Eagles Draft at a Glance: Desperate for another CB

Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Posted: 1:52 p.m.

By Reuben Frank
CSNPhilly.com

Seventh in a series of 10 stories previewing the Eagles needs going into the 2011 NFL draft. Today: Cornerbacks. Friday: Quarterbacks.

Bobby and Troy.

Sheldon and Lito.

Asante and ... who?

Dimitri Patterson? Joselio Hanson? Ellis Hobbs?

No thanks.

Going back to 1998, when Bobby Taylor and Troy Vincent first started together, the Eagles have always had two Pro Bowl-caliber cornerbacks in the secondary. Its been a long time since they were this desperate for cornerback help.

The Eagles moved on from Lito Sheppard after the 2008 season and Sheldon Brown after the 2009 season, and last year all-pro Asante Samuel found himself paired with a variety of corners, none of whom took ownership of the job.

Hobbs followed a strong preseason with uneven play during the regular season, then that disaster in Nashville, then a career-ending injury. Patterson was physical and active in his first few starts and even had a two-interception, one-TD performance against Donovan McNabb and the Redskins, but the more he played, the more he struggled. Hanson proved again that as terrific as he is in the slot, hes just not an outside cornerback.

Which brings us to the draft.

The Eagles two biggest needs are cornerback and offensive line, and if the Eagles do decide to take Gabe Carimi or Mike Pouncey or another offensive lineman at 23, its hard to argue.

But it will also be difficult for them to not take a corner at No. 23. This is a deep cornerback draft, with value available late in the first round, where the Eagles are currently scheduled to pick. Theres a need there, theres value there, and cornerback really is the direction the Eagles should take in the first round.

In a normal year, the Eagles could explore free agency in their search for a starting corner, but this isnt a normal year. Their are other needs, but the Eagles can address them in other ways. And none are as pressing as cornerback (no pun intended).

So we go corner at No. 23. And we think the Eagles will agree.

Whos already on the roster:
Jorrick Calvin, Hanson, Brandon Hughes, Patterson, Samuel, Gerald Lawson, Trevard Lindley, Isaiah Trufant.

Who has to stay:
Samuel, Lindley.

Who has to go:
Calvin, Lawson, Trufant.

How bout this guy?
Nearly two decades ago, Rich Kotite released a young unknown wide receiver because he was afraid to lose rookie Jeff Sydner if he tried to sneak him through waivers.

Sydner? He finished his NFL career with three receptions.

That unknown receiver? He was Jimmy Smith, and he went on to catch 862 passes for 12,287 yards and 75 touchdowns with the Jaguars.

Oops.

Hopefully, the Eagles dont let another Jimmy Smith get away.

This Jimmy Smith is the shutdown Colorado cornerback, who could be the perfect compliment to Samuel.

Smith will likely be drafted somewhere in the second half of the first round and although he might not last until No. 23, he wont go too much higher and will be within easy range if the Eagles want to trade up. Smith, LSUs Patrick Peterson and Nebraskas Prince Amukamara make this a very good cornerback draft, with three likely studs, but the 6-foot-2 Smith, with his outstanding size and terrific speed, is the perfect fit for the Eagles.

Smith didnt have any interceptions last year, but thats only because nobody threw his way. Almost nobody.

Sometimes it got a little boring, Smith said at the Combine. I had one opportunity for an interception, a one-handed interception. I dropped it. After that I had like three passes thrown my way for the rest of the season.

I definitely take that as a compliment. They didn't throw my way, ever. They respected me.

There are some lingering character issues with Smith, but theyre minor ones and shouldnt deter the Eagles, who are desperate to beef up the secondary. But they could be major enough to drop Smith down to No. 23.

I got an MIP (minor in possession of alcohol) my true freshman year at training camp, he said. I walked outside with a red cup that had nothing in it, and you can't have a red cup in Boulder so I got caught for that. It was lack of judgment.

Its not like Smiths had off-the-field issues throughout college. He stayed out of trouble the last few years but has had to constantly answer questions about his character.

I went to college and I made some mistakes, but all of them were freshman and sophomore year - actually my redshirt freshman year, so two freshman years, he said.

I've told (teams) I'm a great person. I was a young player who made young mistakes. But I grew as a person.

Smith stands 6-2, 210 pounds, so he has the size to defend the big receivers in the NFC East.

"I have long arms so I don't have to be all the way in the hip pocket of the receiver, Smith said in Indy. Sometimes I think the quarterback has to place the ball perfectly or I can get my hand in there.

"I'm a big, athletic, physical corner. I love to press, I have great speed, great size, great ball skills. I'm a shutdown corner.

Smith is often compared to all-pro Nnamdi Asomugha, and he doesnt mind it.

I like the comparison, Smith said. He's a shutdown corner in the NFL. I mean, I like the comparison a lot. I think I have better ball skills than he does, though.

Did you know?
Lindley has more interceptions (one) than the previous six cornerbacks the Eagles drafted combined (none).

Andy Reid cornerback history:
Lito Sheppard (1st round, 2002), Sheldon Brown (2nd round, 2002), Matt Ware (3rd round, 2004), Dexter Wynn (6th round, 2004), Jeremy Bloom (5th round, 2006), Rashad Barksdale (6th round, 2007), Jack Ikegwuonu (4th round, 2008), Victor Harris (5th round, 2009), Trevard Lindley (4th round, 2010).

Reid's best pick:
Brown with the 59th pick in 2002.

Reid's worst pick:
Ware with the 89th pick in 2004.

E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com

Related: View schedule: Eagles open in STLHighlights