Day One Wrap-up
As I suspected, the Eagles weren't going to stay at #19. I thought they'd move up to grab one of the OTs they liked. A lot of people linked them with Jeff Otah (who did fall to #19), but his bread and butter is run blocking, and the Eagles need a pass blocker. I really thought they'd try to move up to grab Branden Albert because he could challenge for a starting role at LG (Todd Herremans) immediately and then work his way into LT or RT, replacing either Tra Thomas or Jon Runyan as soon as 2009.
When they got to 19 and traded down, I was fine with it because there really weren't any players there that warranted the Eagles #19 pick. Getting the Panthers to throw in so much (a 2009 1st rounder included) was brilliant.
The Eagles then sat at #43 and I was a little shocked that they traded down. The WR that I liked for them in the 2nd round (Eddie Royal) went #42, but safety Tyrell Johnson slid down and was available at #43. He'd be a great pick as the Eagles need immediate depth at the position and Dawkins is likely in his last year. But they traded down 4 spots (Johnson did go #43 to Minnesota) and then grabbed Trevor Laws. He's a good player, but I would have rather had Johnson and Laws doesn't really fill a need for the Eagles who used 1st rounders on DT in 2005 and 2006.
At #49, the Eagles took DeSean Jackson. Again, not a bad pick, and the Eagles do need help at KR/PR desperately, but the Eagles woes at WR were the lack of a big physical guy who could beat the jam and be a red-zone threat. If the Eagles were determined to add a WR, Malcolm Kelly and Limas Sweed (two of the best big WRs available) were still available.
Plans for Day Two?
Lito Sheppard is still an Eagle. Since he wasn't part of a day-one trade--and the Eagles were looking for day-one type of compensation--it seems unlikely that he'll be moved tomorrow (unless the Eagles can use him to move up in rounds 3 or 4 and also get a 2009 2nd rounder in return).
I would love to see the Eagles package their #80 and #117 picks and move up to the early third round to grab DaJuan Morgan if they can. They still need to address the safety situation and he and Quentin Demps are the top guys still on my list (and also Chevis Jackson and Simeon Castille, a couple CBs that likely project better to FS).
If they stay put, #80 could bring OT Anthony Collins or OT Carl Nicks. If they're looking at CB (assuming that Lito won't be playing for the Eagles again), then guys like Tyvon Branch, Orlando Scandrick, Antwuan Molden, Charles Godfrey, and Zack Bowman are still waiting to hear their names. They could also add to WR again with Earl Bennett, Early Doucet, or maybe even Keenan Burton. A few tight ends are also intriguing in the third round (Martin Rucker, Brad Cottam, and Kellen Davis).
They've got so many 4ths and 6ths right now, that they'll end up being nothing more than camp bodies if they keep them all. Their best bet would be to package some of those picks to rebuilding teams who need quantity. The Eagles could also turn some of those 4ths into 2009 3rds.