Eagles Make All the Right Moves in 2009 NFL Draft

The last weekend of April is one of the best times of the year for die-hard football fans.

Two straight days of Mel Kiper and the rest of ESPN’s NFL crew hosting the NFL Draft.

Thirty-two teams selecting players in hopes that they will lead their team to the promised land in the near future.

Last weekend’s draft left fans full of surprises.

Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford cashed in with the first overall pick ($41.7 million in guaranteed money) in hopes of helping the Detroit Lions turn around a disastrous season as they became the first team in history to go 0-16.

Mark Sanchez ended up replacing Brett Favre in New York after the Jets traded up to acquire the former Southern California quarterback with the fifth overall pick.

Everybody was interested to see what moves the Philadelphia Eagles would make in the upcoming draft.

After the Arizona Cardinals lowered their trade demands for wide receiver Anquan Boldin, the Eagles were one of several teams expressing interest in a possible trade. The acquisition of Boldin would make Donovan McNabb happy, as he told the organization in the offseason he wanted to see what the team did before he signed a new deal.

The Eagles may have fallen short in acquiring the big name wide receiver they wanted in Boldin. However, the team made enough moves this weekend to improve a team that fell a few big plays short of the Super Bowl last season.

When looking ahead to 2009 after this weekend, this team looks as if they could give any of the 31 other teams a run for their money.

A little over a week ago, the Eagles originally had two first round draft picks before trading the 28th overall pick to the Buffalo Bills to acquire left tackle Jason Peters—hoping to improve their offensive line.

All week, it appeared that the Eagles were going to go after running back Knowshon Moreno out of Georgia.

Moreno seemed like the perfect fit for an Eagles offense in which he could work together with Brian Westbrook.

He could run.

He could catch.

Unfortunately, dreams of Moreno in Eagles' green were shattered when the Denver Broncos selected him with the 12th overall pick.

The Eagles may have fallen short in acquiring the running back they really wanted in Moreno. However, they still managed to have an excellent weekend between the selections and trades they made.

After this weekend, a few new names join the Eagles’ roster that could have an immediate impact in 2009.

First round, 19th overall: Jeremy Maclin, WR Missouri

The Eagles were disappointed that Moreno didn’t fall late enough in the first round for them to select him with the 21st overall selection.

However, a good friend once told me that when one door closes, another one opens. This popular saying worked out perfectly for the Eagles in the first round.

In most mock drafts, Jeremy Maclin was expected to be selected within the first 15 picks. When the Eagles saw team after team pass on him, they knew they had to make a move by trading up to acquire the talented wide receiver.

Lucky for the Eagles, the Cleveland Browns were willing to swap their 19th pick with the Eagles for their 21st overall pick and a sixth round pick so they could draft Maclin.

Some fans were confused with the selection of Maclin, considering he seems like another DeSean Jackson, who the team selected in last year’s draft.

If this is the case, why are people complaining?

Maclin finished his two-year career at Missouri with 2,315 yards receiving and 22 touchdowns.

He should fit in well with the Eagles' West Coast offense with similar speed to Jackson (he ran a 4.46 40-time).

Look for Maclin to have an immediate impact for an Eagles offense that has apparently never had that big name wide receiver (minus Terrell Owens).

All of a sudden, Donovan McNabb has another wide receiver with blazing speed to play alongside Jackson and Kevin Curtis.

The Eagles may not have drafted their running back for “life after Westbrook” with Moreno; however, they were smart enough to trade up for a talented wide receiver that may have a bright future ahead of him in the city of brotherly love.

Second round, 53rd overall: LeSean McCoy, RB Pittsburgh

In the 2007 draft, the Eagles selected Kevin Kolb out of the University of Houston as their quarterback of the future once McNabb decided to call it a career.

In the 2009 draft, they were looking into selecting a running back to fill the shoes of Brian Westbrook when he was ready to call it a career.

With the 53rd pick in the second round, the team selected LeSean McCoy out of the University of Pittsburgh.

The Eagles may have been disappointed they missed out on their chance for Moreno.

However, McCoy has enough talent to carry their backfield in the future while playing alongside one of the most dangerous backs in the league during the process in Westbrook.

Like Maclin, McCoy decided to enter the draft early after a superb two-year career playing Division I football.

Last season alone, the 5′11”, 210-lb. running back rushed for 1,488 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Panthers.

Over the last couple of years, teams with two star running backs have emerged as one of the most popular trends in the league.

McCoy will be seen as the replacement for Correll Buckhalter and most likely considered as the Eagles' No. 2 running back behind Westbrook, giving the team a solid one-two punch in the backfield.

Buckhalter signed a four-year deal with the Broncos after spending his entire career playing in Philadelphia.

Fifth round, 153rd overall: Cornelius Ingram, TE Florida

The 2009 NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals left the Eagles in disappointment after overcoming a 21-point deficit only to lose 32-25.

However, the performance of tight end Brent Celek, who finished with 10 receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns, gave the team high expectations for what he could bring in the future.

After the departure of L.J. Smith to the Baltimore Ravens, the Eagles had a gap to fill in at the tight end position.

With the 153rd pick in the fifth round, the team selected tight end Cornelius Ingram out of Florida.

Despite the fact that that he missed the entire 2008 season due to an ACL injury, Ingram has shown in the past he has what it takes to be an impact player for a team.

In 2007, he recorded 34 receptions, with seven of them being touchdowns.

Not bad for a player whose main position is known for blocking.

If Celek can play as well as he did in the playoffs last season, there is no doubt that he can be considered the Eagles' main option at tight end in 2009. 

Look for Ingram to compete for playing time next season with tight end Matt Schobel. He has similar speed to Smith and is capable of spreading the field to give McNabb another option to throw to.

Two fifth round picks dealt to New England for CB Ellis Hobbs

Sheldon Brown recently expressed how unhappy he was with his contract situation with the Eagles and requested a trade (it’s understandable for anyone making $3 million in one season to be upset).

Last weekend’s trade with the New England Patriots may be a sign of what’s to come for Brown in the future.

The Eagles traded the No. 137 and 141 overall picks to the New England Patriots in exchange for cornerback Ellis Hobbs.

Hobbs spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Patriots and was on the team in 2005 when they defeated the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Whether or not this trade was made because of Brown is yet to be determined. Whether or not they decide to grant Brown’s request for a trade, the Eagles still managed to acquire another solid defender at the cornerback position.

In four seasons with the Patriots, Hobbs recorded 198 total tackles and nine interceptions.

Not only does he defend, but he also gives the Eagles another option when it comes to returning kickoffs.

Hobbs will reunite with former Patriot cornerback Asante Samuel, who signed with the Eagles through free agency last season. If Brown ends up being traded, look for Hobbs to compete with Joselio Hanson and Jack Ikegwuonu for the other starting position at cornerback.