When Baylor guard Danny Watkins received his No. 1 Eagles jersey from Comissioner Roger Goodell, I noticed a dozen or so firefighters going crazy in the mezzanine. I ran up there and learned that Watkins, a part-time firefighter in his hometown of West Kelowna, British Columbia, had paid to fly five of his buddies to New York City.

Watkins, a former rugby and hockey player, has only been playing football for four years. Captain Lionel Batteman said Watkins' strong work ethic and good heart allowed him to achieve the lofty status of an NFL first-round pick despite being such a newcomer to the sport.

In addition to his hometown crew of Batteman, Captain Patrick Harmata, Captain Todd Moore, Chief Wayne Schnitzler and firefighter Richard Bliss, Watkins also had some of New York's Bravest cheering for him at Radio City.

Earlier in the day, Watkins and his West Kelowna buddies visited Engine 5 in Greenwich Village, the oldest active firehouse in New York City, and instantly bonded with the local unit. Engine 5 was decimated in the attacks of Sept. 11th, and Danny and his colleagues got a first-hand account.

Having met Danny, I can't help to think the Eagles did real well with taking this solid, genuine young man with their 23rd pick overall.

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-- MATTHEW WEISS
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Well, obviously the draft is important for every team. Teams that struggled in recent seasons will look to continue the rebuilding process. Teams that have had great success will aim to keep the roster well stocked. The Eagles fall somewhere in between.

The foundation of talent is there. Several skill positions are already locked and loaded. Michael Vick is coming off a career year; DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin provide a some nice options in the passing game; and LeSean McCoy is a more-than-adequate running back who proved that he belongs in this league last season.

All that said, the Eagles are lacking a bit of a persona when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. Even since Brian Dawkins and even Lito Sheppard left town, there have been coverage problems in the secondary. There's no depth at linebacker. Injury issues continue to linger for Stewart Bradley, who can't seem to get through the better part of a season.

It's pretty clear that the Eagles will be looking to beef up the defense. With 10 picks, the Eagles brain trust can turn things around in a hurry--targeted positions, in no particular order, will likely be cornerback, linebacker, safety, right guard, and even defensive end. Brandon Graham didn't exactly show that he was the complimentary opposite for Trent Cole last season, but not many DEs can come into the league and leave their stamp in just one season. That said, Graham has never had the prototypical size of of DE, and that isn't going to change.

I'm not Mel Kiper--I don't study draft boards and try to keep up with the endless speculation. Most times I find it to be an exercise in futility. Aside from the first few picks, everything else can change dramatically if one teams makes a shocking pick, as it can definitely have a domino effect.

In the first round, with the 23rd overall pick, I'd look for the Eagles to take Brandon Harris, the right cornerback out of Miami. There's a pressing need that can be handled early and Harris seems to be undervalued in most mock drafts. But with so many needs, it's hard to say with any kind of conviction what position they will target first. As long as it's on the defensive side of the ball, I don't think Birds fans will have a problem.

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-- SEAN JOHNSON
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