The 2011 Arrowhead Pride Mock Draft continues with OnlyKCFanNVA choosing for the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 22...
The league's longest tendered coach Andy Reid enters his 13th season as the Philadelphia Eagles head coach with what might be his best team to date. They have already made two great hires this off-season, one on each side of the ball. Jim Washburn was brought in to coach the defensive line. Washburn has an impressive resume having lead the Tennessee Titans to the 7th most sacks in the league since 1999. He has an uncanny ability to turn lesser known players like Kyle Vanden Basch and Jason Babin (remember him Chiefs' fans?) into serviceable/pro bowl caliber contributors.
He will bring his wide-nine technique to Philadelphia but will he get a new toy to play with via the 23rd pick of the 2011 NFL Draft?
Not if new offensive line coach Howard Mudd has anything to say about it. The Philadelphia Eagles had major concerns along the o-line at the end of the 2010 season. Even with video-game Vick doing what only he can to escape pressure, the Ealges still managed to surrender 50 sacks, the highest total of the Andy Reid era. Winston Justice, the Eagles starting right tackle had to be replaced in the season ending playoff loss to Green Bay. The Eagles need to find a way to better protect their franchise player and you can't do that without more pass-blocking tackles. Jason Peters is great on the left side but the right side is all the more critical when your QB is a lefty.I believe Washburn is asked to turn last years number one pick into a solid contributor. Brandon Graham could become a huge piece to the puzzle in Philly if he continues to rehab his injury and comes back motivated and ready to learn from Washburn. The new D-line coach also gets to work with Trent Cole and Juqua Parker, not a bad combination in the wide-nine. The defensive tackles are solid and deep with Bunkley, Patterson and Dixon all in the rotation and making plays.
With an improved pass rush the Eagles secondary will perform much better. Also, if we have a free agency period look for the Eagles to make a move for Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha or New York Jets CB Antonio Cromartie. Some Eagles fans are wanting to draft Jimmy Smith CB, Colorado and I didn't eliminate him based on his so-called character issues. It was only after finding this list that I was able to feel 100% confident in my pick.
As you can see from the table, less than half of the defensive backs taken in the first or second round of the NFL draft start even the majority of their team's games.
Eagles GM Howie Roseman when discussing the possibility of drafting a tackle said, "We like to throw the ball in Philadelphia, and for that they've got to have good feet, good athletic ability, be able to move."
I don't think you could have described Colorado OT Nate Solder any better. Nate stands at 6-foot-8 and he was measured with an 81-inch wingspan. Solder also fits the Andy Reid mold. Much like star Jason Peters, Nate Solder is a converted blocking tight end.
Some might argue that Nate Solder wont contribute right away for the Eagles and they may be correct. However, I don't think he will be asked to contribute day one. This team rarely drafts players to fill an immediate need. For example, in 2007 (Kolb), 2008 (DeSean Jackson) and 2009 (Jeremy Maclin) players were drafted with long-term goals in mind. Even last year, the Eagles moved up in the draft to select Brandon Graham when most thought the biggest needs were in the secondary. They simply placed a higher value on finding a pass rusher to play opposite Trent Cole in the years to come and got their help in the secondary in round two (Nate Allen).
Nate Solder will provide stability to an Eagles offensive line that should be much improved in 2011.
Full Schedule And Results:
1. Carolina Panthers (ChiefsFan90s) - Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert
2. Denver Broncos (craig in calgary) - Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers
3. Buffalo Bills (Arrowdread) - Auburn QB Cam Newton
4. Cincinnati Bengals (Dirty South Chiefs Fan) - Georgia WR A.J. Green
5. Arizona Cardinals (tmurawsk) - Texas A&M OLB Von Miller
6. Cleveland Browns (H2E) - Auburn DT Nick Fairley
7. San Francisco 49ers (Another Successful Tedford QB) - LSU CB Patrick Peterson
8. Tennessee Titans (ejr58) - Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara
9. Dallas Cowboys (IamtheGreatest) - Alabama DL Marcell Dareus
10. Washington Redskins (nmchief) - Alabama WR Julio Jones
11. Houston Texans (FalconMF27) - Missouri DE Aldon Smith
12. Minnesota Vikings (Raven Hawk) - USC OT Tyron Smith
13. Detroit Lions (Matt Hays) - Boston College OT Anthony Castanzo
14. St. Louis Rams (Sam D) - Illinois DT Corey Liuget
15. Miami Dolphins (YerganFlurgan) - Alabama RB Mark Ingram
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (GenericBrand) - Cal DE Cameron Jordan
17. New England Patriots (averagegatsby) - Temple DE Muhammad Wilkerson
18. San Diego Chargers (Chiefscafan58) - North Carolina DE Robert Quinn
19. New York Giants (flowers 24) - Florida C Mike Pouncey
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (PSUkegreen) - Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan
21. Kansas City Chiefs (Matt_Grbac) - Baylor NT Phil Taylor
22. Indianapolis Colts (saskwatch) - Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi
23. Philadelphia Eagles (OnlyKCFanNVA) - Colorado OT Nate Solder
24. New Orleans Saints (The Other Patrick Allen) - Friday April 1st
25. Seattle Seahawks (Simon from KC) - Friday April 1st
26. Baltimore Ravens (Ben S) - Monday April 4th
27. Atlanta Falcons (stagdsp) - Monday April 4th
28. New England Patriots (averagegatsby) - Monday April 4th
29. Chicago Bears (KillaCity107) - Tuesday April 5th
30. New York Jets (bradelli58) - Tuesday April 5th
31. Pittsburgh Steelers (scottchief) - Tuesday April 5th
32. Green Bay Packers (Aesthetist) - Wednesday April 6th
Round Two
33. New England Patriots (averagegatsby) - Wednesday April 6th
34. Buffalo Bills (Arrowdread) - Wednesday April 6th
35. Cincinnati Bengals (Dirty South Chiefs Fan) - Thursday April 7th
36. Denver Broncos (craig in calgary) - Thursday April 7th
37. Cleveland Browns (H2E) - Thursday April 7th
38. Arizona Cardinals (tmurawsk) - Friday April 8th
39.Tennessee Titans (ejr58) - Friday April 8th
40. Dallas Cowboys (IamtheGreatest) - Friday April 8th
41. Washington Redskins (nmchief) - Monday April 11th
42. Houston Texans (FalconMF27) - Monday April 11th
43. Minnesota Vikings (Raven Hawk) - Monday April 11th
44. Detroit Lions (Matt Hays) - Tuesday April 12th
45. San Francisco 49ers (Another Successful Tedford QB) - Tuesday April 12th
46. Denver Broncos (craig in calgary) - Tuesday April 12th
47. St. Louis Rams (Sam D) - Wednesday April 13th
48. Oakland Raiders (mushin) - Wednesday April 13th
49. Jacksonville Jaguars (GenericBrand) - Wednesday April 13th
50. San Diego Chargers (Chiefsfaninca58) - Thursday April 14th
51. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (PSUkegreen) - Thursday April 14th
52. New York Giants (flowers 24) - Thursday April 14th
53. Kansas City Chiefs (Matt_Grbac) - Friday April 15th
54. Indianapolis Colts (saskwatch) - Friday April 15th
55. Philadelphia Eagles (OnlyKCFanNVA) - Friday April 15th
56. New Orleans Saints (The Other Patrick Allen) - Monday April 18th
57. Seattle Seahawks (Simon from KC) - Monday April 18th
58. Baltimore Ravens (Ben S) - Monday April 18th
59. Atlanta Falcons (stagdsp) - Tuesday April 19th
60. New England Patriots (averagegatsby) - Tuesday April 19th
61. Chicago Bears (KillaCity107) - Tuesday April 19th
62. New York Jets (bradelli58) - Wednesday April 20th
63. Pittsburgh Steelers (scottchief) - Wednesday April 20th
64. Green Bay Packers (Aesthetist) - Wednesday April 20th