Philadelphia Eagles: Grading the Team's 2009 NFL Draft

The following nine slides will offer an analysis of the 2009 draft for the Eagles, as well as an overall draft grade on the final slide.

For players who spent time with the Eagles and another NFL team, I included two grades, one grading them on their performance with the Eagles and the second grading their overall NFL performance.

To view the evaluation of the 2010 draft, click here.

Jeremy Maclin, Wide Receiver, 1 (19)

Nick Laham/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Terrell Thomas #24 of the New York Giants breaks up the pass intended for Jeremy Maclin #18 of the Philadelphia Eagles at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laha

Jeremy Maclin has established himself as the most complete wide receiver on the Philadelphia Eagles, as well as one of the better first-round draft picks in the Andy Reid era. 

He caught 55 passes for 762 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. He also caught seven passes for an Eagles single-game postseason record 146 yards, while becoming the youngest player in postseason history to score a touchdown.

This past season, he caught 70 balls for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

He could be a No. 1 receiver on a mediocre team and is one of the better No. 2 wide receivers in the league. 

Grade: B+

LeSean McCoy, Running Back, 2 (53)

Nick Laham/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs down field against the Green Bay Packers during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ni

LeSean McCoy is extremely similar to Brian Westbrook in his style of play. He is also still 22 years old.

In his rookie season, McCoy carried 165 times, caught 40 passes, and scored four touchdowns. Without Brian Westbrook in 2010, he became the team's starting running back.

He immediately became a star, carrying 207 times for 1,080 yards and seven touchdowns, and catching 78 passes for 592 yards and two touchdowns. 

McCoy is probably a top 10 running back in the NFL today and will continue to get better. 

Grade: A

Cornelius Ingram, Tight End, 5 (153)

Nick Laham/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 13: Cornelius Ingram #88 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks to run the ball against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium on December 13, 2009 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Ingram would have been drafted much higher than the fifth round if he had not missed his entire season at Florida due to injury. 

He signed a four-year contract but tore his ACL in training camp before his rookie season. He missed all of 2009. He was released before 2010 and has been brought back to the practice squad twice.

He is currently on the roster but has never played in an NFL game, which is shocking because Ingram was expected to make an immediate impact with the Eagles. 

Grade: F

Macho Harris, Defensive Back, 5 (157)

Nick Laham/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 13: Macho Harris #35 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium on December 13, 2009 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Harris opened the 2009 season as the starting free safety for the Eagles, having beaten out Quintin Demps for the job. He was eventually replaced as the starter by Sean Jones.

Harris ended up winning back the starting job for the season's final two games. He also returned some kicks. 

He was projected to compete for the starting free safety position in 2010 with Marlin Jackson, Demps, and rookie second round draft pick Nate Allen. He took snaps as a cornerback during the preseason, though, but was then switched back to safety. 

The Eagles cut Harris in September and he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Eagles Grade: C

NFL Grade: C+

Fenuki Tupou, Offensive Tackle, 5 (159)

Handout/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 6: In this 2009 photo provided by the NFL, Fenuki Tupou of the Philadelphia Eagles poses for an NFL headshot on Tuesday, July 6, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)

Tupou's career with the Eagles has been the exact same as Cornelius Ingram's. 

Tupou missed his entire rookie season with an injury. He has been released and resigned a couple of times and is currently on the roster. He has never played in an NFL game though. 

Grade: D-

Brandon Gibson, Wide Receiver, 6 (194)

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 02: Wide receiver Brandon Gibson #11 of the St. Louis Rams makes a catch against the Seattle Seahawks during their game at Qwest Field on January 2, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Gibson played just one game with the Eagles in 2009 but was traded to the Rams in October of 2009 (along with a fifth round pick) for linebacker Will Witherspoon. 

He caught 34 passes for 348 yards and a touchdown in 10 games with the Rams in 2009, including seven catches for 93 yards in his NFL debut (both records for a Rams rookie receiver). 

In 2010, he caught 53 passes for 620 yards and two touchdowns. 

Eagles Grade: C (because he helped bring in Witherspoon, who started for the rest of 2009)

NFL Grade: B

Paul Fanaika, Guard, 7 (213)

NFL Photos/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - 2009: Paul Fanaika of the Philadelphia Eagles poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by NFL Photos)

Fanaika has been on the practice squads for the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, and Seattle Seahawks since the start of the 2009 season. 

He is currently a member of the Seahawks, although he has never played in an NFL game. 

Eagles Grade: D

NFL Grade: C-

Moise Fokou, Linebacker, 7 (230)

Nick Laham/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 19: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants is sacked by Moise Fokou #53 of the Philadelphia Eagles at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Fokou played in all 16 games during the 2009 season, winning the starting strong side linebacker job for the season's final four games. He recorded 39 tackles during the season. 

Fokou started 11 games in 2010 (and played in all 16). He picked up 31 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble. 

Fokou is a capable backup linebacker but should not be starting. Still, you have to give credit to a seventh round draft pick who finds his way onto the field in all 32 games in his first two NFL seasons. 

Grade: B+

Overall Grade

Al Bello/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles avoids the tackle of Charlie Peprah #26 of the Green Bay Packers during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylv

Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy have become two of the biggest playmakers on the offense. Both are underrated and have potential to make multiple Pro Bowls over the next decade.

Harris and Fokou both deserve credit for earning a starting role but neither was particularly productive. 

Gibson also deserves praise for bringing in Witherspoon. He's enjoyed a successful career in St. Louis.

Ingram, Fanaika, and Tupou have done nothing in their NFL careers. Ingram is the biggest disappointment because he was supposed to contribute as a rookie and he still hasn't seen the field for a single play.

Overall Grade: B (McCoy and Maclin are the only two worth bragging about but they're both great players.)