The Eagles traded up from the 21st pick and selected Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin 19th overall.
As they did last year by beating the Tampa Bay Bucs on the last day of the season, helping the Eagles get into the playoffs, the Oakland Raiders again helped the Birds.
Many believed Maclin would be taken seventh overall by the Raiders. However, in a stunning move, Al Davis chose to reach for Darrius Heyward-Bay. This was a very surprising pick given that Maclin and Michael Crabtree were still on the board.
This started the domino's in Maclin falling to the Eagles.
Crabtree was taken 10th overall by the San Francisco 49ers before the Eagles jumped on the opportunity to move up two spots to take Maclin.
Maclin is a versatile player, who is a big-play threat and also a top notch return man.
Many thought the Eagles would take running back Knowshon Moreno or Brandon Pettigrew in the first round. Moreno was drafted by Denver with the 11th pick and although Pettigrew was still on the board at 19, the Eagles decided Maclin was too good to pass up. Pettigrew went to the Lions at 20.
The Eagles came away with another offensive weapon before day one of the draft ended, as they took Pitssburgh running back LeSean McCoy with the 53rd overall pick. McCoy is described as a Brian Westbrook clone, who has a good burst out of the backfield and who can also catch the ball.
Add in offensive lineman Jason Peters, who the Eagles traded the 28th pick for prior to the draft and the Eagles got a great value from rounds one and two.
So while the Eagles did not add a veteran receiver, they sure did add weapons to this offense. They are going to have young and fast talent that is going to give opposing defenses fits.
I am stunned. I did not expect the Eagles to draft a receiver.
I am excited though and give the Eagles an A for day one of the draft.
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