2011 NFL Draft: Philadelphia Eagles 7-Round Mock Draft

Some Philadelphia Eagles fans were focused on the 2011 NFL Draft before the season even ended against the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs.

I guess it was safe to assume the Eagles didn't have all the pieces to be a championship-winning team in 2010. However, they are just a few players away from going back to the Super Bowl.

The 2011 NFL Draft will be approached with a "win now" mindset. The Eagles are close, and just need the last few pieces to finish the puzzle.

This mock draft will be done assuming there is no Kevin Kolb trade. It's hard to predict how much the Eagles are going to be able to get for him, so I'm not even going to try.

Here is the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles seven-round mock draft.

1. Jimmy Smith (CB, Colorado)

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AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 10: Cornerback Jimmy Smith #3 of the Colorado Buffaloes picks up the loose ball which was knocked out of the hand of quarterback Colt McCoy of the Texas Longhorns as he rolled out in the second quarter on October 10, 2009 at Darrell K

There is no question that the Eagles need to address the secondary during the draft. In most people's eyes, it's the most important issue to address, which is why I have the Eagles taking a cornerback in the first round.

The two names thrown around are Jimmy Smith and Brandon Harris. It will be more clear-cut after the combine this week, but I feel that right now Smith is the better of the two. If available, that's the way the Eagles should go.

Smith is one of the bigger cornerbacks in this year's draft. At 6'2" and 205 pounds, he gives the Eagles size at corner that they haven't had in quite some time. He still has the speed to keep up with top receivers as well.

Smith finished his career at Colorado with 160 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble.

2. Benjamin Ijalana (OG, Villanova)

Of all the offensive linemen in this year's draft, Benjamin Ijalana was the top performer when looking at the tape.

However, he also faced much lesser competition at Villanova. Ijalana was not able to compete in the Senior Bowl due to a sports hernia. The injury could have really damaged his stock, since he wasn't able to show his abilities against top opponents.

Ijalana seems like he has the physical tools to be a first-round pick. There are just a lot of question marks.

With Howard Mudd as the new offensive line coach, Ijalana could turn into a star on the Eagles offensive line.

3. Bruce Carter (LB, North Carolina)

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NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: Bruce Carter #54 of the North Carolina Tar Heels intercepts a pass intented for Keith Stroud #15 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second quarter at Rutgers Stadium on September 25, 2010 in New Brunswick, New Jers

Bruce Carter just had ACL reconstructive surgery on his left knee in December.

I don't need to say anything further. You might as well hand the man an Eagles jersey right now—you know what I'm talking about, Philly fans.

All kidding aside, before Carter's surgery he was a centerpiece in the North Carolina defense.

That North Carolina defense plays a lot like the way I expect the Eagles defense to play under new coordinator Juan Castillo. It's a fairly simple scheme, primarily depending on beating the man in front of you.

Carter had 215 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble in his four years with the Tar Heels.

4. James Brewer (OT, Indiana)

Surprisingly enough, Indiana actually had one of the better offensive lines in the country last year, including ranking 15th in the nation in sacks allowed. Considering how much they threw the ball in comparison to running, the statistic is quite impressive.

James Brewer started at right tackle for the Hoosiers in 2010, only allowing two sacks on the season.

Brewer is a very athletic tackle, especially for his size. He stands at 6'6" and 323 pounds. Despite this large frame, Brewer is known more as a finesse blocker.

The questions come with his ability to stay healthy. If it were not for all the injuries Brewer sustained at Indiana, he would likely be a late second-round pick.

If he can stay healthy in the NFL, the Eagles could get a steal at a position that could definitely use an upgrade.

4. Robert Sands (SS, West Virginia)

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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

Why Robert Sands is projected as a fifth-rounder by some rating agencies is beyond me.

If the Oakland Raiders had a first-round pick, they may take Sands because of his freakish athletic ability and size alone.

At 6'4" and 220 pounds, Sands is the biggest safety in this year's class.

Sands is a very aggressive player, always looking to make the big hit or jump a route. This is a very high risk-reward style of play, and may fit into Juan Castillo's defensive scheme.

During his three years at West Virginia, Sands has 110 tackles, six interceptions and two forced fumbles.

The Eagles are light at the safety position. Giving Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman something to think about may do wonders.

5. Jake Kirkpatrick (C, Texas Christian)

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Center Jake Kirkpatrick #76 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates with the Rose Bowl Championship Trophy after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 21-19 in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by

Jake Kirkpatrick didn't play football until his senior season in high school. He was such a quick learner that in one year he earned a scholarship to Texas Christian.

There he anchored one of the best lines in the nation for the past four years.

He is an unfinished product, but has all the potential in the world to become a star in the NFL. He has already proved that he is a quick learner.

Why not give him the best teacher in Howard Mudd to develop him?

5. Markus White (DE, Florida State)

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ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Markus White #98 of the Florida State Seminoles against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl at Georgia Dome on December 31, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

We all know that the Eagles cannot go an entire draft without taking somebody on the defensive line. Knowing Andy Reid, it will happen earlier than the fifth round.

We have to give Washburn something to work with.

If they do wait until the fifth round, Markus White will be on the radar.

He is slightly undersized, but is a high-motor player—tell me you haven't heard that a thousand times before, Eagles fans.

Actually, White has impressed me from what I've seen. Replacing Everette Brown, he had some of the biggest shoes to fill taking over as a starter at Florida State this year.

White succeeded, finishing the year with 58 tackles and eight sacks.

7. Ryan Jones (CB, Northwest Missouri State)

Ryan Jones may not have played the toughest opponents during his time at Northwest Missouri State, but he sure did play well.

Statistically, Jones had one of the better years of all the cornerbacks in the nation.

He had six interceptions, which was tied for ninth in NCAA. Two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns. Jones was also credited with 19 passes defended. That number put him at fifth in the nation.

Despite this, he isn't going to get too much focus from many teams.

The Eagles need help in the secondary; why not take a chance on this kid late in the draft?