This is the draft that Andy Reid is most proud of (or should be at least). The first four picks were lights out and have been nothing less than a tremendous success for the Eagles.
Here is the bad news: According the New York Giants official website, Eagles scout Marc Ross was the reason for a few of those picks. It says: “…Ross was responsible for drafting outstanding NFL Players such as Brian Westbrook, Lito Sheppard and Derrick Burgess.” Why is that bad? Because he is a former scout and not a current one. Sounds great. So let’s look at the picks:
-1st Round, pick #26: Lito Sheppard, cornerback Florida: Early on I really didn’t like this pick. I thought when it came to pass defense, he was always on the scene but never able to make the play. I thought he got beat too much. But these last few years, he’s proven to be a good player who makes big plays. He was an All Pro in 2004, even though I didn’t really think he was yet. People see the big highlights (and Sheppard certainly makes them) and that tends to get votes. He was a Pro Bowler in 2004 and 2006 and he absolutely deserved the latter. Overall, Sheppard has turned into a very nice player who gets hurt too much. I’m sorry if I sound a bit down on him. I’ve actually come around and think he’s quite a talent.
-2nd Round, pick #58: Michael Lewis, safety Colorado: I remember I was working on a PR project with the Pittsburgh Steelers around this time in 2002. And one of the executives I was talking to told me that the Eagles took their guy. They wanted Michael Lewis too. And in the beginning Lewis showed all the signs of being the next great strong safety. He was young, athletic, he layed the wood and all signs pointed to stardom. I’m positive he could have had an impact on the 2002 NFC Championship game against Tampa Bay. Blaine Bishop had a bum leg and could hardly move. He even admitted later that he had no business being in that game. Thanks for toughing it out, Blaine! Lewis should have been in the game. I don’t care how well he knew the defense. Sorry, I got sidetracked. Lewis continued to blossom until someone discovered that he couldn’t cover. I don’t know if they were putting him in the wrong positions or what. Something changed and Lewis was exposed in the secondary. I was shocked that the Eagles moved on considering Roy Williams is praised in Dallas. Sean Taylor is hyped in Washington. And what are they? Strong safeties that can’t cover. Given the injury to Dawkins and bad play (and injury) of Sean Considine, I’d take Lewis back in a minute.
2nd Round, pick #58: Sheldon Brown, cornerback South Carolina: Why can’t all Eagles drafts be like this one? Brown made his mark early in his career on special teams. I remember him blowing up Cowboy’s kick returner Reggie Swinton his rookie year. You see this little guy out there who isn’t afraid to bring the heat and you have to love it. Brown is not only a very solid corner in the NFL, but he’s also quickly become one of the team leaders. The Reggie Bush hit in the playoffs last year will one to remember for a long time.
3rd Round, pick #91: Brian Westbrook, running back Villanova: How many teams are kicking themselves for passing on this guy? All of them, I say. Were the Browns better off grabbing William Green in the middle of the first round? How did that turn out? This is arguably the best pick of any Andy Reid draft. Actually, the best pick in recent memory. I’m not going to go on about why I love Westbrook. If you read this site, you already love him too.
4th Round, pick #124: Scott Peters, center Arizona State: I liked this pick early on. I thought he’d eventually develop into a starting center. Didn’t happen. He was with the Giants in 2003, the Niners in 2004, the Panthers in 2006 and he’s now on the Cardinals’ practice squad. Say what you will, he’s obviously not a quitter.
5th Round, pick #162: Freddie Milons, wide receiver Alabama: I remember talking to someone on the phone in Alabama after the draft knowing he was a big Crimson Tide fan. So I was excited when he heaped praise on Milons and said they call him “Freddie Millions” down there. Well, in Philly we didn’t call him that. Or anything close to that. I don’t even know if I ever saw him on offense in his time with the Eagles. He was with the Steelers in 2003 and later cut by the Bengals in 2005.
6th Round, pick #198: Tyreo Harrison, linebacker Notre Dame: According to my search he recorded three tackles in 2003. That, my friends, is value.
7th Round, pick #238: Raheem Brock, defensive end Temple: Anyone remember this nonsense? What kind of a 7th-round pick holds out? When you are taken at the point in the draft where your girlfriend or wife has absolutely put her foot down that you can’t watch another second of the two-day event, you shut up and sign what’s in front of you. Should you be doing jumping jacks just because someone took a flyer? Sure enough, they ran out of rookie pool money and had to let him walk. This would have been a whole lot funnier if he didn’t turn into a starting DE/DT for the Colts. I wonder if he’s happy with his ring.
micahw@feverpitchmedia.com
