And, with the 14th selection the Eagles select...

April 28, 2006 | By Dennis Bakay | Discuss

So one of the best days of the year is almost here for NFL and Eagles fans. We are just over 16 hours away from the 2006 NFL Draft.

It's a time of optimism and hope for teams and fans alike. For many of us football fans it's like Christmas morning, because your favorite team will receive gifts in the form of brand new players. After 4 months of being mock drafted to death we can finally see what will really happen. And, let's be honest here; who isn't tired of the pundits saying how the 1st round will play out? Because, every year the draft changes like the weather in Denver.

The Eagles will face many scenarios tomorrow. Broderick Bunkley and Haloti Ngata will not fall to the 14th pick. There are too many teams above them that will pick either player. The Bills currently sit at #8 and plan on taking one of the two. The Baltimore Ravens or Cleveland Browns (they pick just before them) will select either if they're avialable. It stands to reason that the Oakland Raiders won't trade down from their 7th spot, so the Eagles can hope to trade up to possibly 9 or 10 with either Detroit or Arizona. The asking price will be substantial; they'll want their first, second, and possibly another pick. I feel that Ngata would be the best fit for this team in the 10-14 range (should they trade up) however giving up more than a 2nd would be too much. Sure, he'll make everyone on that defensive line better. However, they can get more value for their picks by either staying pat at 14 or trading down.

With that said, the first scenario is that the Eagles will give up a first and second for one of the two defensive tackles. It's a matter of who the Bills take that dictates who the Eagles pick. Some people say the Bills like Bunkley because he fits their scheme better, while some say they'll pick Ngata. It's a toss-up. The Eagles are said to favor Bunkley. He fits more of the Cory Simon mold -before he hit the hamburger, Philly cheesesteak diet regime. He and Patterson would form a great, young tandem.

Or, the Bills will take Bunkley and the Eagles may trade with either Detroit (said to consider trading down for more picks) or Arizona (ditto) and will choose Ngata. He is a massive lineman in the mold of Sam Adams or Ted Washington. The rush defense has been poor in two of the past three seasons. Ngata would not only improve that area, but he would free up blockers for the linebackers and the duo of Kearse and Darren Howard.

The third scenario is that the Eagles stay put and take Winston Justice, but who's to say even he'll be there? Added to that, there are reports he'll fall because of concerns regarding his character and laid back demeanor. It would be a boon for the Eagles to find an athletic replacement for Tre Thomas, but it would be horrible if they selected another Antone Davis. The bottom line is Justice protected Lienart's blind side for the past 2 seasons (while starting at RT as a true freshman when Carson Palmer was there). He played on 2 championship teams and has equal athletic ability and size to D'Brickashaw Ferguson. With good coaching, this kid can do wonders. He would be a hell of a Plan C at pick 14.

The problem is he may not be available at 14, so the Eagles will be at option 4. Do they stay put and pick Chad Greenway or Ernie Sims? Many have Greenway falling down to the bottom of the first round now. Sims is a possibility, but if anyone understands the Eagles "Moneyball" philosophy they know it's highly unlikely they'll take a linebacker here. Thus, option 4 will likely be the Eagles trading down in the lower part of the round with a team like the Jets who may look to move up for Jay Cutler (should he fall). Thereby, the Eagles will take a safe pick like Nick Mangold out of Ohio State and pick up an additional second round pick to select Demeco Ryans out of Alabama. With their other pick they can take one of two defensive tackles in Rodrigue Wright from Texas or Gabe Watson from Michigan. This would be a smart move. The Eagles will get a young version of LeCharles Bentley in Mangold and they'll also get a fast strong-side linebacker in Ryans and a big tackle in the middle in Wright or Watson.

Should the Eagles trade down it will likely cause a chasm in the techtonic plates on the East coast from all the unhappy people stomping on the floors at draft parties, however it makes the most sense. Why take a player you don't necessarily need (for that value) at the 14th pick? The wide receiver class in this draft is as weak as it's ever been. The linebackers that would be available aren't worth that pick. Thus, they'll kill two birds in one stone by dropping back and getting a center to replace the mediocre Hank Fraley and drafting a linebacker to replace Mr. "Bowtie" Dhani Jones. Above all, they'll get a big body in the middle to make that line better.

But, what the hell do I know? I'm just another writer suggesting who the Eagles may select tomorrow. For all any of us know Banner and Heckert have a plan to trade up for Reggie Bush.

Imagine that.

Stranger things have happened.