What Wide Receivers aren't the Eagles looking at?

by JasonB on Apr 10, 2008 8:28 PM EDT in News

Maybe it would save me time if I simply listed the college WRs that the Birds aren't checking... The news of the Eagles' working out/hosting/being interested in WRs is pouring in by the era.

PFT is reporting that the Eagles are working out Appalachian State WR Dexter Jackson

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.

Jackson's potential as a WR might be limited at the pro level, but he's a fantastic return man.

In other WR news... Matt Miller of New Era Scouting and Mocking the Draft told me that he hears Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly will workout for the Eagles, Redskins, and Bengals this weekend. He will look to improve on his disappointing 4.7 40 he ran at the OU pro day.

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Give it up Jason

I am sorry that I continually sound like a 1 trick pony on your blog... but thanks for the opportunity to express my opinion.

All this receiver talk doesn't mean much to me. Most rookie receivers take 3 years to become fully productive in the West Coast System. This draft has below average receiving talent, with no true studs like last yrs class (Johnson).

Donovan wants to win now, now get a wr who'll be groomed for a couple years. And Andy can't resist his big-boy philosophy... I see the Birds trading up for a lineman... either an OT to back up our two old soldiers, and then start next year, or, more likely, a DLineman that'll put his hands in the dirt and get after the QB. That's how the Giants won...

by meangreenmachine on Apr 10, 2008 9:03 PM EDT 0 recs

So are you saying

That all their interest in WRs this offseason is a smokescreen so they can get the OT they want?

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by JasonB on Apr 10, 2008 9:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Well...

That could be a smart strategy, right?

by ajay on Apr 10, 2008 10:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

Andy's thorough...

I do believe Andy will address competition at both Punt Returner and Kick Returner (the current starter at both spots on the roster is Bam Childress, who may actually be a pretty good choice). Logically, someone who fills that role would typically be either a wr or db.

I also believe Andy is trying to get a true improvement at wr this year... engaging Detroit (Roy Williams), Arizona (Anaquin Boldin) and/or St. Louis (Tory Holt) in discussions. I no longer believe, unfortunately, that those discussions will prove fruitful... no fault to the Eagles for trying.

Smokescreen... nah. Andy's thorough. He'll be prepared in evaluating the talent at hand, prepared to take the best player available at the spot he picks, and prepared to either trade up or trade down.

Some later posts in this thread reflecting a possible early acquisition at DB have merit, too. I just think this is a draft where Andy's true colors will show, and his colors are the mud and blood in the trenches, where the game is truly won.

by meangreenmachine on Apr 11, 2008 7:03 AM EDT up 0 recs

No smoke screen

One important lesson we can learn from Andy Reid is that you never go by what he says. We go by what he does.

Most poeple forget that the Eagles have a huge bargaining chip in Sheppard and a ton of picks that they have to trade during the draft.

Why wouldn't the Eagles trade Sheppard yet? Its because he is draft baite.

Eagles will draft a WR/return man w # 19. (This is not impossible, remember the Eagles did draft Freddy Mitchell in the 1st, Pinkston & Brown
in he 2nd). And we know there is no other way to get a decent WR.

Andy Reid knows that defenses man up his wide outs. He isn't stupid, thats why he tried for Fitzy and Moss. He is tired of it.....

Eagles will only try after receivers they like, they won't let the fans forced them into a player like David Boston (I use him as an example, because 4-5 years ago we were begging for him) or Ocho Cinco..There is no other way to get one other than drafting one.

Dallas Sucks

by yophillybro on Apr 11, 2008 8:35 AM EDT up 0 recs

What we don't know

Is how Andy has evaluated the talent already on his roster. Back when I did the OT draft preview, I illustrated a few ways you could make the argument that we have no need to draft an OT high. In his interview down in Florida, Andy seemed to back this up when he said he thought Andrews could be a dominant tackle, Herremans could do the job, and how we still have Justice. I think Andy even said he thought Andrews could be one of the finest left tackles in the NFL.

Many people thought that the only reason Andrews plays guard right now was to get him on the field. He was drafted as a tackle and they moved up to get him... It's not crazy at all to think he's the tackle of the future.

That said, who knows? You could make a compelling argument as to why they do need to draft an OT early.

You are correct in saying that Andy believes in building from the lines, but if he thinks he already has the building blocks here he probably won't spend an early pick on it.

As for CB, I don't see that. It's not the Eagles style. Look at who they're solid 3rd CBs have been, it's not been first round picks. Al Harris was a 6th rounder, Rod Hood was undrafted... I don't think their history shows that they'll spend a high pick on a guy to be a third corner. Now, if they like a return guy that also happens to be a corner... that could change things, but I doubt they see corner as a huge need right now. Even if/when they trade Lito.

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by JasonB on Apr 11, 2008 9:23 AM EDT up 0 recs

I again must respectfully disagree...

I concur an argument can be made that the OT talent on the roster is both good and deep. However, like you said, "you could make a compelling argument as to why they need to draft an OT early." Here goes...
1.    Thomas/Runyan in potential final Eagle season... aging & more susceptible to injury
2.    Andy will want to position himself to negotiate with the two vets from a position of strength in next years off-season
3.    Herremans not thrilled with his contract, and, similar to Lito, did not play well (at G, let alone T) last yr,
4.    Justice is a legitimate question mark... yes, it was 1 game. But against a division foe... and there is talk of moving him to G.
5.    Andrews has commented he's not sure he'd want to slide outside (to RT... I can't see him ever playing LT)
6.    Taking a Tackle early in the draft typically gives you the flexibility to move him to Guard (See Shawn Andrews and Todd Herremans)

If Runyan and Thomas are gone in '09, that leaves Justice, Andrews and Herremans as your tackles (if Herremans is still around), and Jackson, Scott Young, Jean-Giles, and Nick Cole in the interior line. Not enough.

All that said, I still think the Eagles will trade up and get a DE, very possibly Derrick Harvey (again, another position you feel they've already potentially filled w/the Clemmons acquisition, yet where I feel they want one more game-changing guy).

As for it "not the Eagles style" to draft a cb early, Jason, why not? You focus on 3rd cb early, but if the Eagles trade Lito, I see an incoming premium draft pick at CB to combat Sheldon Brown, something Jim Johnson year in and year out seems to feel is important. History shows they WILL spend a high pick on a potential starting cb (see Lito and Sheldon). And it becomes a significant need IF they trade Lito, which I think is a slam dunk (although I'd disagree with that move unless the Birds got big time return value, aka in a package for a #1 wr, or getting a second and third round pick in return, if not a first rounder).

In essence, Jason, I think the Eagles will prioritize the draft positionally in this sequence...
*    Line, DB very heavy!
*    QB (unless they trade AJ, a possibility), TE (unless they trade 1 of their current 4) very light!
*    WR/RB will get attention, but unlikely that attention would come early... could be influenced by a players return skills
*    ST, and I'm talking MORE than just a returner... we're talking coverage players... guys that can contribute on ST will get mid-late round emphasis.

by meangreenmachine on Apr 12, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up 0 recs

Secondary

They drafted Lito and Sheldon when it was obvious they'd need two new starting CBs in the near future. They had two aging veterans with expiring contracts as the starters. Not the case this year.

So why spend an early pick on a DB? Especially when this team has thrived with guys like Rod Hood and Al Harris as their nickel corners? A UDFA and a 6th rounder respectively.

On the offensive, like I said we don't know how Andy sees his own roster. It's very likely that his intention was to move Andrews to OT all along. If they also still see Justice as the future, then he has a first and second round pick already on the roster ready to take over. Why burn a first rounder on an OT in that case? You slide Max Jean, who we know Reid loves, in as Andrew's replacement and your line seems set. We'll just need depth after that.

Now, I'm sure we'll see Andy take a OL or two in this draft. We know that one way or another we'll need bodies on the line with Runyan and Thomas likely in their last year. But whether he'll spend early picks depends on what his plans are for the guys he already has, which we just don't know.

We do know that Andy told reporters last month

On whether he would prefer not moving Andrews: "Not necessarily. Shawn was one of the finest tackles I've ever seen come out of college football. To get him on the field sooner, I put him in at guard. But I would have no problem doing that, no. I thought he could play the left side as well as anybody in this league."

I will say this, nothing will surprise me.

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by JasonB on Apr 12, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

WR can contribute in 1 year.

People seem to forget that Reggie Brown actually contributed his rookie year, and became a full time starter his 2nd year.

Hey if you brought in Moss, he would have learned the West Coast offense in just a few months. Stallworth learned it in weeks, its not that bad.

Where esle can you get a receiver if you don't draft one? Undrafted Free-agents, like always? Trades? Free-Agents like Berrian making 7 mil/y?
Draft a WR in the 4th or 5th round ,like Avant and Freddie Milons?

If you want good talent, you need to get it while its on the board. If you wait, you will only get leftovers.

Birds will got WR #1, They will Draft a tackle in mid 20s via trade (sheppard +).

Dallas Sucks

by yophillybro on Apr 11, 2008 8:47 AM EDT up 0 recs

I wouldnt mind

a 3rd or 4th being spent on a very good kr/pr

by JoeD on Apr 10, 2008 9:20 PM EDT 0 recs

WR

a veteran receiver is a lot different than a rookie. Drafting a receiver in the 1st round this year is a big mistake. Maybe in the second round if we move up. I can picture a couple guys sliding into the second and us moving up to grab one (Hardy??). We are most likely getting a Tackle or a Corner in the 1st. We may get a guy that would normally be a top 10 pick in any other year. We need to jump all over that!

by Jkreck on Apr 10, 2008 9:47 PM EDT 0 recs

I partially agree

I agree that drafting a WR is a big risk, because most are bust. But if you trade sheppard plus picks to re-enter into the first round. Than you can still get your Tackle. Therefore you are addressing needs. Hey if you have a WR problem, you can't resolve it with a 3 or 4th rounder. Those type of players are even less likely to success. There are reasons why some WR slip to 3 and 4th rounder, they are not complete players.

We need to just go out and pick one with good upside. This can only be done with the first pick. (Look around the league, most good WR were first round picks).

Dallas Sucks

by yophillybro on Apr 11, 2008 8:41 AM EDT up 0 recs

I agree

It's simple. You have to trust in your own evaluation. If there's a WR at #19 that our people love and think is going to be a player there's no reason not to pick him. The minute you get scared because a certain position has been historically tougher, is the minute you probably shouldn't be in the war room.

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by JasonB on Apr 11, 2008 9:15 AM EDT up 0 recs

Subject lines etc.

True dat. Some day, there's going to be a big name WR coming to town, either through the draft, free agency, or a trade, and I do not envy the pressure that guy will feel. Then again, if he has game, he'll probably be the most popular player in the league.

by yomjoseki on Apr 12, 2008 11:06 AM EDT up 0 recs

I agree

and I don't think we have looked at this enough. Us as fans have been talking about a receiver for years. If a guy comes in either through trade or the draft he will be under the microscope. The media will be all over the guy too, I do not envy this man. A rookie WR will get some leniency unless he is our first round pick then the dogs will be off the leash so to speak.

by Whodie126 on Apr 12, 2008 12:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

re:

it'd be nice if we can get a big strong receiver that mcnabb can count on in the red zone. i like curtis and brown but they haven't shown me much. mcnabb doesn't like to pass to receivers in the RZ unless he has enough trust/confidence in the WR that he'll somehow make the catch no matter how covered he is.

if we get a kelly, sweed or hardy in the first round, they'll be used primarily as a RZ receiver as a rookie.

kelly's pro day 40 run was interesting. i'm not really sure what happened (even after listening to his interview after the run), but even running a 4.6-4.7 isn't too bad because he did run a 4.5 at the combine. also, he weighed in at 227lbs at his pro day which is above his normal playing weight. evidently, he thought that he could still maintain his speed at that weight. had the track been what was originally planned, maybe he would've ran a 4.5 even at 227lbs.

i believe if he plays at 215lb range, he could run the 40 in 4.45-4.5 and at that height, that's pretty fast. if he learns to catch with his hands a little more then he'd be a future star in the nfl.

by ringordietryin on Apr 12, 2008 10:38 PM EDT up 0 recs