...And let the little children come to me...

After watching the Eagles fumble around with free agency during the first three months of the off-season, it became evident that their main avenue of re-stocking the roster with impact players and difference makers would not come from the rosters of other teams, but from the draft.

That strategy, which has been the cornerstone of the Andy Reid era (with the notable exception of 2004 of course, i.e. Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse), has worked well.

Up until last year, that is.

One would think that a 6-10 season might scare the Eagles away from leaning too heavily on rookies and unproven second-year players, like they did last year. One would think that if the Eagles wanted to turn things around quickly, they would have done so in free agency, with players who are ready to play right away.

But thats not Reids style. Reid likes to go with the kids. And, truth be told, with the exception of 2005, his strategy has worked.

So, coming off 6-10, this years draft was Reids most important since his first draft as Eagles Head Coach back in 1999. The good news is that this appears to be his best draft. At least, his best draft in as much as you can tell when no one has strapped on a single pad or put on a swath of uniform yet.

With that, lets take a look back at the kids who will attempt to dig the Eagles out of the deep hole theyve dug for themselves in the NFC East

Mark Constan Grade B

OK, I do really like the first pick the Eagles made in Broderick Bunkley. He seems to be what Corey Simon was six years ago same school, similar size and similar explosiveness. The pick was an absolute no-brainer.

Getting Winston Justice in the 2nd round seems like an steal, but why was this guy still around at 39? Would he have been around at 45, the initial 2nd round pick we had? Justice has had some off-field issues, and some teams were not impressed with him during the interview process. As of now, I think Justice was a good pick because he is a talented and HUGE man.

Not only that, drafting Justice and Bunkley made veterans Hollis Thomas and Artis Hicks expendable.

In the 3rd round, Eagles selected 1-AA phenom, Chris Gocong.

1-AA Phenom. Just wanted to mention that part again.

Gocong recorded 23 sacks last year at DE, but the Eagles feel he is athletic enough to switch to OLB and challenge Dhani Jones for that spot.

With two 4th round picks, the Eagles selected OG Max Jean Giles and WR Jason Avant. The best I can hope for from these two are being serviceable backups if we need them. Giles may have a chance to battle for a staring spot, depending on where Justice plays this year. Avant will be our #5 receiver and will contribute on special teams as well, which in turn means bye-bye to Billy McMullen and probably Darnerian McCants as well.

Jeremy Bloom in the 5th round is a pick that I am in love with. Even though he has not played in two years, he is a very explosive player and will immediately impact our special teams. I am not so sure that Omar Gaither and LaJuan Ramsey make the team, but at that point in the draft, I guess you just take the best available player.

All in all, I am pleased with the draft. Im a little disappointed that we did not address the secondary at all considering both out starting safeties are free agents at the end of this year, but overall it was a solid draft.

John Stolnis Grade B+

Round One: Call it a gift from above, but Brodrick Bunkley, the athletic DT from Florida St. was supposed to be gone by the time the Eagles picked. But because Buffalo reached for Donte Whitner at safety with the #9 pick, Bunkley magically fell to the Eagles at 14. It was a stroke of luck and the Eagles took advantage.

Round Two: Its not every draft that youre able to draft a consensus Top 15 pick in Round #2, but thats just what the Eagles got in OT Winston Justice. Character questions caused this fall, but theres no debate about his talent. Every mock draft on the planet had this guy as the second-best offensive lineman in the draft, and the Eagles got at 39. Simply stunning.

Round Three: Andy Reid likes productive college players, no matter where they played. Which is why the Eagles selected Chris Gocong, the nations sack leader at DE. Granted, Gocong did play in Division 1-AA, but so did Brian Westbrook. Id say thats worked out pretty well. The Eagles are hoping Gocong can supplant Dhani Jones at OLB in 2005.

Round Four: The Eagles are getting rave reviews for their first of two 4th round selections, OG Max Jean-Giles. Most experts had Jean-Giles as a 2nd-rounder, but once again, the Eagles got a little luck, and he fell into the 4th round. He could be a starter in 2005. With their second pick in round #4, the Birds took Michigan WR Jason Avant. Most think hes got some talent, but a WR in Andy Reids system takes at least two years to be productive; so dont expect much out of him in 2006.

Round Five: The Eagles went for a dynamic special teams player here by selecting Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom. Hell compete with Bruce Perry to handle kick-off and punt return duties.

Anything after the fifth round is pointless to dissect. Neither player will probably make the team.

All in all, the Eagles get high marks for their 2006 NFL Draft. And while most of these guys will probably turn into productive NFL players, how much help can they really be in 2006? The Eagles run a complicated offensive and defensive system, and it will take some time for these players to acclimate themselves to it.

If the Birds are expecting all of these guys to be impact players right away, its not going to happen. Not only that, the Eagles are still woefully shorthanded at WR, and Im surprised they didnt address their need for a bigger back in the draft as well.

All in all, the Eagles draft would have to be called a success. But it remains to be seen if their 2006 season will be as lucky.