Philadelphia Eagles 2010 NFL Draft Grade

PHILADELPHIA

1.13 Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
Eagles fans don’t seem to like this one, and I can see why. Brandon Graham is awesome, and he’ll be a perfect fit in this defense. It’s one of those picks we all should have seen coming. But the signing of Daryl Tapp seemed like enough. Still, he’s not a world-beater, and Graham could be. Even with bigger needs, this pick was fine;, it was the massive run on DEs later that made no sense. GRADE: B

2.37 Nate Allen, S, USF
Allen was the right call at safety, and he’ll be a major factor in this defense’s success. He’s got nice coverage abilities for this defense and has excellent athleticism. His problems with tackling and double moves need to be addressed, but they needed a free safety, and this is a guy who should be fine in the “Donovan spot.” GRADE: B+

3.86 Daniel Te’O-Nesheim, DE, Washington
DT-N is a great, high motor guy with better than thought measurables and excellent college production, like Graham. But Daryl Tapp was signed this offseason, and most teams don’t run four DE sets. I thought that Te’O would be a good pick for someone, but this is overkill. GRADE: B-

3ROUND GRADE: B

4.105 Trevard Lindley, CB, Kentucky
Lindley looked like a possible first rounder before last year’s draft. We all know how that would have turned out after watching him flounder his way through a quiet senior season where his thin frame and shaky hip work were exposed. Way too early. GRADE: D-

4.121 Keenan Clayton, LB, Oklahoma
Clayton is not a guy I was high on, but this is the type of system he needed to be drafted into to take advantage of his range and tracking. The Eagles did need more linebacker depth, but this isn’t the guy I would have taken. GRADE: C

4.122 Mike Kafka, QB, Northwestern
Kafka isn’t a bad QB prospect, but he built a huge buzz based off of one game (the Auburn Bowl) and a nice offseason. And by the way, the Eagles have Kevin Kolb and Mike Vick, and a bunch of other more pressing needs. GRADE: D

4.125 Clay Harbor, TE, Missouri State
Harbor is an athletic mismatch as a receiver from the tight end position and one of the top prospects from below the FBS level, but what need does he fill? Cornelius Ingram must be done, but Brent Celek is still there. They needed a blocker. GRADE: C+

5.134 Ricky Sapp, OLB/DE, Clemson
I like this pick. Sapp was 14th overall on my board, and even though the Eagles have already added a legion of D-ends, Sapp was too good to pass on in the fifth. He’ll surprise some with his ability to stand up in this defense. Watch out for him at SAM. GRADE: A

5.159 Riley Cooper, WR, Florida
The Eagles hit a groove with these last three picks. Cooper was underrated in my mind, especially if he fell to the fifth. He’s got the size that most Eagles’ receivers don’t have, and will be a consistent target. GRADE: B

6.200 Charles Scott, RB, LSU
I like the addition of power, goal-line back in the sixth. Scott isn’t just a bruiser, he’s got a real sense for the end zone when he gets close carries. He gets pretty nimble down there for a big guy. Could surprise. GRADE: C+

7.220 Jamar Chaney, ILB, Mississippi State
Great, great pick. I know about the injury concerns surrounding Chaney, but he was my second ranked ILB in the entire draft, and getting him with only 35 picks left is insane. He fits this defense. GRADE: A

7.243 Jeff Owens, DT, Georgia
Owens was a workout warrior and could develop into a solid run-plugger for the Eagles, but it’s alarming that he and Geno Atkins were never able to give Georgia a better front in college. GRADE: C

7.244 Kurt Coleman, S, Ohio State
Coleman was a great pickup in the seventh. The Eagles now have some really good depth at safety, but Coleman might just be a specials guy. GRADE: C

Best Pick: Ricky Sapp
Worst Pick: Trevard Lindley
Sleeper Pick: Jamar Chaney

FINAL ANALYSIS
At least the Eagles finally started to address actual needs sporadically. It looked like that wave might never come. I’ve never seen a team load up on defensive ends like this with two solid starters already locked up. Graham is a great player and a great fit for this defense, so I won’t get into that. But then adding Te’O was a bit much. They had bigger needs there. And he’s basically a lesser version of Graham, and an eerily similar prospect to every end on the team. Sapp is a better pick than most will believe because he has the potential to pull a Brian Orakpo and stand up in the 4-3. It didn’t work with Chris Gocong, but Sapp is a better talent. Cooper and Scott fill specific needs for a goal-line back and a red zone receiver. Chaney fits this defense so perfectly that I find it hard to believe he won’t see field at least on occasion.

Nate Allen really was a solid pick, and it was good to see that the Eagles weren’t content to rest their centerfielder hopes on Marlin Jackson. He can’t be counted on to stay healthy, and Allen might be better anyway. Harbor is a great pass catcher, but is a carbon-copy of the current tight ends. Coleman and Owens are 50/50 to develop, and Kafka was a wasted pick. Clayton fits the scheme but was a reach in the fourth. If they really think that Trevard Lindley shores up the cornerback problems, then they’re in for a surprise. The only explanation I have for the run on pass rushers is that Andy Reid was hedging his bets, knowing that at least one of the 50 has to pan out.

But, I do find it hard to believe that Philly can win a lot of games in this division with their current group of corners. There are suddenly three strong passing attacks opposite them. The defensive end fetish was weird, but the picks were good value. Just too many whiffs to give this draft anything better than an average grade.

FINAL GRADE: C

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