The Eagles have taken 23-year old cornerback Curtis Marsh out of Utah State with the 90th overall pick (3rd round) of the 2011 NFL Draft.  Marsh is 6’0″, 194 pounds but he runs a 4.42 40 as he’s lightning fast.  Marsh is a converted running back, so he’s still learning his position but he has a big time upside based on his physical skills.  Marsh played in 12 games (all starts) at Utah State last season and he had 45 tackles, broke up 13 passes and he had 2 interceptions.  He played in 24 games (16 starts) in his two years at CB with Utah State and he had 77 tackles, broke up 18 passes and he had 3 interceptions.  The Eagles took Marsh to fill a need and they hope he will be able to handle the jump in competition while still learning the nuances of playing CB.

The Eagles picked 21-year old strong safety Jaiquawn Jarrett out of Temple with the 54th overall pick (2nd round) of the 2011 NFL Draft.  Jarrett is 5’11″, 196 pounds and he runs a 4.6 40.  Jarrett’s game is in the box as he plays much bigger than he is.  He tries to drive right through ballcarriers and pass catchers, but he doesn’t have the speed to cover guys going deep.  Jarrett played in 12 games (all starts) for Temple last year and he had 74 tackles, broke up 2 passes, had 2 interceptions, forced 1 fumble and he recoverd 1 fumble.  Jarrett played in 49 games (37 starts) in his four years with the Owls and he had 299 tackles, he broke up 18 passes, had 9 interceptions, forced 2 fumbles and he recovered 6 fumbles.  Jarrett fits the physical style that the Eagles like to play on D and he will also help out on the coverage  teams on the special teams units.

The Philadelphia Eagles took 26-year old OG Danny Watkins out of Baylor with the #23 overall pick in the NFL Draft.  The Eagles really have a big need on the left side, so look for Watkins to be the starting LG in 2011.  He is 6’3″, 312 pounds and he’s pretty nasty as he only stops when the whistle blows.  He played in 13 games (all starts) for Baylor last season.  Watkins played in 48 games (all starts) in four years at Baylor and Butte College.  Watkins was a firefighter before going to college and he’s very mature.  This was a solid pick for the Eagles as Watkins was projected as the top guard in this draft by many “experts”.

The Eagles need to beef up the offensive  line, defensive line and the secondary in this weekend’s NFL Draft.  With that in mind here are the players I had the Eagles picking in my mock draft:

1st round (#23 overall) – Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

2nd round (#54 overall) – Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (FL)

3rd round (#85 overall) – Stephen Schilling, OG, Michigan

4th round (#104 overall) – Jarvis Jenkins, DT, Clemson

5th round (#149 overall) – Tyrod Taylor, QB, Virginia Tech

5th round (#153 overall) – Josh Thomas, CB, Buffalo

7th round (#227 overall) – D.J. Smith, OLB, Appalachian State

7th round (#237 overall) – Jamie Harper, RB, Clemson

7th round (#240 overall) – K.J. Black, QB, Prarie View A&M

The Eagles would be excited if they got these players.  I see three players likely being starters in Carimi, Harris and Schilling in 2011.

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted 13 players last April and they are all still on the roster which says quite a bit.  Here is a look at how well the rookies did in 2010:

Brandon Graham:  The Eagles took DE Brandon Graham in the first round (#13 overall) out of Michigan.  He played in 13 games (6 starts) for the Eagles last year and he had 13 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.  Graham was just starting to come into his own when a torn ACL ended his season.  Graham has a bright future as a pass rusher for the Eagles.

Nate Allen:  The Eagles took free safety Nate Allen in the 2nd round (#37 overall) out of South Florida.  He played in 13 games (all starts) for the Eagles last year and he had 48 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 8 passes defensed, 3 interceptions and 1 forced fumble.  Allen suffered a knee injury late last season which really hurt the Eagles down the stretch.  He is a impact safety and he was an outstanding pick by the Eagles.

Daniel Te’o-Nesheim:  The Eagles took DE Daniel Te’o-Nesheim in the 3rd round (#86 overall) out of Washington.  Te’o-Nesheim played in 6 games (1 start) for the Eagles last year and he had 2 tackles and 1 sack.  They brought him along slowly but they like his upside for the future.

Trevard Lindley:  The Eagles took CB Trevard Lindley in the 4th round (#105 overall) out of Kentucky.  Lindley played in 11 games (1 start) for the Eagles last year and he had 23 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, defensed 1 pass and he had 1 interception.  Lindley has the look of a career backup unless he steps up his game in the near future.

Keenan Clayton:  The Eagles took OLB Keenan Clayton in the 4th round (#121 overall) out of Oklahoma.  Clayton played in 7 games (1 start) for the Eagles last year and he had 12 tackles and 1 pass defensed.  The Eagles started to use Clayton more as the season went on, so his role could be increased in 2011.

Mike Kafka:  The Eagles took QB Mike Kafka out of Northwestern in the 4th round (#122 overall) last April.  Kafka was the star of the preseason last August and he might be the #2 QB for the Eagles as early as next year if they deal Kevin Kolb.  He didn’t get into any games for the Eagles last year.

Clay Harbor:  The Eagles took TE Clay Harbor in the4th round (#125 overall) out of Missouri State.  He played in 9 games (6 starts) for the Eagles last year and he caught 9 passes for 72 yards (8.0 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Harbor also returned 1 kickoff for 19 yards last year.  Harbor has a nice upside as he proved to be a quick learner last year.

Ricky Sapp:  The Eagles took DE Ricky Sapp in the 5th round (#134 overall) out of Clemson last year.  He had his knee operated on last August which ended his rookie season before it began.  Sapp has a nice upside if he can stay healthy as he was projected to be drafted in the second round by most “experts” last year.

Riley Cooper:  The Eagles used the 159th overall pick (5th round) on WR Riley Cooper out of Florida.  Cooper played in 13 games (2 starts) for the Eagles last year and he caught 7 passes for 116 yards (16.6 avg) with 1 TD grab.  I look for him to have a bigger role in the offense in 2011 as he’s a tough guy who’s not afraid to go over the middle.

Charles Scott:  The Eagles took RB Charles Scott with the 200th overall pick (6th round) out of LSU.  He never played a down for the Eagles as they dealt him to the Cardinals for CB Jorrick Calvin.  Calvin was a sixth round pick (#201 overall) out of Troy State by the Cardinals.  He played in 12 games for the Eagles and he had 1 tackle.  Calvin also returned 32 kickoffs for 692 yards (21.6 avg) and 12 punts for 125 yards (10.4 avg) for the Eagles last year.  Score this deal as a nice win for the Eagles.

Jamar Chaney:  The Eagles took inside linebacker Jamar Chaney in the 7th round (#220 overall) out of Mississippi State.  Chaney played in 14 games (2 starts) for the Eagles last year and he had 42 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, defensed 1 pass and had 1 forced fumble.  Chaney will at worst be a very solid backup for the Eagles and he could very well be a starter down the road for them.

Jeff Owens:  The Eagles took DT Jeff Owens in the 7th round (#243 overall) out of Georgia.  Owens played in 1 game (0 starts) for the Eagles last year but he didn’t make any tackles.  He has a nasty knee injury last season that could cause him to miss a portion of the 2011 season.

Kurt Coleman:  The Eagles took free safety Kurt Coleman in the 7th round (#244 overall) out of Ohio State.  Coleman played in 15 games (2 starts) for the Eagles last year and he had 36 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, defensed 2 passes and he had 1 interception.  It appears as if the Eagles found another nugget in the 7th round in Coleman.

GRADE FOR THE 2010 SEASON:  B

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  A

The Philadelphia Eagles have placed 23-year old CB/KR Jorrick Calvin on I.R. due to a back injury.  Calvin played in 12 games for the Eagles as a rookie this year and he made 1 tackle.  He earned his money on special teams this year.  Calvin returned 32 kickoffs for 692 yards (21.6 avg) and he also returned 12 punts for 125 yards (10.4 avg) this season.  He was originally drafted in the sixth round by the Cardinals who dealt him to the Eagles.  He looks like a keeper.

The Philadelphia Eagles have lost 23-year old rookie safety Nate Allen for the rest of the season due to a torn patellar tendon.  Allen played in 13 games as a rookie for the Eagles and he had 48 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 8 passes defensed, 3 interceptions and 1 forced fumble.  This is a HUGE loss for the Eagles as Allen really played well for them this season.  22-year old rookie Kurt Coleman will replace Allen in the starting lineup.  Coleman was a 7th round pick out of Ohio State last April.  He has played in all 14 games for the Eagles this year and he has 29 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception.  The Eagles really need Coleman to step up.

23-year old rookie safety Nate Allen has been outstanding for the Eagles so far this year.  Allen has played in 12 games for the Eagles so far this year and he has 45 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tackles for a loss, 8 passes defensed, 3 interceptions and 1 forced fumble.  Allen is third on the Eagles in interceptions and they have 22 as a team this year!  Allen was part of a deep draft for the Eagles and he is one of the best defensive rookies in the NFL this year.

The Eagles have lost rookie DE Brandon Graham for the rest of the year with a torn ACL.  Graham played in 13 games for the Eagles this year and he had 13 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.  The Eagles expected more out of the first round pick out of Michigan.  They will miss him depth wise as he was a decent pass rusher when on the field.

Rookie CB Jorrick Calvin was acquired from the Cardinals in a deal during training camp (he as a 6th round pick by the Cardinals last April).  Calvin has made a huge impact on the team on special teams.  Calvin has played in 6 games for the Eagles so far this year and he has returned 7 punts for 160 yards (22.9 avg).  He has also returned 7 punts for 93 yards (13.3 avg) so far this year.  Calvin only has 1 tackle so far this year but the Eagles don’t really need him on D.  This is looking like a steal of a deal for the Eagles.