Top Ten Best Eagles Draft Picks - #4 DeSean Jackson

by JasonB on Apr 26, 2011 10:01 AM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

As promised in our previous post in the top ten best picks of the Reid era, we've got our second straight second round pick.

DeSean Jackson - 2008 - 2nd round

I could list you a bunch of DeSean's stats that would make you jaw drop, but none moreso than this. DeSean Jackson was the seventh wide receiver taken in the 2008 draft. Here's a list of the guys taken before him.

Donnie Avery, Devin Thomas, Jordy Nelson, James Hardy, Eddie Royal & Jerome Simpson.

DeSean Jackson is the only pro bowler of the bunch. Two have already been cut. Only one has ever even caught more than 60 passes in a year and that was Eddie Royals now flukey looking rookie season. And why were six guys taken before him? For one, he's small and a lot of teams are afraid of that. The other reason were the supposed "character concerns" around him. Not that he was ever in trouble, just that he was cocky.

I read the book, "Moneyball" by Michael Lewis about how the Oakland A's exploited inefficiencies in the market to create an advantage for themselves. Among other things, they found that the ability to get on base was undervalued and things like speed and stolen bases were overvalued. It got me thinking about whether there was an equivalent in the NFL. What might be the inefficiency that can be exploited?

One possibility really might be these "character concerns." You can't tell me that teams thought that guys like Jerome Simpson or James Hardy were better football players than DeSean Jackson. They weren't, not by any measure. To me, if seven teams look at the same set of players and pass on the best one because of character concerns, then that's a serious inefficiency in the market.

Are You Smarter Than The Experts?
Correctly predict the first 32 picks of the 2011 NFL Draft and you’ll win $10,000,000!
BEST ROUND EVER IN PRIMETIME
Enter at facebook.com/BudLight
Here We Go

Enjoy Responsibly ©2011 Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Bud Light® Beer, St. Louis, MO. ©2011 NFL Properties LLC. All NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. No Purchase Necessary. Contest open to U.S. residents (except CA) 21+. Contest begins 12AM CDT on 4/1 and ends 5:59:59PM CDT on 4/28. See Official Rules for complete details. Void where prohibited.

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Great Question - does this mean Jimmy Smith is coming our way?

Great question on whether this is a draft inefficiency that we can exploit (again) to the same kind of advantage as we did with d-jack. From what I understand about the A’s approach, there were 3 keys to their advantage:
1) The one you point out – figuring out that some characteristic is over-rated or under-rated
2) Being able to reliably measure that characteristic in advance of a transaction like a trade or a draft – the only way you can be sure you are avoiding over-paying for the over-rated and are not over-paying for the under-rated
3) Keeping that insight quiet, to avoid having everyone else factor it in too, at which point the “market” prices adjust to incorporate that information
On #2, the A’s had it made, as the on-base information was available and reliable, just under-utilized. In the d-jack case it looks harder – can our scouts really get into the heads of the draft class to figure out which attitude issues are manageable cockiness versus baby-hueys in the making? Having said that – if our FO CAN do that, then we are really on to something – because in baseball teams eventually caught on and broke item #3 for the A’s – eliminating the inefficiency – while I think it would be alot harder for teams to copy our psych-profiling if in fact we have figured out how to do that better than others. Does Howie have a secret occupational psychologist on staff?!? Wonder how Jimmy Smith scored! No matter what, hope they don’t tell anyone, so that we can exploit the over/under, whichever it is…

by PrincetonGreen on Apr 26, 2011 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

Since the TO crap, “locker room chemistry” is overated. Its important, but not in the way you think.

Its important to have guys like Avant who can throw the monster down-field block on a punt return, sure.

But to downgrade someone so sharply for character is silly.

My knock on DeSean wasn’t character though. Its a little injury-prone frame that’ll eventually catch up with him.

I would like to thank my hands for being so great, for allowing me to type this post.

by corn on the kolb on Apr 26, 2011 10:31 AM EDT reply actions

Have to say I’m surprised, I thought DeSeasn would be #3 with B-West & D-Mac taking either 1 or 2. Interested to see who it is since I was having trouble predicting who #4 would be.

by The Legend on Apr 26, 2011 10:34 AM EDT reply actions

No. 3 is the best value pick Reid has ever made.

Follow Bleeding Green Nation on Twitter & Facebook

by JasonB on Apr 26, 2011 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Hmm.

Trotter? I can’t remember whether you’ve already listed Cole.

by Tracer Bullet on Apr 26, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Nah, Cole hasn’t been listed. And when you think about it, he has to be a top 4 pick; he’s been one of the game’s best DE’s since he came into the league, and he was drafted in the fifth round. That’s a money pick right there. Of course, Westbrook was a third-rounder, and that’s pretty strong value as well.

by Rujasu on Apr 26, 2011 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

by Phillyrampage on Apr 26, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

I think the fact that he was

170 pounds soak and wet had alot to do with his draft position….

In a league with the Megatrons and the Fitzgeralds…..a little guy like Desean is going to fall out of the top seed 9/10 times…

FLY #7 FLY !!!

by BWestFactor on Apr 26, 2011 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

Donnie Avery and Jerome Simpson were both little guys if I remember and they were drafted higher.

Follow Bleeding Green Nation on Twitter & Facebook

by JasonB on Apr 26, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

And?
Were they #1WR or #2WR?
How often do small turds get drafted high if there are bigger guys around them?

Youre saying that as like if his size didnt matter at all, which isnt true….

FLY #7 FLY !!!

by BWestFactor on Apr 26, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Donnie Avery was in fact the #1 WR taken.

by ATG. on Apr 26, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m saying his size can’t be the only reason he dropped.

Follow Bleeding Green Nation on Twitter & Facebook

by JasonB on Apr 26, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Avery is 5’11" and 195 pounds
Simpson is 6’2" and 200 pounds

Merry Vickmas everyone! * Falls into pile of snow DeSean style *
"It's simple, ... I'm always striving to do more. Whatever I accomplish, it's not enough. I don't get satisfied. That's not my nature." -Brian Dawkins
"Well as long as you want to get it right it's Princess Buttercup... Jackass." -Udalango

by d-jackfan10 on Apr 26, 2011 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I have said this before and I will say it again

Andy Reid is just as responsible for turning DeSean Jackson into DeSean Jackson as DeSean Jackson is. DJax is one of those players which must play within certain parameters in order to be successful. His value to the Eagles is probably the maximum it would be for anyone, he fits hand in glove with Reid’s version of the WCO.

Look at it this way, if the Raiders had drafter DJax, I seriously doubt the man would have been as productive as he has become.

"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Bear Bryant

by NJBammer on Apr 26, 2011 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

+1000 Again!!

I think when you hear the oft repeated mantra of Andy Reid after a loss, “I just didn’t put our people in a position to win the game” (I paraphrase) – it is true. Reid obviously has put certain players in a position to have great careers. I give you Donovan McNabb and his meltdown in Washington. Somehow he was great in Philadelphia – why? Because Reid knows how to play to a player’s strengths. I think this is one of Reid’s best attributes as a Coach.

by Claudius on Apr 26, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I think I know who #3 is...

And yes he was drafted very late in the draft so he is a value pick. But when D-’jax’s career is over he could have more impressive stats. So I think he has a chance to mOve into the 3 spot.

by Saidrick on Apr 26, 2011 11:56 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Yeah, I was thinking of Freddie Mitchel too,

but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.

by ATG. on Apr 26, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

AR should have to wear a Flava Flav necklace until he learns how to manage a fucking clock.

by KByars on Apr 26, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it’s Cole then Westbrook then McNabb.

by outsyderz34 on Apr 26, 2011 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

I will say

I thought Hardy would be a beast. I cant beleive he flamed out so quick. Going to Buffalo probably didnt help. Its like what NJBammer said…Going to the Eagles was perfect for DJack…wonder what would of happened if Hardy went to Eagles and Desean went to Buffalo. As I said though, at the time, Hardy was settin records at Indiana catching everything his way. He was close to 6’6 and seemed like a stud. But…laziness and a lack of speed hurt him.

by Mike Will is DoubleDown on Apr 26, 2011 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

Can’t teach height!

Follow Bleeding Green Nation on Twitter & Facebook

by JasonB on Apr 26, 2011 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh man...

I totally agree. That dude just completely took over games against really solid Ds. I would’ve sworn he’d pan out… I even took him in like the 6th round of my fantasy draft his rookie year (dumb, right?!).

by Novembre on Apr 26, 2011 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions