The 2006 Eagles Draft Class - Grade It!

[General_Failure]

I give it an A for all the potential, but right now I can only see the first two picks having an impact. I like the idea of depth, but I'll wait and see what these guys can do before I get excited.

[Zanshin]

Based on value, it's an A.  Has to be.

[rjs246]

Bunkley = A- (not in love with picking DTs first in 2 straight drafts but it certainly was fortunate that he fell and was made all the better by...)
Justice = A (incredible)
Gocong = C (could be better or worse but he'll be changing positions and that is always a ?)
Jean-Gilles = A (for value and need)
Avant = B (for value)
Bloom = B+ (for need)
Gaither = C (a special teamer/non-factor)
Ramsey = C (Fodder)

I'll discount the last 2 picks since you can't expect much from 6th/7th rounders and give this a B+. The great part is that the potential is there for up to 6 players to contribute in one way or another (especially if Gocong can step in to OLB effectively). Really though, only Bunkley, Jean-Gilles and Bloom should get significant playing time immediately at DT, LG and KR/PR.

[mussa]

A
This draft was awesome. We made moves and got guys we really needed.  Im not sure on Gocong or Blooms potential, but Im willing to trust those picks.  Good fargin draft

[MURP]

A :  I couldnt have asked for any more.  This draft was awesome.

[Feva]

I absolutely loved this draft.  I mean, I know it's early, but before it's all said and done... this could easily rival the impact of the 2002 draft.

Bunkley - I would have been happier than a pig in shtein had the Eagles walked away from the 1st round with either him or Ngata and I was not disappointed.  My expectations going in was that we wouldn't get either one of them without trading up... so getting this beast of a DT without giving up a thing makes it that much sweeter.  Can't wait to see him and Patterson wreaking havoc.

Justice - Incredible.  Simply incredible.  Another guy that was widely believed to be out of the Eagles reach unless they traded up for him... and we get him with the 39th pick.  The farging 39th pick.  I couldn't believe he continued to drop and every time I saw a team trade up, I kept thinking to myself, "They HAVE to be moving up for Justice."  I never imagined we'd be the ones walking away with him at that point.  Every team in the NFL passed on this kid, some twice... and you gotta believe he's motivated to show them all what a mistake they made.  I'm just glad we get the benefits.

Gocong - Was puzzled at first, but I figured that he had to be another one of those "extremely productive" players that Andy covets.  The more I read up on him, the more I found that to be true.  He'll have the knock of playing against lower level competition, but he did what he had to do to get recognized down there... he dominated.  Add in the fact that this kid was coveted by the Pats and the Jets... he has the makings of a very solid pick.  I also love him because he spells the E-N-D for Dance Fever.

Jean-Gilles - I was talking with some co-workers of mine at the end of Day 1... and we were all wondering how he hadn't been drafted yet.  I was telling them all that I'd love to get him, although I didn't really expect it to happen.  This is a massive G who was projected as a 2nd round talent by a number of folks... and we snatch him up in the 4th.  I've watched damn near every UGA game this year and MJG is simply a road grader... and we simply stole him.  The fact that we only used a player who wasn't going to make the roster next year anyway makes it even better.

Avant - Great value for the 5th round, because he's just a solid WR who gets the job done.  Even being a Michigan fan, the 40 time scares me a little bit... but he plays fast enough... and he hauled in 82 catches for over 1000 yds and 8TD's last year... so he makes plays.  Great hands.

Bloom - As I said in another thread, for months I've had it in the back of my head that I would like it if the Eagles use a late round pick on him if possible.  I flipped when I saw that he was ours.  He brings the obvious kick and punt return explosiveness... but I'll tell you what... I watched Kiper's little highlight reel on him as a WR and the kid looked like he could turn out to be pretty dangerous.  I also like that he's going to come into the league looking to prove he belongs.

Gathier - Solid pick... he'll hopefully become a ST demon and provide some decent outside depth with the LB corps.  I read that he has decent cover skills so he could turn into a solid player.

Ramsey - Not too sure where he's going to fit in if at all... as DT is deep as hell again, especially with Keyonta over there in NFLE.  I guess he'll battle Marshall for the rights to the bottom of the depth chart.


Overall... the only disappointment I felt this weekend was the deal with Javon Walker... but that was a pretty small one and the moves the Eagles pulled off this weekend more than make up for that.  They were aggressive in going after the guys they wanted and they were in ATTACK mode almost the entire time.  Bunkley was the only player we didn't trade up for until Bloom came along in the 5th round.  What's even better about that is the way they made these trades.  Giving up only Dallas' 4th rounder to move up to grab Justice.  Giving up only a 7th rounder to get up to grab Gocong.  Moving players that were on the way out anyway in Thomas and Hicks to move up for Jean-Gilles and Avant.

The crown jewel though is the simple fact that they got 2 players who were considered by many to be top 10 talents, both of whom they would have likely had to trade up for in the 1st 39 picks... and it only took a 4th round pick to do it.  That's amazing.

This draft is a solid A.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

A-.  I really wanted them to bring in a new 3rd QB and possibly someone to mix it up at RB.

Can't complain at all.  I think their first 6 picks are all going to be solid contributors.  The last two?  Meh.  Whatever.

[BigEd76]

Ray Didinger gave them an A-

[Diomedes]

A.  I'm happy as hell today.

[SD_Eagle5]

A

Unbelievable draft.

[PhillyPhreak54]

READY TO PLAY
1. Philadelphia Eagles: Max Jean-Gilles, G, Georgia — Jean-Gilles dropped to the second day of the draft because of concerns about his weight, which has been north of 360 pounds for much of his college career. But his weight never slowed him down at Georgia, where he was a dominant straight-ahead blocker and even managed to pull out as a lead blocker on outside runs. Between Winston Justice and Jean-Gilles, Andy Reid has dramatically improved his offensive line this weekend.

2. Philadelphia Eagles: Jason Avant, WR, Michigan — Avant is more ready to contribute immediately than most of the receivers chosen on the first day. Although he dropped to the fourth round because of his slow 40 time, he runs excellent routes and understands how to read the opposing secondary to get open. Yet another good pick for a team that has had an outstanding draft

From Michael David Smith on FOXSports.com

[Feva]

linky

GO TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS!

PHILADELPHIA: Finshing 6-10 in a season in which they were considered Super Bowl favorites must have left a burr under the Eagles' collective saddle because they were all business this weekend. Indeed, the Eagles may very well have had the best draft of any team in the league, For starters, the Eagles made out like bandits when they were able to grab rugged DT Brodrick Bunkley, a player they had thought seriously about trading up for, with the 14th pick. Then in the second round, the Eagles moved up to get USC OT Winston Justice, a potential top 10 talent if he matures. Indeed, the earth may tilt just a tad in their direction when the Eagles go on the road after they also added 350-plus pound Georgia OG Max Jean-Gilles, yet another intriguing prospect. On the other hand, tweener DE Chris Gocong, the Eagles' 3rd round pick, is going to feel positively smurfish standing next to his new teammates. Gocong was a later-riser this spring, however, as an undersized DE or rush OLB its hard to see where he fits in the Philadelphia scheme. The Eagles then got some skill with the selections of WRs Jason Avant and Jeremy Bloom in the 4th and 5th rounds. Bloom, of course, can also return kicks as well as serve as captain of the Eagles' off-season ski team. .

[Don Ho]

A.  Bunkley, Justice and Gilles alone made this draft.  If Avant works out and can contribute in the next year or two give this draft an A+.  I think we're all going to be pleased with Gocong.  Just watching his highlight video made me want to go outside and tackle my 10 year old son on the street.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Kiper (already been posted?):

Philadelphia Eagles: GRADE: B

I really like defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley playing next to Mike Patterson on the defensive line. Tackle Winston Justice and Georgia guard Max Jean-Gilles will solidify the left side of the offensive line for years to come. Chris Gocong was a solid pick, whether they play him at defensive end or linebacker, and Jeremy Bloom will be a great pick once he shakes off the rust from being away from the game. Still, Bloom can help the Eagles in the return game this season.

I find his grade puzzling, because Bunkley, Justice, and Jean-Gilles were all at or near the top of his "best available" when they were drafted.  Plus, he doesn't criticize anything they did.

Oh well.

[QB Eagles]

I've gotta give the draft an A. Looks good on paper. Time will give the draft its real grade.