2011 NFL Draft Grades: Report Card for the Philadelphia Eagles' 2011 NFL Draft
After three days and seven rounds, the Philadelphia Eagles have finally assembled their 2011 draft class. Although the process started off relatively uneventfully, Andy Reid reverted to his usual wheeling and dealing ways in the later rounds, eventually turning ten picks into 11 rookies, plus an extra fourth-round pick in 2012.
Those 11 rookies now have a chance to make their mark in franchise history.
While it will be several seasons before we can determine exactly whether a certain pick was a steal or a bust, the Eagles' draft results can still be evaluated based on experts' projections and team needs. With that in mind, let's take a look at each of the 11 players who will soon be taking the field in Eagles uniforms - once the lockout is lifted, that is.
Round 1
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Danny Watkins: OG/OT, Baylor
6'3" 310 lbs.
In a surprising turn of events, Andy Reid decided not to draft fan-favorite cornerback Jimmy Smith, and instead chose to bolster his offensive line.
A 26-year old former firefighter from British Columbia, Danny Watkins is not your typical rookie. However, that didn't deter the Eagles, who had reportedly been targeting him long before the start of the draft.
Although his age is a negative factor, Watkins' skill as a blocker simply cannot be ignored. He has the ability to start at right guard from day one and will protect Michael Vick's blindside with a fierce tenacity.
With the subpar performance of Max-Jean Gilles and Nick Cole at the right guard spot last year, the Eagles were in desperate need of a player to keep Vick off of his back. Watkins fills that need.
The only negative factor of this pick is that many draft experts projected Watkins to be a late first round or early second round pick, meaning that the Eagles could have traded down and acquired additional picks while still netting Watkins. However, the end result is that the Eagles acquired a talented player at a position of need.
Need: A
Value: B-
Overall: B+
Round 2
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Jaiquawn Jarrett: S, Temple
6'0" 198 lbs.
In the second round, the Eagles again passed on a cornerback, deciding instead to bolster their safety position. With longtime starter Quintin Mikell now certain to leave via free agency and second-year man Kurt Coleman still slightly rough around the edges, the Eagles needed a hard-hitting player to add ferocity to the defensive lineup.
They found exactly what they needed in Temple's Jaiquawn Jarrett. The young safety plays very aggressively and is adept at run support or blitzing the passer. Although his pass defense skills still need a bit of polish, Jarrett has a chance to come out on top in the battle for a starting role.
Much like Watkins, the only knock against Jarrett is that draft experts projected him as a third-rounder, so he might be considered a bit of a reach at 54 overall.
Need: A
Value: C+
Overall: B
Round 3
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Curtis Marsh: CB, Utah State
6'1" 197 lbs.
In the third round, the Eagles traded down from the 85th overall pick to the 90th overall pick in order to acquire the Ravens' sixth round pick.
With their new third-round pick, the Eagles finally found a player to add talent to their cornerback position. Utah State's Curtis Marsh has the size and speed (4.46 40 time) necessary to help out immediately as a nickel or dime corner, with the developing instincts that could propel him to a starting position someday.
Marsh only has two years of experience as a cornerback after starting at Utah State as a running back. Still, he managed to earn All-WAC honors in that short period of time and ranked sixth in the country in passes defended last year.
Projected to go anywhere from the second to the third round, Marsh was a steal for the Eagles at No. 90.
Need: A
Value: A
Overall: A
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Round 4
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Casey Matthews: MLB, Oregon
6'1" 231 lbs.
The fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft was certainly no stranger to Andy Reid's brilliant deals. By dropping back only 12 spots in the round, the Eagles managed to pick up the Buccaneers' 2012 fourth round selection.
With the 116th pick, the team selected Casey Matthews to bolster the ranks of the linebacker corps. While Matthews will never reach the level of talent that his brother Clay enjoys, he projects to develop a solid career as a backup and special teams player.
With Omar Gaither departing via free agency and Stewart Bradley likely converting to an outside linebacker position, the Eagles will be in dire need of backups at the middle linebacker position. Matthews' high motor and ballhawking tendencies will allow him to fill in immediately as a second-stringer and special teams ace.
However, Matthews' career potential seems limited in terms of starting ability. For a mid-fourth round pick, the Eagles could have potentially gotten a better value.
Need: B
Value: C
Overall: C+
Round 4
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Alex Henery: K/P, Nebraska
6'2" 177 lbs.
After twelve seasons with the franchise, David Akers' time in Philadelphia has come to an end. After the Eagles placed a transition tag on the veteran at the end of last season, Akers allowed his disappointment to be broadcast publicly. The Eagles responded by drafting his replacement, Nebraska's Alex Henery.
As far as kickers go, Henery is the best that the 2011 NFL Draft had to offer. His eye-popping 57-yard field goal record, coupled with his reputation for coolness under pressure have the potential to translate well into the professional level.
Although it will be difficult for Henery to immediately measure up to Akers, who holds the most franchise records of any kicker in franchise history, he has all of the tools for success. The Eagles will be able to count on him in a tough situation, as the clutch player has only missed two kicks from inside the 50 yard line in his entire career. Henery can even contribute in the punting game, if needed.
Henery was projected to go off the board anywhere from the fourth to the sixth round, so he may have been a slight reach at No. 120 overall, but not by much.
Need: B-
Value: B+
Overall: B
Round 5
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Dion Lewis: RB, Pittsburgh
5'7" 193 lbs.
After LeSean McCoy was scooped up by the Eagles in the 2009 NFL Draft, Pittsbugh's running game fell on the shoulders of Dion Lewis.
A speedy back with a low center of gravity, Lewis has the potential to be a poor-man's Maurice Jones-Drew at the professional level. He was very productive over his two-year college career, racking up 30 touchdowns and emerging as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield.
Lewis has the potential to be a prolific replacement for Jerome Harrison as the Eagles' number-two halfback and third-down back. Although his size and lack of blocking skills may prevent him from ever reaching starter status, Lewis can still be very productive in selective situations.
Draft experts projected Lewis to be selected in the fifth or sixth rounds, but mentioned that he could develop into a late-round steal depending on the direction his career takes.
Need: A
Value: B+
Overall: A-
Round 5
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Julian Vandervelde: OL, Iowa
6'2" 301 lbs.
Offensive line depth was a big need for the Eagles this offseason with the departure of Nick Cole. Iowa's Julian Vandervelde has the size to be a good fit behind either Todd Herremans or Danny Watkins at the guard position.
The physical Vandervelde is a typical "high-character guy" pick that Andy Reid loves. He has a great attitude and, as he demonstrated in an interview with New Era Scouting, refuses to become complacient:
""Once I am in a camp and make that impression on a team. I want to earn a starting job. I don’t want to be the second man. I will fight until I am starting. I want to keep getting better each year to become as good of a player as I can be."
"
However, draft experts projected Vandervelde to go anywhere from the sixth round to undrafted, so the Eagles might have been reaching a bit when they selected him at No. 161.
Need: A
Value: C
Overall: B
Round 6
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Jason Kelce: C/OG, Cincinnati
6'3" 280 lbs.
Although the Eagles had just drafted Julian Vandervelde to shore up their offensive line depth, the continued uncertainty of Jamaal Jackson's health demanded another body at the center position.
Cincinnati's Jason Kelce is undersized at only 280 pounds, but he uses his lack of weight to remain quick on his feet. He ranked first among all offensive linemen at the NFL Combine with a 40 time of 4.89 seconds and ranked among the top in the class at the 20-yard shuttle and three cone drill as well.
However, his lack of size led many draft experts to project him at the seventh round or undrafted level. The Eagles may have reached a bit with Kelce, but offensive line coach Howard Mudd may be able to make a productive player out of him.
Need: B-
Value: C-
Overall: C
Round 6
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Brian Rolle: OLB, Ohio State
5'10" 229 lbs.
With the departure of Ernie Sims and Akeem Jordan via free agency, the Eagles were in desperate need of depth at outside linebacker.
Ohio State's Brian Rolle, cousin of Giants' safety Antrel Rolle, will likely never be a starter in the NFL, but he has the potential to be a valuable backup and special teams player. His high motor makes up for his small stature, as he plays with extreme aggressiveness.
As he has already demonstrated in an interview with The Columbus Dispatch, Rolle's size leads him to play with a chip on his shoulder:
""People who say [size] is an issue, they must not have seen any film because put on Von Miller and put me on film, and everything he does, I can do just as well. So scouts and coaches - guys who actually watch film and evaluate me - I'm pretty sure they know I can play football."
"
Rolle was projected to come off the board around the sixth or seventh round, so the Eagles stayed right in line with the experts' predictions.
Need: B+
Value: B
Overall: B
Round 7
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Greg Lloyd: LB, Connecticut
6'1" 246 lbs.
The son of Pittsburgh Steelers great Greg Lloyd Sr., Lloyd made a name for himself at Connecticut through his nasty play and big hits. Although slow on the field, Lloyd has the potential to make the team as a backup SAM linebacker.
One big knock against Lloyd, however, is his history of injury. Back in 2009, he tore both his ACL and MCL. This past season, he only appeared in seven games due to various injuries. This was a risky selection by the Eagles, but in the seventh round, the risk is merited.
The Eagles appear to have given up the expected value for Lloyd, who was widely projected as a seventh-round selection.
Need: C
Value: C
Overall: C
Round 7
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Stanley Havili: FB, USC
6'0" 227 lbs.
With Leonard Weaver unlikely to return to Philadelphia after his horrific knee injury, the duties of the fullback position will fall to the capable hands of Owen Schmitt. However, as insurance, the Eagles picked up USC running back Stanley Havili.
The polar opposite of Schmitt, Havili boasts one of the best receiving skill sets of the 2011 running back draft class. He also can be productive on the ground, averaging 6.6 yards per carry last season. However, Havili is in no way a blocker. If he wants to make it on an NFL roster, he'll have to prove himself valuable enough at rushing and receiving to merit a spot.
With some scouts surprisingly projecting Havili as high as the third round, the Eagles picked up a steal of a running back with their final pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Need: C
Value: A
Overall: B
Final Grades
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At the beginning of the offseason, the Eagles' biggest needs were at right cornerback, right guard and linebacker. They also needed help at safety, right tackle, and defensive line in addition to depth at running back, tight end, quarterback and wide receiver.
The Eagles did a great job shoring up their linebacker, safety, running back and offensive line positions. However, there is still no clear starter at right cornerback and no additions were made to the defensive line to aid in the pass rush.
The tight end and wide receiver positions still require additions to help with depth, and, if Kevin Kolb is traded, the quarterback position will require a new player as well.
The Eagles have their work cut out for them when the free agent market finally opens, but they took a step in the right direction with this draft.
Overall Grade: B
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