Here's a quick attempt at a need-based draft for the Eagles. Thoughts?


1-21: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma St
1-28: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona

2-53: Rashad Jennings, RB, Liberty

3-85: Antoine Caldwell, C, Alabama

4-117: Chip Vaughn, SS, Wake Forest

5-133: Louie Sakoda, K, Utah
5-149: Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Wisconsin

6-181: Sean Sester, OT, Purdue
6-182: Jeremy Perry, OG, Oregon State

7-213: Fui Vakapuna, FB, BYU

Wow...that would finally put them over the top, Jeff!

I fear that Pettigrew, Caldwell, Shaughnessy and Vaughn would all be gone though...

I dunno about Pettigrew...I think #21 is about right for him. Caldwell I'm with Steve, he should be gone...maybe Eric Wood?

Didn't the Eagles draft alot of o-line last year, how about a wide out to complement D. Jackson and some saftey help?? (see Cardinals game)

The Eagles did draft some O-line last year. In the 4th they took Mike McGlynn who got some work at OG this past year. They also took Mike Gibson in the 6th, but he didn't see any action after being placed on IR in the preseason (basically an NFL redshirt). He'll also provide some depth at OG. Finally, they took a flier on King Dunlap at OT in the 7th round. He's big and may have a future at RT, but he too took a redshirt season. The Eagles really need to get some young talent behind Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan (and it's unlikely that both will be back in 2009). The Eagles plan with Shawn Andrews has always been to move him out to RT when Runyan is done, but there's no guarantee that Andrews will ever play another down of football between his back injury and his mental health. Todd Herremans can certainly play OT, and played LT fairly well for a short stretch his rookie year, so he's another candidate to be moved out to RT if needed. Winston Justice shouldn't be on the team in 2009 and Max Jean-Gilles really struggled to replace Andrews at RG this year. The line only started to play well when Nick Cole (a free agent) stepped in at RG when Jean-Gilles got hurt. And Jamaal Jackson (who has been very inconsistent) is the only true center on the team. Gibson played center in college, but who knows what you're getting with him as an NFL player?

The Eagles could use a big-time WR, but I don't think that's one of their top needs. A healthy trio of Jackson, Curtis, and Avant -- with Baskett getting considerable playing time -- is not a bad unit. Sure, a guy like Anquan Boldin would really make that a dangerous unit, but the Eagles can get the job done with the receivers they currently have.

As for safety, I did have the Eagles taking a SS in this draft. I've heard some rumblings that the Eagles might not bring Dawkins back, which means that they'd likely have a competition between the Qs (Quintin Demps and Quintin Mikell) for the FS position. At SS, they'd either use Mikell or (please NO!) Sean Considine. There's also the possibility of moving Sheldon Brown to a safety position (where he'd excel, IMO) if they think they have anything legit at CB with youngsters Jack Ikegwuonu and Trae Williams.

Obviously, the biggest needs for this team are a TE that can block AND catch (Celek is a capable receiver, but still struggles as a blocker) as LJ Smith won't be back. They also need an every down type of RB (although with Reid staying, that type of player won't get much use). They clearly need a lead-blocking FB as they struggled in short yardage situations all year with a converted DT playing the position. They also really need a DE who can generate some pass rush (although I think they'd be more likely to look to free agency for that type of player).