2013 Eagles Draft Preview
Posted: April 25th, 2013 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 84 Comments »The draft is finally here.
The Picks
1st round – Pick 4
2nd round – Pick 35
3rd round – Pick 67
4th round – Pick 101
5th round – Pick 136
7th round – Pick 210
7th round – Pick 212 … from Cleveland (David Sims deal)
7th round – Pick 218… from Tampa ( A Benn deal)
7th round – Pick 239 … Comp pick
Targets
My top 3 guys are:
1a – LB Ziggy Ansah – BYU – 6-5, 271
1b – LB Dion Jordan – Oregon – 6-6, 248
2 – OT Lane Johnson – Oklahoma – 6-6, 303
I have a hard time choosing between Ansah and Jordan since I don’t know exactly how the defense is going to play out. Jordan is faster and more of a natural pass rusher. Ansah is heavier and more physical, while only being a notch slower. I think both players have tremendous potential. When in doubt, I’m going with the bigger (heavier) player.
Johnson is my favorite of the 3 OTs and the one who makes the most sense for the Eagles. Great athlete who has RT and LT experience. Truly a special athlete, but before you start screaming “workout warrior” at the top of your lungs, know that Johnson has a real nasty streak to him. Loves to finish his blocks. If he gets a defender on the ground, Johnson piles on and keeps blocking. Imagine Tra Thomas athleticism with Jon Runyan’s nasty streak. Sounds pretty good, huh?
I prefer an impact player for the defense rather than an OT. The reason is that coaches can scheme and do some things to help with blocking. On defense, if you don’t have top athletes and playmakers, you’re hopeless. Think about GB. They have a legend like Dom Capers running the show, but take away Clay Matthews and that defense is helpless. The OL has had a lot of injuries, but because of Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy, they’ve remained explosive on offense.
The Eagles have some good players on defense, but they need better athletes. Trent Cole was one in his prime. Brandon Graham was one prior to microfracture surgery. The 3-4 defense needs athletes. Ansah or Jordan would be ideal.
Any other targets?
I think 4 is too early for Tavon Austin, but I wouldn’t be mad if he was the pick.
Shariff Floyd offers the versatility the Eagles like. He could play 5-tech or 3-tech.
Geno Smith will not be the pick.
Trade Back Scenarios
DET, ARZ, and MIA are most likely. They could be in the hunt for OT help. I think those teams are more likely to deal with the Raiders than us, but you never know.
The reason to want to move back is to get extra picks in Rounds 2-5. This draft isn’t loaded at the top, but there is good depth.
It is possible Jordan or Ansah are on the board even if the Eagles move back, but lets take a look at 5 other targets the team could have interest in.
1 – WR Tavon Austin – West Va – 5-8, 173
2 – LB Barkevious Mingo – LSU – 6-4, 241
3 – DL Star Lotulelei – Utah – 6-3, 311
4 – DL Shariff Floyd – Florida – 6-3, 297
5 – CB Dee Milliner – Alabama – 6-0, 201
Austin is the most dynamic offensive playmaker in the draft. Mingo is a very good athlete and pass rusher. Star would initially project to DE, but could grow into a NT in time. Floyd is a versatile athlete. Milliner is the best big CB in the draft.
In a lot of years I have wanted the Eagles to move up or down to help them target better fits. This year staying at #4 would be fine in that sense. The problem is that the draft has a lot of depth and with Chip Kelly changing the roster, all the mid-round picks possible is a good way to go. I want more picks.
PROBABLE DEPTH CHART
WR – DeSean Jackson….Jason Avant ……. Damaris Johnson ….. Ifeanyi Momah
WR – Jeremy Maclin …. Riley Cooper ……. Arrelious Benn
TE – Brent Celek
H-back – James Casey …. Clay Harbor ….. Emil Igwenagu
RB – LeSean McCoy …. Bryce Brown ….. Chris Polk
QB – Mike Vick………… Nick Foles ………. Dennis Dixon
LT – Jason Peters ……. Allen Barbre
LG – Evan Mathis……… Julian Vandervelde
OC – Jason Kelce…….… Dallas Reynolds …… Matt Tennant
RG – Danny Watkins …… Nate Menkin
RT – Todd Herremans.…. Dennis Kelly … Ed Wang
DE – Fletcher Cox ….. Ronnie Cameron
NT – Isaac Sopoaga …. Antonio Dixon
DE – Cedric Thornton … Vinny Curry …. Clifton Geathers
ROLB – Brandon Graham … Trent Cole … Phillip Hunt
WB – Mychal Kendricks ….. Jamar Chaney
MB – DeMeco Ryans …. Jason Phillips ….. Casey Matthews
LOLB – Connor Barwin …… Chris McCoy
SS – Patrick Chung …… Kurt Coleman …… Colt Anderson
FS – Nate Allen ………. Kenny Phillips …. David Sims
CB – Cary Williams ……. Brandon Hughes … Trevard Lindley
CB – Bradley Fletcher ….. Curtis Marsh
NB – Brandon Boykin
P – Donnie Jones
K – Alex Henery
LS – Jon Dorenbos
NEEDS (not in order)
Rather than re-posting… here is the link to a full post.
VISITS TO PHILLY (most important)
* WR Sky Dawson – TCU … WR coach Bob Bicknell was at his Pro Day
* ILB A.J. Klein – Iowa State … Eagles scout attended Pro Day, focused on ILBs
* CB Dwayne Gratz – UConn … DBs coach at his Pro Day
EAGLES VALUE BOARD
Because the Eagles are so specific I’m trying to list players that I think have a likelihood to be on the Eagles draft list. I will be omitting good players. The value board is a combination of grade + need. There is a report out there that the Eagles have 160 players on this year’s board.
1st Round
QB:
RB:
TE: Tyler Eifert
WR: Tavon Austin, Cordarelle Patterson
OT: Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher, Lane Johnson
OG/C: Chance Warmack, Jonathan Cooper
DE: Star Lotulelei, Shariff Floyd, Datone Jones, Sheldon Richardson, Sylvester Williams
NT:
LB: Dion Jordan, Ziggy Ansah, Barkevious Mingo
ILB: Arthur Brown
S: Kenny Vaccaro, Jonathan Cyprien
CB: Dee Milliner, D.J. Hayden, Xavier Rhodes
2nd Round
QB: Geno Smith, EJ Manuel
RB: Eddie Lacy, Jonathan Franklin, Gio Bernard
TE: Zach Ertz, Gavin Escobar
WR: Justin Hunter, Robert Woods, Keenan Allen, Da’Rick Rogers, Markus Wheaton, Quinton Patton
OT: Justin Pugh, Terron Armstead, Kyle Long
OG/C:
DE: Margus Hunt, Jesse Williams, Jonathan Hankins
NT:
LB: Damontre Moore, Tank Carradine (or DE)
ILB: Kevin Minter, Alec Ogletree, Manti Te’o,
S: Eric Reid, Matt Elam,
CB: Desmond Trufant, Jamar Taylor, Darius Slay, Robert Alford, Dwayne Gratz, Blidi Wreh-Wilson
3rd Round
QB: Zac Dysert, Matt Scott
RB: Le’Veon Bell
TE: Vance McDonald, Travis Kelce, Jordan Reed
WR: Marquise Goodwin, Aaron Dobson, Ryan Swope, Chris Harper
OT: Dallas Thomas, Reid Fragel
OG/C: Barrett Jones, Brian Schwenke, David Quessenberry
DE: John Jenkins
NT: Brandon Williams
LB: Jamie Collins, Corey Lemonier
ILB: Kiko Alonso, Kevin Reddick
S: DJ Swearinger, Bacarri Rambo, Phillip Thomas, JJ Wilcox
CB: Johnthan Banks, Jordan Poyer, Leon McFadden, David Amerson
4th round
QB: Jeff Tuel
RB: Spencer Ware, Stepfan Taylor, Kenjon Barner
TE: Dion Sims, Nick Kasa
WR: Josh Boyce, Denard Robinson
OT: Brennan Williams, Luke Marquardt
OG/C: Khaled Holmes, Brian Winters, Earl Watford, Vinston Painter, JC Tretter
DE: William Gholston,
NT:
LB: Michael Buchanan
ILB: Keith Pough, AJ Klein, Jon Bostic, Nico Johnson
S: TJ McDonald, Shamarko Thomas
CB: Sanders Commings, Tharold Simon,
All-Tommy Team (my favorite non-1st rounders)
WR Markus Wheaton – Oregon State
WR Tavarres King – Georgia
TE Mychal Rivera – Tennessee
FB Kyle Juszyzck – Harvard
RB Johnathan Franklin – UCLA
QB Matt Scott – Arizona
OT Patrick Ford – Eastern Kentucky
OG Larry Warford – Kentucky
OC Brian Schwenke – Cal
OG Kyle Long – Oregon
OT Brian Winters – Akron
DE Tourek Williams – FIU
DT Jordan Hill – Penn State
DT Josh Boyd – Mississippi State
DE Jamie Collins – Southern Miss
LB Mike Taylor – Wisconsin
LB Mike Mauti – Penn State
LB Khaseem Greene – Rutgers
S Jordan Kovacs – Michigan
S Shawn Williams – Georgia
CB Jordan Poyer – Oregon State
CB Johnthan Banks – Mississippi State
Out of this list I want the Eagles to get 4 players…guys I covet (more or less)
RB Kerwynn Williams – Utah State … Explosive RB that can catch passes
RB Spencer Ware – LSU … Bigger back that can catch the ball and run over tacklers.
WR Marquise Goodwin – Texas … Versatile, explosive talent
WR Denard Robinson – Michigan … Could be a hybrid RB/WR and thrive under Chip Kelly.
WR Da’Rick Rogers – Tennessee Tech … Character would have to check out. Has elite talent.
TE Zach Ertz – Stanford … Versatile pass catcher that will also block.
TE Gavin Escobar – SDSU … Versatile pass catcher that must learn to block.
OT Dallas Thomas – Tennessee … 2-year starter at LT could be excellent value.
OT Kyle Long – Oregon … Nasty run blocker that plays with an edge.
QB Zac Dysert – Miami OH … Good fit for Kelly’s offense and would be good value.
QB Jeff Tuel – Washington State … Great fit for Kelly’s offense and would be great value.
LB Dion Jordan – Oregon … Great athlete and potential difference-maker up front.
LB Ziggy Ansah – BYU … Bigger, stronger version of Jordan.
LB Michael Buchanan – Illinois … Mid-round guy with great measurables and good potential.
DE Joe Kruger – Utah … Young kid with a great frame and some real talent.
DE Jared Smith – New Hampshire … Late round target that could be good fit at DE and DT.
NT Josh Boyd – Miss State … Could play DE or NT. Willing to do the dirty work.
S Jonathan Cyprien – FIU … Best FS in the draft. Reminds you of Dawk at times.
S Eric Reid – LSU … Can be explosive hitter.
CB Jordan Poyer – Oregon State … Playmaker with great instincts.
CB Robert Alfrod – SE Louisiana … poor man’s version of DJ Hayden.
CB Johnthan Banks – Miss State … Big time playmaker that will hit, tackle.
Please Avoid These Players
QB EJ Manuel – Florida State … Still a project. I doubt he ever develops.
WR Terrance Williams – Baylor … Never lived up to the hype.
OT Menelik Watson – Florida State … “Athletic” OT who went to Combine and posted terrible numbers.
OT Oday Aboushi – Virginia … Up and down season, then struggled mightily at Senior Bowl.
DE/LB Bjoern Werner – Florida State … Lacks the motor to play LB in 3-4.
DE/NT Kawaan Short – Purdue … Great stats, potential, but never clicked for me.
ILB Alec Ogletree – Georgia … Too many red flags.
CB Jamar Taylor – Boise … I’m one of few who doesn’t love him. Hate his tackling. Asante-ish.
SUMMARY
I really, really want a couple of more picks. Could be in 3rd, 4th, or even 5th round. This draft has good depth. Lots of talent to be found. The Eagles must come away with an OT in the first 4 rounds. Beyond that, about anything else can happen. I prefer to add a LB or playmaking DE early so the front seven will have a boost.
I won’t be upset if Chip Kelly goes more for offensive guys even though D is more of a need. It takes an offense longer to gel so targeting that side this year does make some sense.
The Eagles should be a much better football team in a few days.
* * * * *
Jimmy Bama and I did a podcast today. Final draft preview.
* * * * *
Quite a few of you made PayPal contributions recently and I can’t thank you enough. That’s very generous on your part and much appreciated by me.
Special thanks to Baloophi for putting that all together. He doesn’t know it yet, but he gets my first born. And probably the next couple as well.
Thank you.
_
Um, Stanley Havili? Someone’s suffering from a lack of sleep.
lol
NB – Joselio Hanson
MmmBop is Back!?!
Yeah, had to fix that. The troubles of Copy/Paste.
Love the All-Tommy Team, one of these days when it’s slow, you should go back through those teams and see how they’ve panned out
I could see them trading down a few picks in the first round but possibly also trading back up for a 2nd 1st round pick.
I totally agree we need some more middle of the order picks. I sort of hope they stand pat at 4 and trade out of the 2nd pick. I would hope for a 3. Far fetched yes but crazier things have happened. All it takes is one team who sees a guy drop they though would be long gone.
Glad to hear everyone Baph’s donation drive worked out! I’m going to try to make donating a pretty regular thing. Totally worth it.
FOUR PICK: there are two guys who play positions typically picked in the top 5 that are worth a 4th pick imho: Joeckel and Lotulelei. Then there are three outstanding players with positions generally not picked then: Tavis Austin (Slot WR), Chase Warmack OG, and Dee Milliner CB, worth the 4th (listed in order of preference). I would be pleased if the Eagles got any of those five, at 4 or after a trade down.
Fisher made his grandkids rich with his combine perf but I think he will be a mediocre but functional LT in the NFL.
Floyd will not rush the passer well and be a functional midgrade starter at DT. Shelden RIchardson – Bust.
Dion Jordan and Mingo are very high risk for a top 10 pick. i expect both to have some good games but be inconsistent and disappointing.
Ziggy Ansah is an intriguing rotation guy for the pass rush but I think the 4 pick is best used elsewhere.
Lane Johnson is this year’s Jason Smith, a total disaster for whomever invests a Top 10 pick on him. Is that at the top of my lungs? I could take singing classes.
One QB will be a successful starter – Barkley, and there may be 3 or 4 quality backups. EJ Manuel will be a major bust if picked top 20. Geno Smith will be as good as a journeyman — I don’t assume he’s an upgrade over Dennis Dixon and if he is it isn’t by much.
journeyman — I don’t assume he’s an upgrade over Dennis Dixon and if he is it isn’t b
My two favorite targets are Tank and Cyprien. If the OTs are all gone, I’d be ecstatic with Dion and Tank.
Can’t decide on Tank…LB or DE?
Cyprien would be great.
DE baby.
I love the All-Tommy list. I look forward to it every year. I would love to come away with Da’Rick Rogers (2nd), Dalton Freeman (6th-7th) and Travis Kelce (3rd). Those are my non-first most wanted.
Nice picks. Freeman would be a great fit.
And your very welcome, the money is so well spent!!!
my preference:
Trade back with Zona and take Floyd, Lutolelei, Johnson, Anash, or Milliner in that order. If at 4, take Floyd or Lutolelei.
Give me Eric Reed, Elam, A. Brown, or Jamie Collins tomorrow!
Any combination of Ansah/Jordan+Cyprien would be really nice for me.
Of course I would love Johnson as well, I just love good defenses and I think Kelly can scheme around not having the greatest OL
I’ll take that. That would be a dream combo. I agree with the OL thing, i just have some kind of need to get a defensive guy and get that Philly defense back. I’ll not complain with Fisher, Joeckel or Lane J though.
The only thing that scares me is that im actually also OK with trading down and picking up Mingo, who I wasnt a fan of for a long time.
If we trade back to 12, I wouldnt mind Mingo at all. He got really great potential. Trading that far back could net us upto a 2nd round pick (essential Dolphins give up 2nd for Johnson instead of Albert and they save around 6-7 mill per year)
i can stay awake for a trade back a few picks, but a trade back to 12 and i’m screwed.
I know the feeling!
I’ve taken the day off tomorrow 🙂 This is my favorite “holiday” of the year!
I don’t have time to follow college football/draft with any kind of detail but Tommy I love your blog. It’s the best source for Eagles-related information and everyone else is a distant 2nd.
You love the draft & it clearly shows in the stuff you write and post.
Final thoughts on Dion Jordan.
Chip knows this kid better than anyone. If he is on the board and we take him, I’m good with that. If he passes, I’m good. Chip knows the call to make.
You do awesome work, man. Must’ve missed the paypal thing. Can someone reply with the relevant info?
The link to donate is on the right column, but here was one of Baloophi’s posts. He ultimately reached his goal of 25:
Baloophi • 3 days ago
$$$ ANNUAL IGGLES BLITZ CHALLENGE $$$
NEED 2 MORE…
PRO BOWL PLAYERS
the midatlantic
Mac
Iskar36
phillychuck
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Friends,
With the NFL draft right around the corner it’s time to remind everyone of all the hard work Tommy and Sam do to bring us this special space. It takes a lot of time and effort to continually create new content, maintain the website, and respond to questions / comments /death threats after a mock draft. With that in mind, I’d like to ask everyone here to take a minute of your own time and consider making a donation in any amount to Iggles Blitz.
Since one of the most enjoyable parts of my Iggles Blitz experience
is engaging in discussions with all of you, I’d like to issue everyone
here a challenge: If we can get 25 donations in any amount before the
start of the draft, I will happily give $10 per donation to Iggles
Blitz. Your contributions go a long way toward acquiring and maintaining a tape library, licensing and legal fees, and of course, making PBR-flavored smoothies.
On the right hand side of the page is a “DONATE” button. Please
consider giving any amount you feel comfortable with to a resource I know you all enjoy as much as I do. No need to post how much you have given, and if you not able to at this time, please consider “voting up” this post so it’s front and center for others.
I know many of you graciously helped Tommy get to the Senior Bowl a
couple months ago and that he was enormously grateful. Now let’s help keep the site going for the 2013 season! Remember, without Tommy, we’d be stuck getting Eagles information from Dave “Company Line” Spadaro, Les “Photo Bomb” Bowen, and Jeff “Who would YOU take?” McLane.
NOTE: Tommy and Sam have not solicited this challenge in any way,
shape or form and will undoubtedly shy away from it. Besides, they
should be busy preparing for the inevitable fallout when the Eagles use
their first three picks on quarterbacks.
just cause he hit 25 doesn’t mean you can’t still donate though
Sorry, didn’t mean to make it come out that way. Absolutely, anyone who wants to add to the donations should feel free to.
i don’t think anyone took it that way, but, just in case
Thanks. Done.
Posted an ideal Eagles mock draft. Short & quick.
http://eaglesblog.net/2013/04/tommys-ideal-draft/
I would take the draft in a heartbeat,
Me too! Happy holiday Anders 🙂
Love ya Tommy but I’m calling it now. No chance Kruger makes it to the fifth.
I wonder if teams will be put off by him coming out early with no real reason to. Are there any character issues (not legal, but knucklehead stuff)? It wouldn’t upset me for the Eagles to take him in the 4th.
Dude he made it to the 7th.
I’ll gladly eat my humble pie since we still got my guy.
In Howie & co we trust. My vote is DL Star or Ansah. Otherwise I am looking forward to seeing the first glimpse of the new igg’s.
wow – that shirt :-/
i think that i already asked this but can someone explain why we have the fourth pick in round one and the third pick in round 2? shouldn’t the round 2 pick also be fourth? did someone lose a pick? i’m not complaining, just curious
The pick order rotates in different rounds among teams with the same record.
thanks tommy. i’ve been wondering that for a week or so
anyone have a count on Leon Sandcastle references so far? Jimmy must be losing his mind
No sand on espn.
I like it so far either Floyd or trade back because someone wants Johnson seems very likely!
Eagles draft live…these fans are letting me down, everyone is saying Geno, I’ve heard Randall Cunningham and Donovan McNabb comparisons….come on Eagles fans, get it together!
Listening to Spuds just now I have a very hard time believing we’ll draft Geno
and thank god for that!
Dammit. I wanted the Dolphins trade.
Looks like we pick at 4?
Wow did anyone see that coming?
CRAP, Raiders trade out with dolphins, likely to take Lane Johnson. That kills our leverage for a trade down. Dion or Ziggy, lets do this.
Ok, nevermind, Dion is gone
Maybe a trade-down?
wow
Holy ish! We are still in business!
Dammit. I wanted Dion
STAR ME!!
They could probably get quite a deal for the pick now.. there’s no way Johnson gets past Detroit.
I’m hoping so, but we still have some nice options. #anyonebutGeno
Manuel?
oh jesus, I stand corrected
trade the pick…no one at 4 is worth what Dion was
This. They can get way more than this pick is worth between zona and SD bidding to get past Det. Couldn’t have worked out any better if the pick is for sell
im fucking sick…trade back to 8 and grab ziggy or Mingo….fucking Raiders had to fuck it up
There’s no guarantee anyone was willing to give them a decent deal to move up.
Its ok…Im glad they took Lane…If they had to go Oline, the only 2 players I would have been ok with were Lane and Cooper, who have ALL PRO potential, opposed to the Limited but safe Fisher and Joekel. If they didnt trade back, IMO Lane was the only pick they could have made with Dion off the board….Lane and Jordan, IMO should have been the 1st and 2nd pick in the draft…those were the players that had a chance to be truly special…Than Ziggy
According to Kelly’s PC they didn’t get a lot of offers for the pick.
Thats my guy! Yes!!!
Move Herremans back inside?
or to KC. everything is possible
looks like it
I’m okay with this. This guy could be a franchise LT, and you can’t complain about that.
whups, looks like I was wrong wrt to Geno/Jags/Eagles… All the emphasis on linemen has really thrown me for a loop!
I thought we were going to ransom out the final tackle, I was wrong
That has to be the most flacid group of Eagles fans I’ve ever seen hahahaha
Haha
I’m going to call Watkins beating Herremans for RG. lol
World shocker.
I could see it.
Hopefully in the good way in Watkins finally coming around to his 1st round status and not Todd suddenly getting old.
Even if he doesn’t, I think Watkins can still be Todd’s replacement and be very good by the time Todd moves on.
If Ansah pans out, Suh, Fairly & Ansah could be dominant
Mind-blowing D-line
It better, 3 1st round picks invested in the DL. Be honest, it does have Eagles 91 D potential.
Well, I was sorta hoping to ransom out this pick for more picks, maybe grab a pass rusher, then grab a tackle at 35, but this should work. What a line we should have if everyone truly comes back from injury.
In chip we trust
Hope I don’t have a heart attack by the end of this weekend
Longest weekend of the year!
Things I’ve learned so far:
Cordarrelle Patterson looks like the Predator if he was dressed up like a back up musician in a 1950’s doo wop band.
3-D glasses are apparently the new 5 button suit for the NFL draft
At least Ansah is from Ghana…it should make the transition to Detroit a bit easier
The phrase: Big money, No Genos, No Genos, No Genos – does, in fact, work.
Oline picks always take time for me to get excited about, but at least our OT had skill position highlights put up when he was drafted, so there’s that bonus.
Mel Kiper’s hair is magnificent…but we already knew that
Whenever Rex Ryan and the Jets draft someone and Kiper says they have really nice feet/footwork … I giggle