For the first time in Andy Reid's 10-year tenure, I have walked away from an Eagles NFL Draft day speechless. I mean, WOW. Through the draft, the Birds acquired a franchise left tackle (Jason Peters) in exchange for the 28th overall pick, a top-10 wide receiver talent with the 19th overall pick (Jeremy Maclin), a Brian Westbrook clone with the 53rd overall pick (LeSean McCoy) and absolutely stole Cornelius Ingram in the 5th round. Ingram is a pass-catching speed tight end who would have easily been a second or late first round pick had he not been injured this past season. Now healthy, Ingram ran a 4.68 40-yard dash at the combine and his hands are a thing of beauty. He's the perfect replacement (and an upgrade) for L.J. Smith.
In addition, the Eagles fleeced cornerback Ellis Hobbs from the New England Patriots for a couple 5th round picks. Hobbs, only 26, will make a great nickel back assuming Sheldon Brown doesn't hold out for a new contract, and his 27.7-yard average and three career touchdowns on kickoff returns are sorely needed assuming Quintin Demps is promoted to starting free safety. Just two years ago, the Eagles had the worst kick/punt return unit in the NFL. In 2009, the Birds will trot DeSean Jackson, Ellis Hobbs and Jeremy Maclin out for return duties. They could conceivably win two games on kick returns alone.
What really impressed me about the Birds Draft is the incredible value the Eagles acquired with each of their picks. Maclin is a rare, rare talent. It's baffling that he lasted until the 19th pick and Reid was incredibly smart to realize this and trade up two spots to select him. I know, I know, he IS somewhat similar to DeSean Jackson. But other than the fact that both of them are best suited for the "X" receiver position, they are much different. Maclin is just over 6-feet tall - a good 2 1/2 inches taller than Jackson - and a muscular 198 pounds, or 20 pounds heavier than DeSean. His burst is incredible, few players are faster in the first 10 yards than Maclin. Now, the Eagles can line both Jackson and Maclin wide and bring Westbrook in motion on the opposite side with a tight end and fullback, creating an absolute nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. And you just KNOW Reid is going to kill teams with the bubble screen. They all used to go to Westbrook. This season, watch McNabb fake a hand-off to Westbrook and dump screens to Maclin. God help teams that don't see this coming. No one in the NFL not named Reggie Bush is better at weaving through blockers than Jeremy Maclin.
Which brings me to my next point - the Eagles now have the best offensive line they have ever had in the Andy Reid era. Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas got old last year. With the addition of Jason Peters, who is poised to have a bounce-back year after ONLY being named to the Pro Bowl team after an All-Pro season in 2007, the Birds are set. You have the Andrews brothers on the right side. Hopefully, with his older brother playing next to him, Shaun Andrews will overcome his depression issues and once again reclaim his rightful status as the best and most dominant guard in all of football. His brother Stacy is a mauler in the running game and perfectly suited for right tackle. Peters is the most gifted left tackle in all of football. No left tackle - not Walter Jones, or Joe Thomas, or Jake Long or any player in the 2009 Draft - is as fast and strong as Jason Peters. The Eagles paid him accordingly, so look for Peters to show up ready to kill people. Reid has always sought to have the best line in the game and this year, assuming Shaun Andrews is physically and mentally healthy, he just might have it.
Coming off a heart-breaking loss in the NFC Championship Game, the Eagles are once again poised for yet another Super Bowl run in 2009. You never really know what's going to happen. Donovan McNabb must stay healthy again. The defense has to replace their heart and soul with the loss of Brian Dawkins to free agency. But the Eagles have a lot less questions after the draft. They now have a franchise left tackle, a franchise receiver, a pass-catching tight end, a nickelback, several options at kick returner and an explosive running back to spell Westbrook during his annual bouts of bumps and bruises. I'm not saying the Eagles are a lock for the Super Bowl, but through the 2009 NFL Draft, they have placed themselves among the top contenders in the game.
For a detailed look at the Top 100 draft picks in the 2009 NFL Draft, take a look at my annual spreadsheet here.
