By Mike Gill
Reid has taken a ton of heat for his recent coaching, but how do his drafts rank?
We all know the NFL draft is a crap shoot.
For every Peyton Manning, there is a Ryan Leaf. For every Donovaan McNabb, there is a Tim Couch, or Akili Smith. But the problem is when you take the wrong player at the wrong position, which is what has hurt the Eagles under Andy Reid more then taking just the wrong player.
I am going to take a look at the last five Andy Reid drafts and show you who they drafted and who they could have drafted going back to 2003. Most of the drafts I will only look at rounds 1-thru-4, unless there was a notable mistake made in the later rounds.
2008 – DeSean Jackson looks like a keeper and Quinton Demps is a help in the return game, but the rest of this draft could be tweaked. I like Trevor Laws, but I would have kept the first round pick and take Felix Jones instead.
Round Player Position
2 Trevor Laws DT
2 DeSean Jackson WR
3 Bryan Smith OLB
4 Mike McGlynn G
4 Quintin Demps S UTEP
4 Jack Ikegwuono CB Wisconsin
6 Mike Gibson G California
6 Joe Mays OLB North Dakota State
6 Andy Studebaker OLB Wheaton
7 King Dunlap T Auburn
While its not fair to grade this draft class right now, there are some things I would have done differently this year.
- I would have kept pick 19 and taken RB Felix Jones. Jones would have been the perfect fit while Westbrook was injured and it would have allowed him to sit out and heal without missing a beat. Jones has been hurt this season in Dallas, but you can’t assume he would have been hurt if he played with the Eagles.
- Pass on Bryan Smith and take OG Jeremy Zuttah. Zuttah has started a few games already for Tampa Bay and this would allow you to move Shawn Andrews to tackle after the season Zuttah is a starting caliber player who would have added good depth.
- Take Owen Schmidt in the fourth round and not Jake Ikegwuonu. The Eagles are dying for a fullback and Schmidt was the lead blocker in the game against the Eagles on a 90-yard touchdown run. Ikegwuonu will never step on the field in my opinion. Not only does he have a major knee injury he has off-the-field issues as well.
Olsen would have fit in nicely.
2007 – This was the Kevin Kolb draft, and while I think Kolb might be able to play he was not needed when he was taken and I would have take Greg Olsen and taken my chances that Kolb would be there later in the third round. Tyler Thigpen was taken in the seventh round, I would have been fine if you took him in round six instead of Barksdale who was cut.
2 Kevin Kolb QB Houston
2 Victor Abiamiri DE Notre Dame
3 Stewart Bradley OLB Nebraska
3 Tony Hunt RB Penn State
5 C.J. Gaddis S Clemson
5 Brent Celek TE University of Cincinnati
6 Rashad Barksdale DB University at Albany
7 Nate Ilaoa RB Hawaii
- Take Greg Olsen with pick 26 in round 1. Olsen has been a pretty good TE for the Bears, a position the Eagles are really struggling to find any consistent play from.
- Take Troy Edwards instead of Tony Hunt in round 3. Hunt was a major disappointment and if he didn’t play for Penn State people in the Delaware Valley would have killed Reid for this pick. Edwards would have been a nice back-up who could fill-in if McNabb was hurt.
- Two players, C.J. Gaddis and Rashad Barksdale failed to make the team. Gaddis was a fifth round selection and Barksdale a sixth. I would have used these spots to grab some offensive line depth. You can always find a late round O-line gem.
Gaither was a nice find...
Justice has been a major bust
2006 – This draft gave you some decent players who contribute on the defensive side of the ball. But like most Reid drafts, there is not play-maker here. Omar Gaither was a nice find in round five.
1 Brodrick Bunkley DT Florida State
2 Winston Justice T USC
3 Chris Gocong DE Cal Poly
4 Max Jean-Gilles OG Georgia
4 Jason Avant WR Michigan
5 Jeremy Bloom WR Colorado
5 Omar Gaither OLB Tennessee
6 LaJuan Ramsey DT USC
- Marcus McNeil was clearly the pick in round two and you didn’t need to trade up to get him. McNeil has been a pro bowl performer for the Chargers, Winston Justice is famous for giving up six sacks in the same game.
- In round four, Jason Avant was a possesion guy, why not give Brandon Marshall a try?He was a big-play guy at UCF and has been in the pros.
- Also in round five, the Eagles selected Jeremy Bloom to be a return guy. They could have selected Leon Washington in the middle of the fourth round – they took Max Jean-Gillies and traded a pick.
McCoy never fit in with the Birds.
2005 – This draft had a few disasters, with Matt McCoy, Ryan Moats and Sean Considine. But it also had some hits with Patterson, Cole and Herremans who all start.
1.31 DT Mike Patterson
2.03 WR Reggie Brown
2.31 LB Matt McCoy
3.13 RB Ryan Moats
4.01 SS Sean Considine
4.25 OG Todd Herremans
5.10 DE Trent Cole
5.36 OG Scott Young
6.37 OT Calvin Armstrong
7.33 DT Keyonta Marshall
7.38 LB David Bergeron
- I happened to think Lofa Totupa would have been a nice fit in round two. The Eagles went with Reggie Brown and I am not a fan, he wasnt even the best WR on his team in college or in that round (Mark Bradley, Vincent Jackson).
- Instead of Matt McCoy (and if ya took Totupa, McCoy is so not needed), I like Justin Tuck as a pass rushing, run-stuffing defensive end. McCoy was a mega-bust and Justin Tuck will be in your back-field for the next 7-10 seasons for the Giants.
- Don’t like the Tuck pick over McCoy? How about Frank Gore instead…in round three the Birds went with Moats, wouldn’t Gore instead of McCoy in round two be a nice two-headed monster with Westbrook?
- Marion Barber III over Sean Considine. I know, I have Gore, Felix Jones and Westbrook on this team now…but I had to mention that he was on the board when they took this stiff…but so was…Brandon Jacobs, the two running backs that are now in your division. Kerry Rhodes was available if you think you needed a safety here.
- Keyonta Marshall was taken in round seven. This was just three picks ahead of Giants fullback Madison Hedgecock, just saying.
2004 – Andrews is a bizzare pro bowl guard and the only guy left from this class on the team.
1.16 OG Shawn Andrews
3.26 CB Matt Ware
4.33 FS J.R. Reed
4.35 OC Trey Darilek
5.30 RB Thomas Tapeh
6.20 QB Andy Hall
6.27 CB Dexter Wynn
7.26 OG Adrien Clarke
7.41 RB Bruce Perry
7.42 OC Dominic Furio
- Matt Ware in the third round. Other then a blocked FG return to help beat the Chargers a few years back, Ware was a bust. Jerricho Cotchery was taken in the fourth round and has been a very good NFL wide-out.
- JR Reed and Trey Darilek were taken in the fourth round. Seven picks later, safety Gibril Wilson was taken and later in round five, guard Jacob Bell was taken, he has started 46 of 55 games in the NFL, Darilek a guard is playing in the CFL.
2003 – This draft was a disaster, easy as that. Not one decent player.
1.15 DE Jerome McDougle
2.29 TE L.J. Smith
3.31 WR Billy McMullen
4.34 DE Jamaal Green
6.12 OG Jeremy Bridges
7.30 DB Norman LeJeune
- Where do we start with the McDougle pick? Troy Polamalu, Dallas Clark, Nick Barnett, Nnamdi Asomugha, Rashean Mathis, Ken Hamin, Anquan Boldin, Osi Umenyiora were all selected between McDougle in round one and LJ Smith in round two.
- Which brings me to LJ Smith. Seven picks later, Dallas got Jason Witten…enough said.
We all know this is not an exact science, but here are some thoughts I have.
- The Eagles seem to like to stock-plie positions, back in 2002, they filled out their entire secondary, they seem to stash late round offensive linemen. So why do they now add depth to their RB, WR, LB positions?
- Why do they trade their high picks so often? For two straight seasons, the Eagles have not had a first round pick. They have also traded up in two drafts (McDougle, Andrews). My problem isn’t the trades, but looking back, they do not a good enough job in round two or three to justify adding picks there when better players are on the board when they trade up or down.
Well, I think thats about it for now, the Eagles have caused me to use about three hours of my life on this, plus the four hours I wasted watching them on Sunday and I am sure this isn’t the last time I think about how to fix this team. I guess I just care to much.
I agree that the Ealges are far from the best drafter. I really like all the research you did for this article, but I think you may be able to do what you did to the Eagles, to most teams. It is easy to go back now and say they should have drafted Brandon Marshall in the 4th Round in 2006. Now seeing his skill translate well in the pros, most teams should have taken him with a late 1st or early 2nd rounder.
I think you’re way overrating some of the players they drafted. Just because Bunkley, Gocong, Gaither, Patterson, and Herremans start for the Eagles doesn’t mean they’re good players. This is very myopic. I would argue almost all of the above are having mediocre seasons and I certainly don’t hear them being applauded by the national media or league-wide. Bradley and Cole may be good players, but again, just because they lead this defense in tackles and sacks doesn’t mean they’re great. To build top teams, you need to occasionally hit on an impact multi-Pro Bowl player and I don’t see many of these (perhaps Andrews, although that’s not a skill position, and possibly Jackson a few years from now). There’s not another on these lists who I expect to see in Hawaii. For comparison’s sake, check out Ozzie Newsome’s drafts in Baltimore.
I see what you are doing here and I respect the time that you had to put into it. But I disagree with going back and saying “this guy is a pro bowler why didn’t we get him”. It’s easy to do that, you can do that with every team in the league.
Looking back at some of your suggestions wouldn’t have worked out at the time. Drafting Olsen instead of Kolb would be nice now, but that’s knowing that LJ Smith never developed into the TE we all hoped for. Drafting Olsen would be giving up on LJ before he proved he isn’t a starting TE.
Saying why not get Brandon Marshall is silly. Every team passed on him at least 3 times, and now he is a catching machine, the same can go for Colston.
Winston Justice was a projected mid 1st round pick and the Eagles got him in the 2nd round. How is that a bad pick. Yeah he had one of the worst games every, but he didn’t get any help and that was he first NFL action in a real game.
Also, you are completely ignoring the great steals they have had in the draft. Trent Cole and Westbrook.
It’s convienently that you leave out 2002 draft where their first 4 picks, 3 are pro bowler and the other is Sheldon Brown who is arguebly better than both Michael Lewis and Lito.
If you did this the day after the draft I would have more respect for what you were writing, but now you just look ridiculous.
@Kosmo
You can go back for any team and say “this is who they should have drafted.” With that being said, I will tell you that I personally supported drafting Olsen in the 07′ draft and had already given up on LJ Smith. Furthermore, in this year’s draft, I was absolutely livid that the team did not draft Owen Schmidt.
Actually, Jeremy Bridges is a starting Tackle in the NFL from the 2003 draft. That’s not an endorsement, for the record. Reid as a drafter STINKS!
I was more pissed this year when they passed on Jeff Otah, whom was drafted by the team you traded your #1 pick too. Also, I agree with Gill. Felix would have been nice. BWest’s contract was a nice gesture, but he won’t last to its duration. I give him 2 years TOPS in which he plays at a high level. And, he has already had a rough go this year. Yes, it was an injury and not lose of speed, but thats what guys like Westbrook do: they get hurt after being pounded for years!
@ Hairball – Cole is a 5th rounder who’s made a pro bowl, and will make more. How is that over rating?
@ Kosmo – agree on Justice, but LJ Smith stinks. He had 4 years to prove he was good and didn’t. He has been injured, ineffective, and flat out ordinary. Don’t particularly think Olsen was the guy who would save us right now, but it’s clear and was clear that LJ maxed out his potential.
I agree with the consensus.
This can be a fun and maddening exercise, but there’s no substance or point because EVERY team – save the Cardinals – passed on Anquan Boldin. Every team – save the Bears – passed on Olson.
But you filled out your daily blog….which is nice.
But some teams draft better than others. See: Patriots, Steelers, Giants, etc.
1. @ Kosmo – We knew by the time Greg Olsen was available that LJ Smith couldnt play
2. @ hairball – I am not applauding for some of the players like Gocong, Herremans and those guys you mentioned, but there werent many noticable players drafted near them that were any better and they are clear busts.
3. @ Kosmo – I didnt goto the 2002 draft b/c it was more then 5 years ago…the last time they did do a good job. All the Andy Reid suppoters go back to 2002…thats 1 good one in 10 years.
4. Marsahll was a big play guy, ya knew Avan t was nothign more then a possesion guy.
Also @ hairball – Just because the draft didn’t yield pro bowlers, it doesnt mean its bad. You can do this for MOST teams and not find perrenial pro bowlers. I consider the 2005 draft a success because it yielded
1.31 DT Mike Patterson – Pro Bowler (Alternate)+ good starter
2.03 WR Reggie Brown – starter
4.25 OG Todd Herremans – starter
5.10 DE Trent Cole – pro bowler and good starter
Now granted just because you start doesnt mean your that good, but its better than having a complete bust or a guy who cant sniff the field. Also, Young and Consideine are contributors to some degree on the team.
John, One Pro Bowl (Cole) and one alternate pick (Patterson) does not mean they are consistently good. Quite often, borderline players make the PB because others don’t want to go. I mean perennial Pro Bowlers or, perhaps this defines it better, potential perennial PB’ers. Trent Cole looks good because he’s the best D-lineman on this team. That does not mean he’s great. Doesn’t matter what round they’re picked once they get on the field. And your criteria for success is that “its better than having a complete bust..”? Wow. how the mighty have fallen.
-DELUCA: I am not saying the LJ doesn’t stink, I am saying after the 2006 season, there weren’t many people giving up on him yet. Owen Schmitt does look like he is going to be a good FB for years to come. I love the power running game so I would have been backing you if you were calling out the Eagles before and after the draft to get a FB. I was hoping were would sign Lorenzo Neal after the Chargers cut him.
-MICHAEL GILL: I don’t think we knew Smith was awful when Olsen was available. He was coming off a decent season for him. Now we see how he can run routes to save his life or catch the ball.
I was saying that you have to go back to 2002 draft to point out Andy Reid’s success because other wise you are just pretending that it didn’t happen. It would be saying that Laurence Maroney and Chad Jackson was bust for the Patriots in 2006. And not giving them credit for Tom Brady or Asante Samuel. I know it is more extreme then the Eagles case but the point is the same.
To say you knew Marshall was going to translate to the NFL as a big play guy would mean you know more than all the GMs who passed on him 3 times.
-HAIRBALL: Just because Cole isn’t a great player in your mind doesn’t mean he wasn’t an amazing 5th round pick. How many 5 round picks have 30+ sacks in 3.5 years.
All the great coaches have bad drafts, Tony Dungy, Bill Cowher, Jeff Fisher, and Bill Bellichick all have players that don’t work out. I think most fans right now are angry at Reid because the team isn’t a Championship team. Reid spoiled us by his first 6 years and now that the team is old and doesn’t realize themselves that it’s time to rebuild we are disappointed. Doesn’t Andy deserve to fix the team? I mean he is the one who built it from nothing to make a NFC powerhouse for several years. He is the best coach this city has ever seen. He still has an amazing record. People keep comparing him to Bill Belichick, but he’s not Belichick, no one is.
There are players who are old and probably won’t be on the team next year even though we all love them. Runyan, Tra Thomas, Dawkins and maybe McNabb. If that happens we can’t just reload and make another run at the Super Bowl. It takes time.
@ Kosmo – Never said ya knew Marsahll was going to be a big play guy. What I said was ya knew Avant was just a possession guy, why not take a shot on a guy like Marshall who was an athlete, and had the potential to break-out. In the 4th round there is no pressure to preform, Avan has been what ya thought, a safe, 15 catch guy, possesion guy. Marshall blossomed into a star.
To mention the 2002 draft is fair, I just decided to go back on 5 years. They had a great draft in 2002, but out of their 10 drafts that was the only one that they hit multimple home runs in.
@ Haiball – Yes, even the best make bad picks, but rarely do those coaches or the elite teams have entire drafts that don’t help (see 2003, 2004). Between the 2003 and 2004 drafts, there are 2 guys still on the team from those two drafts…one is Shawn Andrews who hasnt played much at all this season. You cant win with LJ Smith being the one guy from two draft classes who is a contributor…if you want to call him that.
[...] Delaware Valley have been searching for answers. They want to know what happened to the Birds. As I have stated before, a lot of this mess starts with the draft, but take a closer look at those draft classes and you [...]
Hey Hairball, here is what John said “Now granted just because you start doesnt mean your that good, but its better than having a complete bust or a guy who cant sniff the field.”
I think he was saying at least they drafted starters, even if they arent stars. how many teams draft stars every draft? It’s important to get a fringe pro-bowler, a couple or a few starters. (The pro bowler counts), and maybe a speacial teams contributor. After all, most drafts they drafted very late from being so good. Yes, the Eagles aren’t good now, but the “mighty” always fall.