Heading into the 2009 draft the Philadelphia Eagles were looking to add some offensive weapons for QB Donovan McNabb. They were also looking for a back up running back to Brian Westbrook, and TE to help in blocking schemes.
This team spent much of the off season trying to trade for a big time wide receiver. They worked hard to get Anquan Boldin, and for Braylon Edwards. Since, neither of those deals could get done, the Eagle took WR Jeremy Maclin with the 19th overall pick.
This was kind of a surprising pick since they had taken a very similar player in the second round of the 2008 draft in DeSean Jackson. However five weeks into the NFL season it seems that this was a great pick.
Maclin is coming off a week where he had six catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Since the merge in 1970, Maclin became just the fifth NFL rookie to have his first two career TD receptions go for more than 40 yards, and occur in the same game.
Maclin was the 4th rated wide out in the 2009 draft, and the Eagles made him the third receiver drafted. At 19 it is a great value pick, and given his immediate contributions to the club we have to grade this pick as an, A.
While the Eagles still have Westbrook, they needed to get a backup on this team, so that he could begin learning the complex west coast offense that this team runs. So in the second round, they drafted Pitt RB LeSean McCoy with the 53rd overall pick.
McCoy was the 4th rated RB in the 2009 draft, and has also made an immediate impact on this team. He was nominated for Offensive rookie of the month in September gaining 148 yards, and one touchdown and also catching six passes for 47 yards. Given those stats we must also rank this pick as an, A.
In the later rounds they picked up depth at CB, O line, and at receiver. The only questionable pick made by this team was in the fifth round. They selected TE Cornelius Ingram out of Florida. The problem there is he is an under sized TE built more for the spread offense. The Eagles really needed blocking help at the TE position but have been relying on veteran Brent Celek for that so far.
With all that being said let us look at the 2009 draft day grade for the Eagles:
Round 1- A
Round 2- A
Talent- A
Need- A-
Average- A
And now a more complete look at the 2009 Eagles draft:
Round One- 19th overall WR Jeremy Maclin Missouri
Round Two- 53rd overall RB LeSean McCoy Pitt
Round Five- 152nd overall TE Cornelius Ingram Florida
Round Five 157th overall CB Victor Harris Virginia Tech
Round Five- 159th overall OT Fenuki Tupou Oregon
Round Six- 194th overall WR Brandon Gibson Washington State
Round Seven- 213th overall G Paul Fanaika Arizona State
Round Seven- 230th overall OL Moise Fokou
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