2011 NFL Mock Draft: Nate Solder To The Eagles

by JasonB on Mar 14, 2011 1:56 PM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

SBNation.com has released their latest NFL mock draft and we've actually got a little bit of a different pick for the Eagles this time around. It's a similar position, but a new name.

Philadelphia Eagles: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado. It's hard to ignore the offensive line issues Philly had in a disappointing close to the 2010 season. Solder does not have the strength to play right away for Andy Reid, but it's hard to imagine Reid not being enamored with Solder's physical talents.

Solder is an interesting prospect and one that does fit the mold of the Andy Reid type lineman in a lot of ways. He's got a big frame at 6-8/314 lbs and he's extremely athletic. In fact, he started as a blocking TE much like Jason Peters did. Scouting reports will talk about his good knee bend and footwork like they did with Winston Justice.

The big knock against him in this draft process is his lack of bulk. In fact, he lost 7 pounds between the combine and the pro day. Usually, teams are looking to see guys adding weight over that period. While Solder was probably the most impressive offensive lineman at the combine in the athletic drills like 40 yard dash, shuttle drill, broad jump ect, his raw strength did test particularly well. He pressed 225 pounds only 21 times. Just for reference, the 14th best offensive lineman at the combine pressed 28 times. The tape on Solder doesn't show him getting pushed around and he was a solid run blocker in college, but his bench press performance was disappointing.

The Eagles like powerful, strong lineman and it seems like they do put stock in combine performance. In fact, they've drafted guys with three of the top bench press performances in the last 10 years. Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia (2010): 44, Brodrick Bunkley, DT, Florida State (2006): 44, Scott Young, G, BYU (2005): 43

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Not really a surprise if you look at the mock

Smith, Castonzo, and Carimi were all off the board already. At 23 we kind of get whatever’s leftover.. I don’t think anyone actually puts any thought into our pick… it’s just the best tackle left at that point.

If you actually look at the mock drafts, the only ones where Carimi falls to us are where Newton, Gabbert, Mallet/locker all go in the 1st 15 picks. If a team like the Vikings passes on a QB and takes an OT then we don’t get Carimi. I’d also expect the Panthers to pass on a QB altogether (definitely not going for Cam) so that throws the draft off even more. I highly doubt Carimi falls to us in the real draft.. at least a handful of teams will pass on a 1stround QB to grab Kolb or one of the other free agent QBs.

Oh, and Peterson dropped to #7 again in this mock. I bet cleveland would trade their #6 pick to us if Peterson dropped that far. :D

by cin7 on Mar 14, 2011 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

I bet cleveland would trade their #6 pick to us if Peterson dropped that far. :D

For what? And why?

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by PhiladelphiaEagles on Mar 14, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, let's see..

Why would they trade down? Well, they chose Robert Quinn, DE in this mock.. pretty high for him, isn’t it? 6 is high for any DE if that’s the position they are going for and Bowers was off the board already as well. They just strike me as a team that would benefit from more picks and we’ve traded with them before.

For what? I honestly don’t care actually. If we go for Peterson that means we didn’t get Nnamdi. So let’s say the Cowboys bought Nnamdi for 20 million in an uncapped year (just for shits n giggles). I don’t think any CB at pick #23 is good enough, we need real talent. I would personally rather have Peterson than 5 picks in the later rounds. If we trade Kolb for a late 1st or 2nd rounder, then use that pick to get our O-lineman and trade the rest of the draft to get Peterson.

We have a shit ton of 2nd year players… I really don’t think adding 9 more rookies to the team in a season with a shortened CBA is a good idea. Trade em all and get Peterson + 1 o-lineman and call it a day!

by cin7 on Mar 14, 2011 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think 6 is too high for Quinn. Some “experts” have him as their #1 DE. And if Peterson dropped to them at 6 they’d be taking him anyway.

At any rate, what could you even offer them for the 6th pick?

by outsyderz34 on Mar 14, 2011 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe

All that matters is what Cleveland thinks and at #6 I don’t see them drafting a 1st round CB 2 years in a row. So if Peterson is still on the board, then they will know they can get some good value out of trading down, right? I just think Cleveland is going to target 1 person and if they don’t get him, then we are a very likely trade partner if Peterson is still on the board.

As for the Eagles offer? I don’t have access to one of those draft-day value charts. I googled and the best example I could find was “In 2007, the New York Jets sent the 25th, 59th and 164th choices to the Carolina Panthers for the 14th pick”. So I’m guessing that +more for the 6th spot… you tell me how much it would cost? :P

by cin7 on Mar 14, 2011 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I mean, what do you think we could offer to Cleveland that would make them want to give us their 6th overall?

"You don't call retarded people retards. It's bad taste. You call your friends retards when they're acting retarded." - Michael Scott

by PhiladelphiaEagles on Mar 14, 2011 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Trade em all and get Peterson + 1 o-lineman and call it a day!

Oh dear.

"You don't call retarded people retards. It's bad taste. You call your friends retards when they're acting retarded." - Michael Scott

by PhiladelphiaEagles on Mar 14, 2011 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Lol

I knew that would get a reaction. It wouldn’t take that much.. again I don’t have a draft value chart.. do you? Cleveland only has 6 picks this year.

by cin7 on Mar 14, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Other teams as well

Arizona and Carolina also have 6 or less picks this year. I would be very surprised if one of these 3 teams didn’t trade down to get more picks. Am I the only one intrigued by this possibility to get Peterson if Nnamdi is off the market?

by cin7 on Mar 14, 2011 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Am I the only one intrigued by this possibility to get Peterson if Nnamdi is off the market?

Oh, of course not, I just wouldn’t be willing to give up THAT much to get him. It’s a big risk, and if it doesn’t pan out well, it can be a dangerous move. Besides, we still have other needs that we may need to address in the draft. Another LB for example? How about another DE? What about Akers/Rocca, maybe a P/K? (Hopefully not). What about FB? Etc, etc.

"You don't call retarded people retards. It's bad taste. You call your friends retards when they're acting retarded." - Michael Scott

by PhiladelphiaEagles on Mar 14, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah..

It’s hard to answer any questions without hitting up free agency first. They really need to come to some sort of terms.. the draft is going to be a mess if there’s no free agency first.

by cin7 on Mar 14, 2011 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s the Berry/Knoshawn craze all over again!

by AZ Eagle on Mar 14, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

PhiladephiaEagles.com stole my idea!

Actually, it looks like they posted this 10 minutes before me? Argh.. the bastards.
http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=23528

by cin7 on Mar 14, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Question

I’m not one to act like I know much about college football or even mock drafts, so I’ll ask this to everyone here…

I agree that o-line is a top priority and I think if free agency happens this question is pointless but what about us going cb here, if it Jimmy smith, Brandon Harris or another prospect and then picking up a guard or tackle in the second round? How are the late 2nd round prospect for o-line? I know there is a bunch of good prospects for cb but o-line?

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by ando1213 on Mar 14, 2011 3:57 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

And by pointless I l’m holding onto the hope that we get Nnamdi

by ando1213 on Mar 14, 2011 3:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Solder

If the top 3 O-linemen are gone we’d be better off picking one in the 2nd round. Solder is a project and the other solid O-linemen are good, but 2nd round talent. Might have to trade up in the 2nd round to get one but I don’t like Solder at 23.. it sounds like a Raider-esque pick imo.

by cin7 on Mar 14, 2011 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t want this guy. If this year’s tackle class was better, he’d probably be this year’s version of Bruce Campbell. And I’m not talking about the guy from Army of Darkness.

by outsyderz34 on Mar 14, 2011 4:10 PM EDT reply actions

They’ll draft BPA, at least in their minds. They won’t necessarily draft a left tackle. It’s sort of silly to suggest, “well, solder was the only tackle left so here you go”. They’ll never draft like that and, quite frankly, I don’t think any of us want them to.

If there’s a drop off from the top 3 and then there’s Solder and maybe a slight drop off into round 2, they’ll wait on a tackle.

by outsyderz34 on Mar 14, 2011 4:15 PM EDT reply actions

My apologies, that was meant as a reply to ando1213.

by outsyderz34 on Mar 14, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I am fine with this pick for value

But his measurements and Athleticism is more of a Left Tackle than a Right Tackle. Granted we have a lefty QB so the right side basically becomes the Left, so it could work…

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by NJEagle on Mar 14, 2011 4:34 PM EDT reply actions