2011 NFL Draft: 5 Safeties the Eagles Should Consider To Replace Quintin Mikell

Come on Mikell, just secure the ball! Secure it, please!

What a momentum shift this would have been if Quintin Mikell, Eagles safety, could have just held onto the ball. The game against the Packers would have certainly turned out different.

Anyway, Mikell is really regressing as a player. He is a liability in coverage and does not play the run as well as he should.

Mikell is 30 years old and is an unrestricted free agent. Even he knows the likelihood of the Eagles re-signing him is very slim. Mikell was visibly upset after the game when asked about his future.

So, the best way to replace him is through the 2011 NFL Draft.

Even though this safety class is not filled with studs, it is very deep, and the Eagles can find a starter to play next to a solid Nate Allen.

5. Quintin Carter

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DALLAS - OCTOBER 17: Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin #84 of the Texas Longhorns runs for a touchdown against Quinton Carter #20 of the Oklahoma Sooners at Cotton Bowl on October 17, 2009 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Quinton Carter, senior out of Oklahoma, is not the flashiest safety, but is solid in all facets of the safety position: run defense, pass coverage, blitzing, etc. He is almost like a Quintin Mikell in that regard.

He takes great angles while tackling and covering, and he covers the entire field. He is a rangy guy and can be a defensive leader.

Draft Projection: Third or fourth round

4. Robert Sands

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 19: Darvin Adams #89 of the Auburn Tigers scores a touchdown as he gets tackled by Robert Sands #2 of the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 19, 2009 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Ima

Robert Sands is probably the most intimidating safety in this year's draft class. Sands is a junior out of West Virginia.

He is 6-5, 225 pounds and can hit and punish you. He could be a very capable complement to Nate Allen, who is more of a coverage safety.

With his enormous size at safety, he has enough speed to cover tight ends as well. He is almost like Taylor Mays of last year's draft class.

Draft Projection: Third round

3. DeAndre McDaniel

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: DeAndre McDaniel #2 of the Clemson Tigers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

McDaniel will come out as a senior out of Clemson.

Though in his junior year he had eight interceptions, this year he has only 4, mainly because teams try to avoid his side of the field.

McDaniel is a bigger safety at 6'1", 217 pounds and can play the run very well.

His combination of size, athletic ability, and football IQ make him a very dangerous ballhawk at the safety position.

Draft Position: Second or third round

2. Deunta Williams

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CHESTNUT HILL, MA - NOVEMBER 21: Deunta Williams #27 of the North Carolina Tar Heels carries the ball as Montel Harris #2 of the Boston College Eagles tries to make the stop on November 21, 2009 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The Tar

Though senior Deunta Williams out of UNC did not have as good of a senior year as his junior year, he is still a top safety in this year's draft.

Williams has fantastic size for the safety position, at 6'2", 215 pounds, and he is a defensive play maker and ballhawk.

He is not as great as a tackler as you would like, but he certainly has the potential to grow into a defensive star.

Draft Projection: Second round

1. Rahim Moore

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PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Safety Rahim Moore #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the game with the Houston Cougars at the Rose Bowl on September 18, 2010 in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 31-13. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

If Rahim Moore came out last year as a sophomore, he would have likely been selected ahead of Nate Allen. He had 10 interceptions that year.

Moore is 6'1" and 200 pounds and can fly around the field. His athleticism is second to none at the safety position in this year's draft.

The Eagles run a man cover three system, which would be perfect for Moore. He has the speed to play in man coverage and can help out in run support.

Moore is very similar to last year's Earl Thomas.

Draft Projection: late first to early second round