Eagles Improving Other Teams in Top Rounds of NFL Draft
By Dave Searles
Dec 22, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Bilal Powell (29) is tackled by Cleveland Browns strong safety T.J. Ward (43) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Browns 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
2) 2010 NFL Draft, Second Round
Philadelphia Eagles select Nate Allen, Free Safety (37th overall)
Cleveland Browns select T.J. Ward, Strong Safety (38th overall)
This comparison may be less relevant in a few short weeks when free agency begins, as Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward figures to be a prime candidate to join his former head coach from Oregon, Chip Kelly, in Philadelphia with the Eagles. During the 2010 NFL Draft, distinctly remembered by Eagles fans for a more catastrophic event involving another safety, the Eagles selected South Florida’s Nate Allen 37th overall with the fifth pick in the second round.
Allen showed promise in his rookie season, winning the NFL’s Rookie of the Month award for September 2010. In that first month, he started strong with getting an interception in both of his first two professional games, and followed it up with a total 48 tackles, two sacks and another interception before having his season ended in December of 2010 after tearing his patellar tendon. Since then he has statistically improved each year, including a career high 82 tackles in 2013, but lacks the reliability and ferociousness that Eagles fans tend to want to see from their defensive backs.
Safety T.J. Ward, selected immediately after Nate Allen by the Browns at 38th overall, had the better rookie year (Ward had 123 tackles compared to Allen’s 48 in 2010), and so far has accumulated over 60 more tackles and one less interception than Allen over four seasons. Health has affected both players at various points, though both have the same number of games started with 54. Ward is known as a fierce hitter, a stark contrast of Nate Allen’s early reputation as a player who missed a lot of tackles, which he has since made clear efforts to correct. After battling injuries in 2011 and 2012, Ward returned to his rookie form with a similar statistical year in 2013 with 112 tackles and two interceptions.