tackle. I know andy loves guys that are can play several spots but it just seems like they end up being good guards and half assed tackles. It’s always a question mark after they’ve played guard in the NFL if they’ll transition out to tackle and still play well.

So I’d like a real tackle to be drafted, maybe sit a year then be ready to go.

by pooch900 on Mar 17, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

So here is the real question. We are all talking OL, RB, and TE. We are all doing that because they seem like obvious positions of need where there will happen to be value when we pick. Since when does Andy draft for need? If he does draft for need, it is usually done with the future in mind. That is a big part of why I don’t see an OT in the first round. Who is the guy/position that none of us are considering that may be picked by the Birds? DT, DE, DB, WR? And does Andy trade up for one of those guys? You just never know with Andy.

Good point about using another one of the picks outside of this year’s first round though. If trading up, it is hard to fathom moving both first rounders in THIS year’s draft to make it happen. But then we still have the pick for a player option.

by Dawk on Mar 17, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

1. It’s doubtful that we can trade up high enough to get one of the top 3 tackles, so I agree- OT in the first round seems unlikely. OL however seems destined to happen- whether it’s a C, OG, or even Pettigrew for his blocking skills. I don’t think there are any OG’s who are ranked high enough to go #28, though.

2. I agree with the fact that both picks may not happen. Maybe trade #21 and some lower picks to Buffalo for LT Jason Peters? That way we’d fill our LT need, and Buffalo could get a top-ranked pass rusher @ 11, then Pettigrew at 21, filling their needs. I’m not sure what it would take to get Peters away however- I’d rather see us not gut the draft just to get him, and make do with sliding Herremans or Shawn outside.

by KGJ on Mar 17, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

Moreno > Pettigrew

Trading for a veteran TE who is a proven commodity really doesn’t take that much. Granted, backs are even more widespread, but Moreno is the closest thing to Adrian Peterson anyone will see for a long time. And he’s got the intangibles we look for – leadership, work ethic, tenacity, desire. Kid’s a superstar in every sense of the word.

by cwel87 on Mar 18, 2009 12:49 PM EDT reply actions