Draft History

2010 Draft

The jury is still out on some of the players in the 2010 draft.  Initially this does not look as though it is a particularly strong class for the Eagles.

Defensive end Brandon Graham never really found his groove and only had flashes where he looked like a starter in the NFL.  He was drafted to get after the QB and only notched 3 sacks before going down in Week 14 with a knee injury.

Safety Nate Allen looked to be the best of the bunch before going down with a knee injury of his own.  He showed a knack for making plays at the free safety spot and was generally solid.  He looks like the FS for years to come once he recovers from his injury.

Third round selection Daniel Te’o-Nesheim barely saw the field.

Trevard Lindley looked out-matched the times he did get on the field and Keenan Clayton was a solid special teams player.

The teams third fourth round pick, Mike Kafka, spent the season as the team’s #3 quarterback.

Tight end Clay Harbor saw some action down the stretch but little to impress.

Seventh rounders Kurt Coleman and Jamar Chaney showed some promise playing key roles down the stretch at safety and LB respectively.

Grade: C+.  They got a sure fire starter in Allen and Chaney looks like he will develop into a starter with some more seasoning, and Coleman was better than expected.  Beyond that there is not a ton to be excited about here.

2009 Draft

The top of this draft was a strong one for the Eagles as it yielded two star players who should be vital parts of the team for years to come.

The Eagles were ecstatic that Jeremy Maclin fell to them at 19.  Most had him a lock to go in the top 15 of the draft.  Maclin has already established himself as one of the best young pass catchers in the league.

LeSean McCoy is already one of the best backs in the league leading the NFC in yards from scrimmage in just his second season in the league and first full season as a starter.

There is not lot more to b e excited about with this class though.  Victor Harris started most of the ’09 season at free safety but has since been released and Brandon Gibson has since established himself as a solid receiver with the Rams.

Seventh round selection Moise Fokou has started a few games for the Eagles but has yet to set himself apart from anyone else on the team.

Grade: A-.  Any draft that yields two future Pro Bowlers and another starter is a pretty strong class.  It loses points for the lack of overall depth.

2008 Draft

Despite not having a first round pick this class was not too shabby.

With its two second round picks the team landed defensive tackle Trevor Laws and DeSean Jackson. Laws has struggled to stay healthy but finally established himself in the team’s defensive line rotation and emerged as an effective passing situation player.

In just three seasons in the NFL Jackson has become one of the game’s most dynamic players making a name for himself as one of the game’s best home run hitters and has been a Pro Bowl selection.

Fourth round pick Mike McGlynn was the team’s starter at center in the 2010 season and had a solid showing.

Defensive back Quintin Demps, taken in the fourth round, contributed as a kick returner for a couple of years but has since moved on to Houston.  He was never able to crack the lineup as a starter in Philly.

Seventh rounder King Dunlap has served as a solid backup and appears to be ready to challenge for the starting job at right tackle in ’11.

Grade: B.  Jackson has already made it to the Pro Bowl and they have culled another starter in addition to a potential starter in Dunlap.

2007 Draft

Another solid class for the Eagles.

The jury is still out on the team’s top pick Kevin Kolb. He started the ’10 season as the team’s starter only to lose his spot to Michael Vick due to injury.  Kolb has shown flashes of his potential but has yet to really establish himself.

This class did yield two strong starters in Stewart Bradley and Brent Celek. Bradley was on the verge of being a Pro Bowl linebacker when he blew his knee out in ’08.

Celek has become a weapon in the Eagles pass attack at tight end and played at a Pro Bowl level in 2010.

The rest of the class is nothing of note.

Grade: B-.  The class yielded two quality starters on one potential starter in Kolb.  Loses points for lack of overall depth.

2006 Draft

The ’06 class had some solid depth but lacks any real marquee talent.

Top pick Brodrick Bunkley has been a starter at defensive tackle since being drafted, however, his days may be numbered with the Eagles.  He simply has not lived up to his draft position.

Second round pick Winston Justice was considered a good value pick, but, he has never quite lived up to his reputation coming out of college.  At one point in time he was considered the top tackle prospect in the ’06 draft.  He has struggled to stay healthy and play at a consistent level for an entire season.

Third rounder Chris Gocong was never quite able to make the transition from end to linebacker.  He was given several opportunities to be a starter but he never played consistently well enough to hang onto the job.

Like Justice Max Jean-Gilles has struggled with injuries and consistency.  He has also struggled with his weight.  He also started most of the ’10 season for the Eagles at right guard, however his time may be up with the team as well as it grows weary of waiting for him to develop as a quality NFL starter.

Jason Avant has established himself as a quality #3 receiver in the league.

Omar Gaither has the talent to be a quality linebacker in the league, but, like Justice and Jean-Gilles he has struggled with injury and consistent play.  He has played well in the middle but lacks the cover skills to play outside.

Grade: C+.  Gets points for players who contributed to the team’s success but loses points for injuries, inconsistency, and not producing any quality starters.

2005 Draft

The 2005 draft yielded three of the team’s current starters and another player who started for a couple of seasons.

Top pick Mike Patterson has been a solid starter at defensive tackle since day one.  He has yet to play like a Pro Bowler though.

Second rounders Reggie Brown and Matt McCoy gave the team a some solid years at receiver and linebacker respectively.

Sean Considine started for a couple of years at safety prior to leaving via free agency.

Todd Herremans was on the verge of being a Pro Bowl selection before foot problems derailed his career.  He is still one of the team’s more consistent lineman but he has yet to regain the form he had prior to his injuries.

Fifth round pick Trent Cole has established himself as one of the league’s best all-around ends.  He became one of the steals of the ’05 draft.

Grade: B.  Cole is a Pro Bowl caliber player and Patterson and Herremans are quality starters.