Taking a look back on the NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles had some surprises. Here is a pick-by-pick analysis of the newest members of the Eagles.
First Round
The Philadelphia Eagles have surprised fans in the past with their draft day selections. Their 2011 first round pick was no different.
With the 23rd pick in the 2011 NFL draft the Eagles selected 26-year old offensive guard Danny Watkins from Baylor University.
The 6-foot-3, 310 pounds Watkins spent five years working as a firefighter in his hometown of Kelowna, British Columbia. He began playing football at the age of 22. After learning the game at tiny Butte College in California, he transferred to Baylor where he started at offensive tackle.
Head coach Andy Reid and offensive line coach Howard Mudd were both reportedly huge fans of Watkins. They both felt he could be a staple for the interior of the offensive line.
“This is a guy that is a tough, tough guy,” Reid said. “He’s also a good football player and he’s got phenomenal character on and off the field. He’s a class act. The thing that jumps out at you is that he’s a relentless worker and one tough nut. And I like that.”
The Eagles allowed 49 sacks last season. The offensive line was an area of need and the addition of Mudd as the new offensive line coach and Watkins as a first round pick should improve the unit.
Watkins is expected to compete for the starting right guard spot right out of the gate.
“I’m making a personal expectation of myself to come in and start,” said Watkins, a Canadian firefighter-turned-offensive lineman. “I’m a highly motivated guy, and I’m looking forward to coming in there and get started.”
Second Round
The Eagles didn’t look far for their 2nd round pick in the 2011 NFL draft by selecting Temple University safety Jaiquawn Jarrett.
“This is one of the greatest situations ever,” Jarrett said. “I’ve played in the Eagles’ stadium the last four years, so being able to play for coach Reid as an Eagle is a dream come true.”
A two-time, first-team all-Mid-American Conference selection, Jarrett played all 49 games of his collegiate career at Temple, and was one of seven Owls to start every game in 2010. He led the team with 74 tackles last season.
It is the second straight season the Eagles have selected a safety in the second round of the draft. Last year the team drafted South Florida FS Nate Allen with the 37th overall selection.
Jarrett is likely to slide in at strong safety. He could replace unrestricted free agent Quintin Mikell immediately.
The 6’2” 195 pound safety is known for his sound tackling and big hitting ability.
“One of the most intimidating – if not the most intimidating – safeties in the draft,” Reid said. “Talk about people who’ll come up and smack you, he’ll come up and smack you.”
Third Round
In the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL Draft the Philadelphia Eagles selected Utah State cornerback Curtis Marsh.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Marsh played running back his first two years at Utah State. He had 45 tackles, two interceptions and 13 pass deflections during the 2010 season.
Marsh is still a raw prospect at cornerback but has significant upside. He runs a 4.4 forty and is projected as a left CB.
The Eagles traded back in the 3rd round with the Baltimore Ravens. They traded their original third-round pick – No. 85 overall – to John Harbaugh and the Ravens for No. 90 overall and a sixth-round pick, No. 191 overall.
National Football Post had Marsh as one of the top five cornerbacks in the 2011 draft class.
Fourth Round
Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews reeked havoc on opposing offenses during the 2010 season.
The Eagles are hoping his younger brother Casey can eventually do the same.
The team selected LB Casey Matthews with the 116th pick in the 4th round of the 2011 NFL draft. The Eagles traded down 12 spots in the 4th round with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from pick 104 to 116. In the trade the Eagles also added a 2012 4th round selection.
Matthews will be the fourth member of his family to play in the NFL.
His father, Clay Jr., played 19 seasons as a linebacker with the Browns and Falcons. His grandfather, Clay Sr., spent four years as a linebacker with the 49ers in the 1950s. His older brother Clay III is a star outside linebacker for the Super Bowl-champion Packers
“Just seeing what they’ve been through and seeing what Clay does now at that level motivates me, but I’m my own player and I’m my own man,” Matthews said. “I’m trying to reach a level they haven’t reached. I know it’s going to take a lot of work, but that’s my goal. I’m just looking forward to not just being ‘Clay’s little brother’ and just be known as Casey.”
The 6’1” 230 pounder played inside linebacker at Oregon and projects as a pure middle linebacker in the NFL.
David Akers’ days as a Philadelphia Eagle appear to be over.
The team selected University of Nebraska kicker Alex Henery in the 4th round (pick 120) of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Henery is the first kicker the Eagles have drafted in 27 years. It is the highest a kicker has been drafted in the NFL Draft since the Patriots selected Stephen Gostkowski 118th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft.
Henery is considered one of the best kickers in college football history. Via Reuben Frank of csnphilly.com, he made 68 of 76 attempts (90 percent) in his four-year career at Nebraska. He was 14-for-14 in bowl games and as a senior he made 18 of 19 kicks (95 percent), including 10 of 11 from 40 yards and out. He was 4-for-8 the last two years from 50 yards and out and as a sophomore made a game-winning 57-yarder against Colorado.
Henery, who also punted for Nebraska the last two years and said he could punt in an emergency in the NFL, will be taken over for the most successful place kicker in franchise history.
David Akers’ Eagles career will likely end with 5 pro bowl appearances and more points (1,323) and more games (188) than anybody in franchise history.
Fifth Round
The Eagles have gone back to the University of Pittsburgh to solve their need at running back.
In the 5th round (pick ) of the 2011 NFL Draft the Philadelphia Eagles selected running back Dion Lewis.
Lewis, who is known for his quick feet and strong cutting ability, will be teamed up with former Pitt running back LeSean McCoy.
The 5’6” 193 pounder won Big East Offensive Player of the Year honors following his freshman year at Pitt when he ran for 1,799 yards and 17 TDs on 323 carries. He was the first Big East player to win both conference player of the year and Rookie of the Year since Virginia Tech’s Michael Vick in 1999.
Lewis battled injuries during his sophomore season and saw his numbers drop. He 1,061 yards and 13 TDs on 219 carries (4.84 yards per carry).
The 20-year old Lewis eclipsed former standout LeSean McCoy’s school record for rushing yards as a freshman and sophomore. He’ll look to do the same at the NFL level with McCoy as his teammate.
With the 161st pick of the 2011 NFL Draft the Philadelphia Eagles selected offensive guard Julian Vandervelde from the University of Iowa.
The 6’2” 302 pound Vandervelde comes from a well coached pro-style offense at Iowa.
Sixth Round
With the 191st pick of the 2011 NFL Draft the Philadelphia Eagles selected offensive guard Jason Kelce from the University of Cincinnati.
Kelce represents the third offensive guard drafted by the Eagles this draft. The 6’3” 280 pound offensive lineman was named to the 2009 and 2010 Big East 2nd teams.
After playing two years as a guard at Cincinnati Kelce moved over to center for his senior campaign.
With the 193rd pick of the 2011 NFL Draft the Philadelphia Eagles selected outside lineback Brian Rolle from Ohio State University.
Rolle (5-10, 229) was a first-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior, totaling 76 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions. At the combine, he ran a 4.56 40-yard dash, third-best among linebackers.
Rolle has been considered by many scouts undersized to play linebacker at the NFL level. While some teams have worked him out as a defensive back, his speed is not adequate to make the transition to play in the secondary.
Seventh Round
With the 237th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft the Philadelphia Eagles selected linebacker Greg Lloyd out of the University of Connecticut.
Lloyd had 25 tackles including 3 tackles for a loss during the 2010 season. Lloyd missed six games this past year due to a knee injury.
The 6’1” 246 pound Lloyd earned 2nd team All-Big East honors with 91 tackles in 2009.
The Philadelphia Eagles concluded their 2011 draft class by selecting fullback Stanley Havili from the University of Southern California.
Head coach Andy Reid referred to Havili as an “all-purpose running back.” He is a capable receiver who had 32 catches last year for 396 yards.
Havili finalized a draft class that includes three offensive lineman, three linebackers, two running backs, a safety, a cornerback, and a kicker. The Eagles did not select anyone to play along the defensive line.
Leave a Reply