While perusing some of the team websites of some of our already fallen rivals (*cough* Cowboys *cough*), I've noticed that some folks are already shopping for their #1 draft pick next year.
While it's undoubtedly WAY too early for Eagles fans to begin concerning ourselves with the 2011 NFL Draft, I did notice something fairly interesting about the Top 32 prospects according to ESPN.
Let's say the draft was tomorrow - What would the Eagles' Top 6 needs be? We could debate that all day, but in my opinion, I'd go with, in order:
1) Offensive Line (any position along the OL)
2) Cornerback
3) Outside Linebacker
4) Defensive End
5) Defensive Tackle
6) Running Back
As luck would have it, 22 of ESPN's 32 top prospects play a position I've identified as a "top 4 need." Here is a list of players the Eagles could look to target:
OL | Rank | CB | Rank |
Derek Sherrod, Miss. St. (OT) | 17 | Patrick Peterson, LSU | 2 |
Anthony Costanzo, Boston College (OT) | 19 | Prince Amukamara, Nebraska | 6 |
Rodney Hudson, Florida St. (Center) | 21 | Janoris Jenkins, Florida | 14 |
Nate Solder, Colorado (OT) | 22 | Ras-I Dowling, Virginia | 20 |
Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin (OT) | 25 | ||
Demarcus Love, Arkansas (OT) | 30 | ||
OLB | Rank | DE | Rank |
Akeem Ayers, UCLA | 11 | Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson | 3 |
Von Miller, Texas A&M | 23 | Robert Quinn, UNC | 8 |
Travis Lewis, Oklahoma | 24 | Adrian Clayborn, Iowa | 10 |
Bruce Carter, UNC | 27 | Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue | 12 |
Jeremy Beal, Oklahoma | 32 | Allen Bailey, Miami | 15 |
Cameron Heyward, Ohio St. | 18 | ||
Cameron Jordan, Cal | 31 | ||
DT | Rank | HB | Rank |
Marcell Dareus, Alabama | 4 | Mark Ingram, Alabama | 16 |
Stephen Paea, Oregon St. | 9 | ||
Drake Nevis, LSU | 26 | ||
Nick Fairley, Auburn | 28 |
Obviously, a lot can and will change among college prospects between now and next April, but the 2011 class could play nicely into the Eagles hands, as they may have the luxury of sitting back and simply grabbing the best player available while also filling a need.