Eagles traded Greg Lewis and a 2010 draft pick (presumed to be a 7th-round pick) for an undisclosed 2009 draft pick from the Patriots (presumed to be a 5th-round pick).  The Eagles now have four 5th-round picks in this year’s draft and a total of 12 picks in the draft.

I don’t really get the big buzz about 5th round picks.  We traded Lito for a 5th rounder and another conditional pick in 2010 and certain people are saying how the Eagles got such “good value.”  How valuable is a 5th round pick really?  This is just my guess, but 9 out of 10 times, a fifth-rounder never becomes a starter in the NFL.  More than half the time, they probably don’t end up making the active roster in their first few years.

The Eagles don’t even get their 3rd-round picks right the majority of the time (Billy McMullen, Matt Ware, Ryan Moats, Tony Hunt, C.J. Gaddis).  However, you have to respect these 3rd-round picks: Westbrook, Burgess, Stewart Bradley, Staley, and Trotter.

On the other hand, the Eagles have landed two very good pieces over the years from the 5th round: Trent Cole and Brent Celek.  I guess the more picks you have, the greater your chances of getting it right, so maybe all these trades will work to their advantage.