SB Nation Philly - Philadelphia Eagles Play Their Cards Right in 2012 NFL Drafthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48987/philly-fave.png2012-05-09T07:00:56-04:00http://philly.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24639852012-05-09T07:00:56-04:002012-05-09T07:00:56-04:00VIDEO: Eagles Rookie Expectations
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_mNcr1WCCgdMH6eSLlGQamKHFUM=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828129/large_philly.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>NFL writer Jordan Raanan gauges the expectations for the first four picks of the 2012 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Eagles</a> draft.</p>↵<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/feoN5G_kTqM?rel=0" frameborder="0" height="182" width="300"></iframe></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/5/9/3008953/video-eagles-rookie-expectationsJason Brewer2012-04-30T15:54:20-04:002012-04-30T15:54:20-04:002012 NFL Draft Biggest Steals And Reaches: Fletcher Cox A Steal For Philadelphia Eagles
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_mNcr1WCCgdMH6eSLlGQamKHFUM=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828129/large_philly.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> got their man, and he's one of the 2012 NFL Draft's biggest steals.</p>
<p>For weeks, maybe even months, leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft, the Eagles were linked to defensive tackle <span>Fletcher Cox</span>. After so much speculation, the Eagles traded up to select him with the 12th pick, a move that Sports Illustrated's Tony Pauline labeled one of the <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/tony_pauline/04/28/steals.reaches.2012draft/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a5">2012 NFL Draft's biggest steals</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Eagles' desire to acquire Cox was well documented before the draft. The fact they gave little away to move up three slots and choose him makes this a huge coup for the organization.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The Eagles were thrilled when Cox dropped out of the Top 10 and jumped on the opportunity to select him. They surrendered their own first-round pick (No. 15), a fourth-rounder (114) and a fifth-rounder (172) for the 12th pick and the right to draft Cox. </p>
<p><i>For all of your Philadelphia Eagles news and analysis, head to <a href="http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Bleeding Green Nation</a>. For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit<a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/1/11/2699944/2012-nfl-mock-draft-philadelphia-eagles-nfl-draft-prospect-profiles"> this storystream</a>. For a complete list of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012-nfl-draft/2012/4/28/2985087/2012-nfl-draft-results-picks">2012 NFL Draft results</a>, visit SBNation.com. For even more comprehensive coverage of the NFL Draft, visit<a href="http://www.mockingthedraft.com/">Mocking The Draft</a>.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/4/30/2989479/2012-nfl-draft-biggest-steals-and-reaches-fletcher-cox-philadelphia-eaglesJay King2012-04-30T11:40:19-04:002012-04-30T11:40:19-04:002013 NFL Mock Draft: Philadelphia Eagles Linked To Ray-Ray Armstrong
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_mNcr1WCCgdMH6eSLlGQamKHFUM=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828129/large_philly.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>If you're not over the 2012 NFL Draft, move along.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012-nfl-draft/2012/4/30/2987560/2013-nfl-mock-draft-matt-barkley">SB Nation's 2013 NFL Mock Draft, Ryan Van Bibber</a> has the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> selecting 17th overall (that's right, picking the Eagles to finish outside the playoffs again) and selecting Ray-Ray Armstrong of Miami (FL).</p>
<p>Armstrong is a highly touted safety who would come in and provide immediate competition to the triumvirate of <span>Kurt Coleman</span>, <span>Nate Allen</span> and <span>Jaiquawn Jarrett</span>.</p>
<p>Both Allen and Jarrett are recent second round picks so Philadelphia might be hesitant to grab another safety so high, but may not have a choice. Jarrett especially hasn't performed up to expectations.</p>
<p>it's hard to handicap anything a year in advance including something as fluid as the NFL Draft. However, Van Bibber does a nice job of looking at the areas of need and matching them here.</p>
<p>Armstrong is a very talented player but someone who unfortunately comes with baggage. He's been suspended for dealing with well-known booster Nevin Shapiro and some tweeting got him in hot water.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Eagles, please be sure to check out <a href="http://bleedinggreennation.com">Bleeding Green Nation</a> and <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com">SB Nation Philly</a> for all the latest news and updates.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/4/30/2988650/2013-nfl-mock-draft-philadelphia-eagles-ray-ray-armstrongMatt Verderame2012-04-30T09:58:04-04:002012-04-30T09:58:04-04:002012 NFL Draft Grades: The Philadelphia Eagles Get High Marks From The SB Nation Studios
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_mNcr1WCCgdMH6eSLlGQamKHFUM=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828129/large_philly.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>With the 2012 NFL Draft now in the books, grades are being given out to all of the teams for their troubles.</p>
<p>In our video breakdown of each team's selections <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/1/11/2699944/2012-nfl-mock-draft-philadelphia-eagles-nfl-draft-prospect-profiles">Brad Wells of SB Nation</a> gives the Philadelphia Eagles an ' A ', the highest mark for any team in the NFC East.</p>
<p><object width="425" height="350" class="mceItemFlash"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ZoWva7YeH4"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ZoWva7YeH4" mce_src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ZoWva7YeH4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object> </p>
<p>2012 NFL Draft Grades and Analysis: NFC East Edition (via <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=1ZoWva7YeH4">sbnation</a>)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Wells raves about the Eagles going out and solidifying the defense by using four of their top five picks on defense. he's also a big fan of Fletcher Cox, who is a rarity as a 4-3 defensive tackle who has the ability to push the pocket and pressure the quarterback.</p>
<p>Wells also approves of the Brandon Boykin pick. The Georgia star was expected by many to go on the second day but instead fell to the fifth round for Philadelphia.</p>
<p>Another player Wells is high on is Vinny Curry, who can come off the edge and make some plays. He's another pass-rusher to add into the mix for Andy Reid and company.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Eagles, please be sure to check out our blog <a href="http://bleedinggreennation.com">Bleeding Green Nation</a> and <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com">SB Nation Philly</a> for all the latest news and updates.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/4/30/2988363/nfl-draft-grades-2012-philadelphia-eaglesMatt Verderame2012-04-30T07:00:42-04:002012-04-30T07:00:42-04:002012 NFL Draft Grades: Eagles Earn High Marks For 2012 Haul
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_mNcr1WCCgdMH6eSLlGQamKHFUM=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828129/large_philly.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The Eagles focused on defense in the 2012 NFL Draft and so far have earned high marks from various draft analysts for their work. Obviously, these grades are almost totally meaningless as it's impossible to "grade" a draft class without seeing the players actually perform... but we all love the validation of seeing our team graded well don't we?</p>
<p>As we noted over the weekend, Mel Kiper <a target="_blank" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2012/story/_/id/7823750/mel-kiper-gives-grades-every-nfl-team-draft">was very high on the Eagles draft </a>giving them an A, tied for the highest grade of any team.</p>
<p>"One of the best drafts in terms of lining up needs and getting guys at spots where I didn’t think they’d still be around," said Kiper. "They moved up to get <span>Fletcher Cox</span>, an immediate starter. <span>Mychal Kendricks</span> is a perfect fit, and at No. 46, a really good value. The Eagles look a lot better up the middle after this weekend"</p>
<p>CBS Sports' Rob Rang also <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/18883503/grading-the-draft----nfc-teams">gave the Eagles an "A" for their effort.</a></p>
<p>"So much of the focus of the Eagles' wide-9 defense is placed on the outside pass rushers," said Rang. "For this scheme to work effectively, however, the team needs penetrating interior defenders -- just like Fletcher Cox, the best pass-rushing defensive tackle in the draft, who could prove a steal at No. 12 overall. The Eagles landed arguably the draft's most explosive linebacker in Cal's Mychal Kendricks, the reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and an ideal wide-9 edge rusher in Marshall's Vinny Curry in the third round"</p>
<p>John Czarnecki of Fox Sports also liked the Eagles draft, <a target="_blank" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Czar-NFL-Draft-grades-per-team-042812">handing them a "B."</a></p>
<p>"Coach Andy Reid took a lot of heat last season for naming offensive-line coach Juan Castillo his defensive coordinator," Czarnecki wrote. "Well, this year Castillo has run out of excuses, because they drafted some tremendous defensive talent. Fletcher Cox can anchor the interior of Philadelphia's wide-nine approach with its pass rushers. Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks was the second-best middle linebacker in a 4-3 scheme."</p>
<p>Pete Prisco's came in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/18883097/draft-grades-bengals-haul-gets-high-praise-saints-flunk-the-weekend">between the others at "B+"</a></p>
<p>"The Eagles landed three good defensive players with their first three picks, including top pick Fletcher Cox. They had to improve that side of the ball. After that, they picked up some quality players in the latter rounds. It was a good weekend for the Eagles."</p>
<p>For scouting reports and analysis of the entire <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> 2012 draft class, <a target="_blank" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/4/28/2985020/eagles-draft-picks-the-full-2012-class/in/2463985">check out draft recap post.</a></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/4/30/2987975/2012-nfl-draft-grades-eagles-earn-high-marks-for-2012-haulJason Brewer2012-04-30T07:00:35-04:002012-04-30T07:00:35-04:00Philadelphia Eagles Play Their Cards Right in 2012 NFL Draft
<figure>
<img alt="HOUSTON - OCTOBER 22: Defensive lineman Vinny Curry #99 of the Marshall Thundering Herd lines up against the Houston Cougars at Robertson Stadium on October 22, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yyRUahx0vyQWNzY3I0XtoUtmXW0=/0x44:917x655/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/4505928/129966075.jpg" />
<figcaption>HOUSTON - OCTOBER 22: Defensive lineman Vinny Curry #99 of the Marshall Thundering Herd lines up against the Houston Cougars at Robertson Stadium on October 22, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A lot of people are happy with the picks made by the Eagles. Equally as impressive is how GM Howie Roseman handled the draft and got the team in position to make the picks that they did. </p> <p>Back on Feb. 27th I wrote a post for Iggles Blitz in which I said:</p>
<p>"<span>Fletcher Cox</span> is officially now my prime target at pick 15. He pretty much already was, but seeing that level of athleticism just solidifies things."</p>
<p>This was my response to Cox's Combine workout. I had been a big fan of his based on game tape and the Combine performance just solidified my feelings. Cox was a guy that had size, skills, athleticism, and he showed up on gameday. He was a truly impressive prospect.</p>
<p>Unfortunately I wasn't the only one to notice his talents. Cox went from being talked about as a late first round target to being a guy mentioned in the middle of the first round. After private workouts and private visits, the buzz on Cox really grew and he suddenly was being talked about as a top 10 target.</p>
<p>There were reports in the last couple of weeks that the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">Rams</a> might take him as early as sixth overall. With all the attention on Cox and how high he might go, I basically abandoned hope that the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Eagles</a> could get him. They had the trade resources to move up for him, but I never got the feeling that the Eagles would make such a move. The team has a few areas they'd like to upgrade so saving the second round picks seemed to be the likely course of action. If that meant missing out on Cox, so be it.</p>
<p>Eagles general manager Howie Roseman had several draft targets in mind Thursday night, but he hadn't given up on the idea of the Eagles moving up to draft Cox. Roseman didn't panic when there was a lot of early trade action. He sat tight and let things play out. This must have been brutally hard to do. Roseman is very aggressive. He normally wants to go get his guy. It takes a lot of discipline to sit still and let things unfold. Think of this as high stakes poker. Or to make it really simple - the ultimate game of chicken. Who blinks first?</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cleveland Browns</a> and former Eagles GM Tom Heckert definitely blinked earlier in the night. They traded three extra picks to move up one spot with the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Vikings</a>. Heckert and the Browns feared losing running back <span>Trent Richardson</span> to some other team. The question is whether the Vikings had any actual offers from other teams or simply hoodwinked the Browns out of the other picks. Heckert was faced with a tough decision and decided that Richardson was too important to risk losing so the Browns ponied up and made the trade.</p>
<p>The ironic thing about Heckert moving up and Roseman staying put is that Heckert used to be the master of getting information and knowing when players were going to go. He was brilliant in 2006, when he and Andy Reid really wanted Brodrick Bunkley. Reid feared losing Bunkley before the Eagles picked at no. 14. Heckert had done his research and told Reid to sit tight, that there was a legitimate chance for Bunkley to fall to them. When Buffalo took <span>Donte Whitner</span>, things opened up and Bunkley moved to 14 with ease.</p>
<p>The Eagles also coveted Winston Justice. He was projected to go early, but slid to the late part of the first round. The Eagles considered moving up for him, but again Heckert told Reid to be patient. The Eagles would move up for him only when it was the right time and the right price. That happened early in the second round.</p>
<p>Heckert's most brilliant move came in the third round. The Eagles wanted to draft Chris Gocong. They knew the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Jets</a> had him targeted as a key player. Heckert called the Jets about moving up in the round. Eric Mangini had no idea that the Eagles were after Gocong. Gocong expected the Jets to pick him. Mangini made the deal, only to be horrified when the Eagles took Gocong, his guy.</p>
<p>To see Heckert, the master, go into panic mode and move up for Richardson was highly unusual. It was also funny to see Roseman, the student, play things so smoothly. He waited patiently for Cox to slide far enough where the Eagles could move up for a reasonable price. Roseman also handled the second round well. The team took linebacker <span>Mychal Kendricks</span> at pick 46. They also had pick 51. The Eagles shopped the pick, hoping to add a fourth rounder (they'd lost their own fourth round pick in the Cox trade). Roseman got a fourth rounder from the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Packers</a> and dropped back to the bottom of the second round. At that point, the team took <span>Vinny Curry</span>, who they considered to be a steal. The Eagles got the guy they wanted all along, but added a pick as well. Shrewd drafting.</p>
<p>The Eagles were hot on the trail of cornerback and kick returner Brandon Boykin. Based purely on game tape, he was probably a second round pick. Boykin broke his leg in the Senior Bowl and also had some concussions at Georgia. He wasn't able to workout at the Combine. He was scheduled to work out for teams in early April, but I don't think he ever did. His medical issues took him off some draft boards and affected his grade quite a bit. The Eagles had to figure out where to go for him. I thought the third round was the time to do it, but Roseman waited until the late fourth and was able to get Boykin. Once again, that showed good discipline.</p>
<p>The Eagles made interesting picks at the bottom of the draft. Receiver Marvin McNutt was great value at that point. There were many who thought he would go in the middle of the third round. He had size, speed, and production. For one reason or another, he fell and the Eagles grabbed him in the sixth round. McNutt is an ideal fit for the West Coast Offense.</p>
<p>Next up in the sixth round was guard Brandon Washington. He was another guy that some felt could go as high as the third round. He came off a disappointing season and then made a poor choice by declaring for the draft. He didn't have a good workout at the Combine. All of these things killed his value. The Eagles did their homework, though. Reid said they watched his 2010 tape when Washington played guard (had to switch to tackle in 2011). Washington played really well at guard and that's where the Eagles project him. He isn't an ideal fit for Howard Mudd's blocking system, but at that point is just too good a value to pass up.</p>
<p>The final pick was a severe roll of the dice. <span>Bryce Brown</span> has special talent as a runner. He was the top runner in high school football a few years back. He was the most coveted player in the land. His college career had more controversy than production and he sat at home for virtually the entire 2011 season. Running backs coach Ted Williams went out and met with Brown and worked him out. He liked Brown's talent enough to rate him as draftable and must think he can bring out the best in Brown. The Eagles decided that the risk was worth a seventh round pick because the reward could be so good.</p>
<p>I think most fans like the picks that Howie Roseman made. I certainly like the players that were taken. If you set aside players for a second, you can see that Roseman did a masterful job of knowing when to pick players. He moved up for Cox, dropped back for Curry, and waited patiently to take Boykin. Roseman rolled the dice on talented players in the late rounds. He decided to go for pure talent in those rounds instead of focusing on track record and accomplishments. McNutt, Washington, and Brown all have the pure talent to start in the NFL.</p>
<p>The 2012 class has the potential to be great. If Cox, Curry, and Kendricks pan out, the defense will have a trio of young playmakers for the next five years. Quarterback Nick Foles is the wildcard. Does he become a starter, a backup, or a bust? I have my doubts about him as a starter, but if he's able to do that, Roseman could have just pulled off a great draft that will play a big part in the next decade of the Eagles. I sure hope Howie is right and I'm eating crow as Foles throws touchdowns to <span>DeSean Jackson</span> in a few years.</p>
<p><a title="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=sbnation"><img onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'SBN YouTube Integration', 'HTML Article Insert - Grey']);" style="margin-left: -15px" alt="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" src="http://assets.sbnation.com.s3.amazonaws.com/youtube/youtube-article-insert.png"></a></p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1ZoWva7YeH4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/4/30/2987881/philadelphia-eagles-play-their-cards-right-in-2012-nfl-draftTommy Lawlor2012-04-29T23:37:56-04:002012-04-29T23:37:56-04:002012 NFL Draft Grades: Eagles Earn 'B' From SB Nation
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_mNcr1WCCgdMH6eSLlGQamKHFUM=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828129/large_philly.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The 2012 NFL Draft has ended, so naturally it is time to grade out what happened. <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/4/29/2986539/2012-nfl-draft-grades-mel-kiper-has-high-marks-for-eagles/in/2463985" target="_blank">Mel Kiper weighed in earlier</a>, giving the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Eagles</a> an "A" for their nine-player haul. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012-nfl-draft/2012/4/29/2985845/2012-nfl-draft-grades-nfc-redskins-giants-packers/in/2749198" target="_blank">SB Nation wasn't quite as high on the Eagles' draft</a>, though they still gave Philly a fairly high "B" rating.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/79001/fletcher-cox">Fletcher Cox</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35663/mychal-kendricks">Mychal Kendricks</a> will help that defense. Kendricks, alongside <span>DeMeco Ryans</span>, should clear up those linebacker issues they had last season. Good call to grab Georgia cornerback <span>Brandon Boykin</span> in the fourth round. He provides a replacement for <span>Asante Samuel</span> and has a shot to see plenty of time working in the slot.</p>
<p>Did they really need to take quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/6915/nick-foles">Nick Foles</a>?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Ryan Van Bibber agreed with Kiper that the Eagles gave their defense a much-needed boost, but wasn't as high on the addition of Foles. Despite the decent marks, Philadelphia actually came out the lowest rated among all four teams in the NFC East, according to the mothership.</p>
<p><i><span style="line-height: 9px;">For all of your Philadelphia Eagles news and analysis, head to </span><a href="http://www.bleedinggreennation.com">Bleeding Green Nation</a><span style="line-height: 9px;">. For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit</span><a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/1/11/2699944/2012-nfl-mock-draft-philadelphia-eagles-nfl-draft-prospect-profiles"> this storystream</a><span style="line-height: 9px;">. For a complete list of </span><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012-nfl-draft/2012/4/28/2985087/2012-nfl-draft-results-picks">2012 NFL Draft results</a><span style="line-height: 9px;">, visit SBNation.com. For even more comprehensive coverage of the NFL Draft, visit </span><a href="http://www.mockingthedraft.com">Mocking The Draft</a><span style="line-height: 9px;">.</span></i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/4/29/2987732/nfl-draft-2012-grades-philadelphia-eaglesLouis Bien2012-04-29T12:52:49-04:002012-04-29T12:52:49-04:002012 NFL Draft Grades: Mel Kiper Has High Marks For Eagles
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_mNcr1WCCgdMH6eSLlGQamKHFUM=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828129/large_philly.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The Eagles made a number of major moves to improve their defense in the 2012 <span class="caps">NFL</span> grade and <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2012/story/_/id/7823750/mel-kiper-gives-grades-every-nfl-team-draft" target="new">according to ESPN’s draft guru Mel Kiper</a>, they hit on them all. Kiper gave the Eagles an “A” for their efforts this weekend, tied for his highest mark for any team.</p>
<p>“One of the best drafts in terms of lining up needs and getting guys at spots where I didn’t think they’d still be around,” said Kiper. “They moved up to get Fletcher Cox, an immediate starter. Mychal Kendricks is a perfect fit, and at No. 46, a really good value. The Eagles look a lot better up the middle after this weekend. If Vinny Curry came off the board really early in the second round, nobody would have been surprised, so to get him at No. 59 is a steal. Nick Foles has the upside of an <span class="caps">NFL</span> starter, and Andy Reid could turn him into something. Brandon Boykin is my No. 9-ranked corner, so I love the value as a fourth-rounder. I thought they might get a tackle earlier, but it’s hard to quibble given the value they got with every pick early on. I love this draft, and Bryce Brown will be an interesting story if he sticks. Keep an eye on Brandon Washington, a sixth-rounder with the upside of a starter at guard.”</p>
<p>Kiper also handed out “A” grades to the Bengals and Buccaneers. Among the drafts that Kiper did not like were the Seahawks, Raiders & Saints, who all received “C-” grades.</p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/philadelphia-eagles/2012/4/29/2986539/2012-nfl-draft-grades-mel-kiper-has-high-marks-for-eaglesJason Brewer