Eagles Draft at a Glance: Celek anchors solid TEs

Monday, April 18, 2011
Posted: 1:16 p.m.

By Reuben Frank
CSNPhilly.com

Sixth in a series of 10 stories previewing the Eagles needs going into the 2011 NFL draft. Today: Tight Ends. Wednesday: Cornerbacks.

Ten picks, and theres a good chance none of them will be a tight end.

Tight end is one position where the Eagles are in very good shape. They have the proven veteran in Brent Celek, a promising kid in Clay Harbor and a long-range project in intriguing but perenially injured Cornelius Ingram.

For a variety of reasons, Celeks numbers dropped off dramatically a year ago. Catches were down from 76 to 42. Yards from 971 to 511. Touchdowns from eight to four. Some of it was just that Michael Vick is almost always looking down the field, not at his underneath guys. Some of it was injuriesCelek was banged up from Lehigh through the playoffs. And some of it was just far more dropped passes than ever before.

Still, Celek remains a solid blocker and a potential Pro Bowl pick any year. Hes only 26 and with a solid 2011 season hell already have more career yards than Chad Lewis, John Spagnola and Keith Jackson.

And in Harbor, the Eagles have a very capable backup. It took Harbor a while to pick up the blocking schemes and settle in as a rookie fourth-round pick, but once he did, he got a lot of late-season playing time and even caught the Eagles only touchdown in the devastating Week 15 loss to the Vikings.

Then theres Ingram, who was on and off the practice squad last year and hasnt played in a meaningful football game since 2007, his explosive junior year at Florida. Ingram has battled knee injuries ever since, but when healthy, he such a terrific receiver with great speed and size that hes worth keeping around just in case he can get his knee right.

The bottom line is that the Eagles have an outstanding near-Pro Bowl starter and an up-and-coming backup. The one thing theyre missing is a blocking specialist, and if Reid does snag a tight end in the late rounds, it will likely be one whose strength is at the line of scrimmage more than down the field.

Whos already on the roster:
Brent Celek, Clay Harbor, Cornelius Ingram, John Nalbone.

Who has to stay:
Celek, Harbor.

Who has to go:
Nalbone.

How bout this guy?
Lee Smith of Marshall is a blocking specialist who also catches the ball fairly well and will likely be a sixth- or seventh-round pick. If hes around in the seventh round, he could be worth considering as a developmental guy.

Smith, who began his college career at Tennessee but was kicked off the team after a DUI back in 2006, is the son of former NFL offensive lineman Daryle Smith, who spent the 1990 through 1992 seasons with the Eagles and started four games in 1992 at left tackle while Ron Heller was out with an injury.

Smith caught 38 balls for 358 yards and three touchdowns this past season and was 75-for-791 in four seasons at Marshall, but hes best known as a willing and effective blocker at 6-foot-6, 265 pounds.

Ive always blocked well, Smith told the Knoxville News. Im not the deep threat, but I do what I can.

Did you know?
Since the Eagles drafted Keith Jackson in the first round in 1988, only five tight ends have been drafted who recorded more career touchdown catches than Jacksons 49: Ben Coates (50), Wesley Walls (54), Shannon Sharpe (62), Antonio Gates (69) and Tony Gonzalez (88).

Andy Reid tight end history:
Jed Weaver (6th round, 1999), Tony Stewart (5th round, 2001), L.J. Smith (2nd round, 2003), Brent Celek (5th round, 2007), Cornelius Ingram (5th round, 2009), Clay Harbor (4th round, 2010).

Reid's best pick:
Celek with the 162nd pick in 2007.

Reid's worst pick:
Smith with the 61st pick in 2003.

E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com

Related: Eagles Draft at a Glance: LB still a problemEagles Draft at a Glance: SS up for grabs