I think the Eagles think they're a lot closer to a Super Bowl win than we do.

[AnnapolisEagle]

With the caveats that we don't really know what their draft board looks like and there's always the chance they'll end up having taken a trio of Hall of Famers, this feels to me like a draft for the future rather than guys who will have an immediate impact.

I expected them to get a WR somewhere in the first three rounds, definitely. And I thought we'd get at least one of OLB, S or CB. Didn't see a second WR in the first three picks, though.

Smith will come in and play OLB, but Kelly stressed already he's raw and he expects him to learn from Cole and Barwin. I like the Matthews pick, but he's going to be a third WR on a team that also has a couple really good pass-catching tight ends and just added Sproles to catch the ball, too.

Seems a little early for Huff, although nobody taken in the rest of the third jumps out at me as an obvious pick at another position (Mississippi WR Moncrief is another 'big people beat up little people' dude, though). But even if he's a contributor, he's pretty far down the pecking order.

With the state of the safety position, I was hoping to see someone in the first three rounds with a shot to compete for a starting job. And even though I'm not surprised to see OLB or WR as positions where they've picked so far, it's hard for me to get too excited about it.

Maybe this is slow and steady winning the race, I dunno. We won't know for a couple years.

-AE

[Ground_Meat]

Good post. I agree with everything here. They are completely delusional...especially with the defense being average at best. What a shame. No one on this bored will ever see a SB...

[slag]

I don't see it.

They appear to be giving Harry rope to rebuild and didn't think there were players on defense worth taking over the receivers they took ... a need they created.

And, the guy on defense they did take is a project.

And Lurie, when asked about Jackson a few weeks ago, said something like "Let's see where we are in 3 years"

Doesn't sound like they think they're close to me.

[AnnapolisEagle]

I don't see it.

They appear to be giving Harry rope to rebuild and didn't think there were players on defense worth taking over the receivers they took ... a need they created.

And, the guy on defense they did take is a project.

And Lurie, when asked about Jackson a few weeks ago, said something like "Let's see where we are in 3 years"

Doesn't sound like they think they're close to me.

That's a fair point, and maybe I'm over-stating things. And I guess that's sort of what I meant about slow and steady winning the race.

I know you've got to build through the draft and I don't mind taking high upside guys. What's confusing is that through three rounds I don't see a guy I think can challenge for a starting job this season.

I might be way off. Three months at NovaCare might have Smith a ROY candidate. Or maybe three years from now Smith has 19 sacks, Matthews catches 112 balls and they win a Super Bowl.

But I feel strange watching the first three rounds of a supposedly deep draft and not see the Eagles get someone who I think could be on the field a lot.

An interior lineman in the third might have had a shot to push Herremans. A 2nd-round safety who brings the wood might have been someone with a chance to be the alternative to Wolff. A first-round corner might have made one of last year's starters a surprise cut. But the way it has broken so far doesn't give me that feeling (although, like I said, I really do like the Matthews pick and maybe he's a big contributor this season).

The first two picks have a certain logic to them, given the team's circumstances. And I can always see the logic, what they're trying to do. And I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt, too (except on Earl Thomas, fucking Andy). But for some reason, I'm just not as excited this time around.

-AE

[bobbyuk]

At the risk of sounding like an FO ass kisser

Several weeks ago when Roseman was interviewed, he said they were building this team for the long run, not just 2014. Maybe the reason they chose 2 WRs in the first two rounds is because Maclin is only on a 1 year deal and they can get out of Cooper's contract after next season. Plus Huff can be a returner from what I've read. However, I do agree Defense should be the call of the day today.

[CbEagle]

I think they know they are at least one more draft/free agency away. The normal axiom was that the offense takes longer then the defense, by the end of this season the offense will be set and then go all in on defense.

[slag]

I'm not saying I love this draft ... and I hope I'm wrong about seeing amateur hour and that they actually are smarter than they look to me.

But, regardless, I just can't believe they think they have a Super Bowl defense.

[Brandonn]

Natr Allen will be the starting safety. Djax was lost for nothing in a PR fiasco. The brain trust reached on a multi year project.

This off season is a disaster.

[JuTMSY4]

I agree

I don't see it.

They appear to be giving Harry rope to rebuild and didn't think there were players on defense worth taking over the receivers they took ... a need they created.

And, the guy on defense they did take is a project.

And Lurie, when asked about Jackson a few weeks ago, said something like "Let's see where we are in 3 years"

Doesn't sound like they think they're close to me.

I think Kelly's been a plan guy and year 1 was an anomaly.

[Two Gap Penetrator]

We should also look at next year's free agents

Because they may be targeting someone there to make a legitimate run next year.

[Neumans own]

I think the way the draft broke

had a lot to do with the way the Eagles drafted. Marcus Smith, Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff will not elicit much WOW. The Smith pick was a head scratcher due to the fact it was about 10 picks or so early.

Kelly picking Matthews to replace Avant this year, and will move to the outside if Cooper or Maclin leave. It is not a sexy pick but everything I read about him, Matthews was not a reach.

Huff was a luxury pick, but I think he would not have been there in the forth round.

Smith projects as a OLB with cover skills and abilities to rush the QB. But he was a reach at 26.

They must have faith in improvement entering year two in the defense now they now what they are doing in the system.

[Damned Thing]

I was thinking they might be planning for next year's draft. Maybe next year projects to be deeper defensively.

[Brandonn]

I was thinking they might be planning for next year's draft. Maybe next year projects to be deeper defensively.

They couldnt even plan for this years draft if everyone they wanted was gone. How are they going to prepare for next years.

[AnnapolisEagle]

Several weeks ago when Roseman was interviewed, he said they were building this team for the long run, not just 2014. Maybe the reason they chose 2 WRs in the first two rounds is because Maclin is only on a 1 year deal and they can get out of Cooper's contract after next season. Plus Huff can be a returner from what I've read. However, I do agree Defense should be the call of the day today.

Building for the long run is building through the draft, rather than FA. Maybe their focus is high-ceiling guys and that's what they think Smith is, rather than players who are what-you-see-is-what-you-get. And building for the long haul is why they wouldn't want to trade up and lose more picks when they were already limited.

I do really like the Matthews pick. And I guess Huff is depth, considering we saw a lot more of Maehl last season than anyone would've expected. I'm still guessing Maclin gets re-signed, probably an in-season extension. I believe they wanted a multiyear deal but he wanted to prove his worth for a season.

I'm not particularly mad about this draft or anything. In fact, if they'd taken Matthews in the first and Smith in the second, I don't know that I would've blinked. I like today's haul and the emphasis on defense, particularly Watkins.

Anyway, we'll know more in a couple years.

-AE

[The Ref]

What could they do? The first round didn't fall luckily for them and they were wise not trading up to get one of the six they coveted. Smith was a safe pick in an area of need. Don't have a problem with it.

As far as the future, I think it's safe to say they have the chance to own the NFC East for a couple of years at least. It's about being able to compete with a Rodgers led Packers, Saints, 9ers, and Seahawks in the short term. And as mentioned before, it all depends on Foles more than any draft pick. If he continues to become a franchise QB, they'll be able to compete with the NFC powerhouses. Kelly and Roseman can tinker with the draft(s) all they want.

The only bug in the ass right now is Washington might become pesky because of Kelly and Roseman. That didn't have to happen.