NFL Signings 2011: Which Eagles Draft Pick Will Have Best Rookie Season?

The NFL Lockout is a not-so-distant memory. Now we can forge ahead with the assurances that we will have a 2011 NFL season. This gives me an opportunity to sort through the Eagles' youngsters and tell you who will come out on top. 

The Super Bowl is dangling there like a carrot for a hungry mule. There are a great many contenders in the wide-open NFL landscape. 

To ensure a hot playoff run, you need more than talent. You need a very deep roster with multiple guys who can step in and make some noise. 

The NFL demands blood. Injuries and IR stays are all part of the business. That is why even a rookie can matter in his first year. 

Sometimes, you don't have the luxury of sitting a year or two while you mature to the pace of the game. "Go time" starts in a couple of weeks.

These young guys don't get the privilege of a long summer filled with OTA's. They will get a crash course in how the Eagles work, starting now.  

There are some on the Eagles who will need to get to NFL speed much quicker than others. Here we will break down the Eagles' best draft picks. 

Philadelphia has now signed 8 of their 11 picks they made in the 2011 NFL draft. We will concentrate on the ones that are signed and ready to go. 

The only caveat is Danny Watkins. You can bet that we have him placed in our slideshow depth chart. It is only a matter of time before the Eagles get his signature on paper. 

Here are the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles' rookies. They are ranked and sorted to the impact they will have in their first year for your pleasure. 

Because in the NFL, you are only as strong as your youngest link. 

9. Brian Rolle OLB

Brian Rolle was sick and tired of hearing all about Von Miller. Having slid to the sixth round, Rolle has a big chip on his shoulder. 

Chip and all, Rolle is still green. The only thing that will help his cause is that Stewart Bradley is now gone. 

There are more inside linebackers than out, and Rolle may find time if he has a magnificent preseason. I wouldn't hold my breath, but stranger things have happened. 

8. Julian Vandervelde OG

Julian Vandervelde is good at many things. He just isn't great at one. The Eagles have depth on the offensive line in selecting Vandervelde.

He is a sufficient run blocker and will pass protect just as well as the next guy. He needs to add size, strength and a mind for the game. 

He has a perfect frame to build on. You can't ask for a better back-up to have at the time being. It will be some time before he gets starters' minutes, though. 

7. Dion Lewis RB

You have to love an athlete who plays with a big heart. Lewis is a diminutive running back who works for every yard he gets. 

He may one day figure into the Eagles backfield, but it will be hard to get many touches this year. The Eagles may yet sign a seasoned vet to play backup to the stellar LeSean McCoy.

Aside from that, Lewis will be fighting with Eldred Buckley and newly signed undrafted rookie, Noel Devine. It is a little crowded to expect much from Lewis this year. 

6. Jason Kelce C

Jason Kelce is swift-footed for his size. At 280 pounds, he can get out and run with the fastest of big boys. 

Let's hope that stays true as he bulks up. If Kelce is ever going to be a center in the NFL, he is going to have to put on a few more pounds. 

For the time being, he will figure on the interior line as added protection. If someone goes down, this stout lineman will be there waiting for his chance. 

5. Curtis Marsh CB

Marsh is a big kid. He is 6-1 and nearly 200 pounds. He has decent speed, and a great work ethic. He is not afraid to lay his neck out for the team. 

He even switched from running back to corner at Utah State when they were short on the position. The gamble paid off. 

However, he is still learning the position and will need a year or two until we assess whether he can play at the NFL level. 

He will get reps, as the Eagles will need some depth in the secondary. Just don't expect him to kick any of the starters to the curb. 

4. Casey Matthews ILB

Casey Matthews will struggle to find playing time. There is simply not enough time to convince defensive coordinators that he can supplant Jamar Chaney on the weak side, or push out Moises Fokou. 

In a sense, the Eagles have the luxury of being deep at inside linebacker. After injuries forced Chaney to become the monster we all know and love, we can now expect Matthews to work in order to assert himself. 

With that being said, there is a place for Matthews to shine with the Eagles. It just may be towards the end of the season before we see that. 

3. Jaiquawn Jarrett S

This is a tough one. Jaiquawn Jarrett is an explosive defender who gets the most out of his body. He is listed by some as a tweener, but I don't see it. 

There is nothing tweeny about the way he hits. Jarrett will no doubt duke out reps with Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman. 

My money is on Coleman getting the nod at safety, at least to start the season. First off, you can't deny a good story like Coleman, who came out of nowhere to lend a hand late in the year. 

The shortened preseason also helps Coleman in that he is used to the defensive schemes. In time, though, Jarrett will take over in the Eagles' defensive backfield. 

2. Danny Watkins OL

This is the big boy, No. 1. There is no reason Watkins cannot have a solid, productive impact on this team in 2011. 

At 26, he is older than any rookie, and a few vets, on the team. There are those who are concerned about his age, but he started late. That means his legs are as fresh as any other rookie's legs. 

Now comes the hard part. I am confident that Watkins will be a sound lineman on the right side. I just don't expect him to be a star in this league right away. 

There is very little time for him to learn a complex and explosive system. There will be some growing pains in the beginning.

By the end of the year, though, you will be glad the Eagles selected this stout guard. 

1. Alex Henery K

Leave it to a kicker to go out and surprise us all. The biggest impact on the team will be felt by a scrawny kicker from Nebraska. 

With David Akers gone, fourth-round selection Alex Henery will be the lone man in the red zone. The crucial ties and close games will go to his feet. 

Henery fills in for one of the best, and most popular, kickers in Eagles history. The pressure will be immense. 

I have no doubt that Danny Watkins will make some noise, but Henery will be out on an island for a good portion of the season. 

You can bet that at least a couple of his kicks will decide games.