2012 NFL Draft: Why Philadelphia Eagles Scored Big

The Philadelphia Eagles knew what they needed coming into the 2012 NFL draft and definitely came out on top. The addition of Fletcher Cox, Mychal Kendricks, Vinny Curry and Nick Foles in the first three rounds is a step in the right direction if the Eagles are serious about a championship run. 

The addition of Cox directly addresses the team's defensive weaknesses from 2011. The Eagles traded up in the first round to select Cox with the No. 12 overall pick. The Mississippi State defensive tackle should fit right into Philadelphia's linemen rotation. Veterans Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson are the starting tackles, but the rotation is constant so Cox is expected to contribute immediately. 

Cox was extremely productive in college, collecting 56 tackles and five sacks last season. He played three seasons at Mississippi State and had 114 tackles, including 24.5 for loss, 8.5 sacks and blocked five kicks. He was also named to the All-SEC first team in 2011. 

Head coach Andy Reid is a defensive line enthusiast, so it's no surprise he was sold on the defensive tackle. At 6'4" and 298 pounds, Cox adds size to Philadelphia's defensive rotation. He's also a perfect fit into the new defensive scheme defensive line coach Jim Washburn picked up last year.

Mychal Kendricks, one of the fastest linebackers in the draft this year, was selected in the second round with pick No. 46. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash time among linebackers at the NFL combine (4.47 seconds) and was also the top performer in the vertical jump, broad jump and 20-yard shuttle.

Kendricks fits right into the Eagles wide-nine defensive scheme. Not only is he a phenomenal pass-rusher, but he's a big hitter with high tackle production. Linebackers in the wide nine must be fast and explosive, and Kendricks possesses both of those traits.   

The Eagles do already have DeMeco Ryans, but they still needed help at the linebacker position. Kendricks is versatile enough to play any of the three linebacker positions and fill in wherever he's needed.

Philadelphia picked up defensive end Vinny Curry late in the second round. At 6'3" and 266 pounds, Curry also fits into the wide-nine scheme. He is known for being disruptive force on the front line, with 11 sacks and 22 tackles for loss last season.

Curry is a luxury pick for the Eagles, considering they already have effective pass-rushers with Pro Bowl starters Trent Cole and Jason Babin. The Eagles basically made one of their strengths even stronger, which is never a bad thing.

The Eagles selected quarterback Nick Foles with their third-round pick. The young, developmental QB won't see much playing time anytime soon, but he still adds much-needed depth to that position.

Foles is an effective pocket passer with great arm strength and good field vision. He threw for 4,334 yards and 28 touchdowns his senior season at Arizona. While Foles has both the physical and decision-making skills to make it at the next level, he still needs to learn the new offense to even compete with Mike Kafka and Trent Edwards for the backup position.

The Eagles believe they are better than their 8-8 record last season, and it's showing through their draft picks. The team is addressing their weaknesses head-on and filling the holes in the 2011 roster. So far, Philadelphia's performance in the 2012 draft is only proving the Eagles are ready to be the team everyone thought they would be last season.