2010 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 1, Pick 24

JasonB says: Going into these mock drafts, I’m always sure to remind myself to not overthink the pick too much. I’m a big fan of taking the BPA, especially in the first round and especially when you aren’t picking at the top. Last year, Jeremy Maclin fell to the Eagles in our SBN writers mock (and in real life as it turned out), and I took him despite not seeing WR as a huge need. This year I’m pretty much doing the same with the selection of Rutgers OT Anthony Davis. Here’s a guy who a lot of people have rated as a potential Top 15 pick at a premier position sitting on the board at 24, and I don’t think the Eagles would pass that up.
After spending a first round pick last year to acquire LT Jason Peters and extending RT Winston Justice during the season, you may think the Eagles don’t have a need at OT, but that’s not necessarily the case. For one, the Eagles generally select college OTs to play everywhere along the line. So it’s certainly possible that Davis could be asked to slide inside to play RG, where he first played at Rutgers and is a position that’s absolutely a question mark for the team. Plus, despite that fact that Winston Justice played well I’m not married to him as my RT for the next five years.
Beyond that, though, last year showed that the Eagles have very little depth along the offensive line. The fact that Jason Peters was injured early in the game against Oakland more or less lost them that game. King Dunlap was an absolute turnstile, McNabb barely had time to breathe, and the running game couldn’t get going in that game. Stacey Andrews never got healthy, Shawn Andrews never got healthy (and he’s gone now), LT Todd Herremans missed games at the start of the year, and C Jamaal Jackson missed games late. The Eagles started a guy that was slated to be a backup at every single position along the line at some point last year. If it weren’t for the fact that Winston Justice miraculously turned himself from bust to solid starter, who knows how bad things could have gotten last year.
The line is a vital part of any successful offense, and something the Eagles are going to have to shore up whether it’s Donovan McNabb or Kevin Kolb under center. Maybe Davis provides us with a starting RG, a starting RT, or maybe just some good depth early on. Either way, he’s worth the pick here at 24.

Mocking Dan reacts: It kind of seems like the selections are going a team late with today’s picks. To me, Sergio Kindle should have gone to New England and Davis should have gone to Green Bay. But that’s neither here nor there. What it really means is that Philly gets a player who has a chance to be very good.

Davis might have as much talent as any tackle in this year’s class. He’s rugged and physical at the point of attack and has quick feet. But he’s also kind of aloof and doesn’t give great effort all the time. That’s why it should be no surprise if he falls this far in the “real” draft. Davis would kind of be a luxury pick for the Eagles, but he’d be a good luxury pick. Like Jason sort of said, he’s a right guard at the very least. But should he go to the Eagles, he should be able to supplant Justice. Good pick.

Sound off, SB Nation! What say you of Philadelphia’s selection of OT Anthony Davis? Please be sure to check out Bleeding Green Nation for all of your Eagles needs.