Some Draft Q&A
Posted: April 6th, 2014 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 38 Comments »You guys have been asking a lot of questions in regard to the draft and prospects. Let me try to answer a few.
Will the Eagles move up or move back from pick 22?
I think the Eagles would like to add more picks so moving back makes more sense. That said, if the right player falls, I think the Eagles would consider moving up. Who might be the kind of guys the team would go up for? LB Anthony Barr could be one. WR Mike Evans could be one. I wonder if TE Eric Ebron could be one. I know the Eagles have Brent Celek and Zach Ertz already, but Ebron would be one heck of an offensive weapon to add to the mix. He’s not your normal TE.
If the Eagles do move up, I think it would only be a few spots. They won’t want to give up a lot. As for moving back, they could go late 1st or even early 2nd.
Do you prefer Beckham vs Cooks?
I like Beckham quite a bit, but I’m still doing my research on Cooks. Jimmy Bama is very high on Cooks. so naturally that concerns me. Both guys are really good and the Eagles would be lucky to add either player.
Talk about big WRs.
Not all big WRs are the same. Mike Evans is 6-5, 231 and Kelvin Benjamin is 6-5, 240, but they are very different players. Evans is going to be a very high pick because he’s got athletic ability to go with his size. Benjamin is a marginal athlete. I don’t know who to compare Evans to. He’s not as special as Calvin Johnson. I don’t like him as much as I did Plaxico Burress. But Evans is pretty darn good.
The Eagles have one big WR right now. Riley Cooper is 6-3, 222. Obviously that pales in comparison to the kind of size Evans has.
While I do think Chip Kelly prefers big WRs, I don’t think he would have a problem with taking average sized players like Cooks or Beckham. If someone is really talented, Kelly is likely to look beyond size. If 2 players are equal, he’ll probably go for the bigger one.
Should the Eagles target defense early and then go for offense?
That sounds good in theory, but I do believe in the Best Player Available theory. The Eagles need more help on defense, but if better offensive players are available, take them.
Do you prefer Attaochu or Van Noy as 2nd round targets?
Different players. Attaochu would be here to play ROLB. I think Van Noy is better suited to playing ILB in the 3-4. I just don’t think he’s a dynamic enough pass rusher to play outside. I like him quite a bit, but think he’s more of a complete LB than just a pass rusher. Of the 2, I prefer Attaochu.
Is Bryce Brown trade bait?
I doubt it. Here’s the problem. Brown has big time ability, but as a RB coming off a mediocre year he would have little value. I’m not trading a talented player like Brown for just a 7th rounder. Brown has 2 years left on his rookie contract. The Eagles need to see if he can become a key player or if he can develop into a tradeable asset.
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If the Raiders take Sammy Watkins in Rd 1, trade Bryce Brown to them for Denarius Moore.
nahhh… draft our own WR. id rather have brown
Interesting idea, Greg. Moore is a good vertical receiver. He won’t turn 26 until December. Would benefit from consistent QB play.
I’ve had him in fantasy the last couple of years, he’s the only decent wr they’ve had. i’d consider after the draft.
I think the best chance to move Brown to another team would be July / August if/when a team decides it doesn’t like it RB corps and is willing to part with a 2015 6th rounder or something like that.
Id draft Marqis lee over both cooks and odell
Time to upgrade the Eagles players on the Iggles Blitz Banner. You have Vick and Jackson…and Shady with his rookie number…(29).
Kelce, Ertz, and Nickie Franchise will do… 🙂
A few people have pointed that out. I’ll do it soon.
One of these could work…
Not sure why it did it that many times
T-Law, the BEARD MAN.
this reminds me, my dad picked up a pack of Eagles players that you stick on the wall (forget the name, very well known though). It had Shady’s old number, Jackson, Asante, Kolb, and Vick included in it
Marqise Lee – I have not read any of your comments about him Tommy, what do you think? And what about Abbrederis to replace Avant at a slot option that could fit outside? He’s not getting much talk considering the depth of this class, but while he’s not a great athlete, I really think he is a good, crafty, polished WR. If his “concussions issues” could have him slide a bit, he could represent great value. The depth of this WR class is insane, unlike any I can remember, is that your take as well? Does it remind you of any other class?
I say trade everything and get Clowney. At least then I won’t have to spend 3 days watching the draft.
I’ll give you the Philly Mueseum of Art for a 2 and a future 3!
Hah, We’ll give you the Phillies and Geno’s Steaks for the #2 overall. No takes backsies after you figure out what a dumpster fire the Phillies are.
everyone seems to know already except the GM. Which just adds to the problem. He’s going to band-aid his way into keeping his job for a few more years which is so depressing. I can’t even spend mental energy on things like “Papelbon had a bad outing and may be losing his velocity” when we all knew of course that will happen no one gives closers long term deals.
Sigh….
haha but on a serious note I can’t understand people saying to trade up. I don’t think any prospect is worth giving up an addition 2-3 picks when we only have I believe 7
only 6! But I think if someone like Barr falls close to us, who would be BPA but also a position of desperate need, and if the cost is not too much, I can get behind it.
Part if the assessment for Bryce Brown has to also include how the team feels about Polk and Tucker (or someone in this rookie class ). Brown has shown potential, but keep in mind, it was under AR. Under CK, we saw Browns numbers decline. In addition, it seemed Polk started to get more involved as the season went on. If they think Polk is the better back of the two, then I think a 7th round pick should be worth taking since Brown would now be on the roster bubble. I just think it depends on how the Eagles really feel about him, and I’m not sure if they are truly high in him. Certainly didn’t seem that way last season.
More so Polk then tucker.
Bryce has too much talent to just get rid of him for a 7th, plus we used a 7th to draft him. Much rather have him.
I agree. I kind of think they got caught up in the rushing title last year, which is a nice goal for the OL and Shady (and bonus), but now I hope they can readjust and give the backups more carries both to spell Shady and to see what we have.
Tommy, I love your work, but you said Kelly will likely look beyond size if a guy is is talented. I mean it’s a fair assessment to make, but we don’t really know what chip is thinking or his preferences after year one. Maybe he just really wants a big physical receiver and not a small stature WR who can get injured easily. I just don’t remember any small wrs dominating during playoffs or big games. Sure they can make wow plays but sometimes you just gotta have a big physical outside wr who you can throw it in his range and let him go get it. just my opinion.
Over the last five years the Superbowl winners collectively had 4 receivers over 6’1: Jacoby Jones, Jordy Nelson, Robert Meachem, and Marques Colston. Talented players, sure, but not exactly murders row there either.
Jordy Nelson is the real deal.
Meachem jones are #3 WRs. at best.
Meachem is an embarrassing waste of a draft pick by New Orleans. They wasted a first round pick on a guy who was totally neutralized by the Penn State D in a bowl game and who can only run “9” routes.
agreed
Size isnt an indication of player being injured easily
If you’re talking taking a big WR as a project later on in the draft; great. If you’re talking Benjamin with either or our first two picks; no thank you.
Kelvin benjamin is a stud!!! Dude scores Tds!!! and gets downfield!! and blocks!!! thats what chip wants! Perfect fit!! would make a great weapon for our 6’6 QB!! We will be DOMINATE in the red zone!!! You dont see that??
Tommy, have you been watching any film of the EFLI, and if so, do you think the Eagles might target some of its lesser known talent in the later rounds?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0iuY9CQwlE
I’m thinking Rashan Lobo could be a DeSean Jackson replacement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slQHWq0gnXU
Ebron would be really interesting at #22 if he fell. TE isn’t exactly a 2014 “need”, but Celek is a middling player on a contract that makes sense to void after 2014 and Ertz is an ascending player. The Eagles demonstrated they don’t value $10-$12 million dollar pro bowl talent at WR, maybe they see investment in two good TEs as a better model.
Eagles value a 10-12 mil dollar pro bowl talent at wr who ISN’T a cancer to the coaches and team.
People might lose their minds if the Eagles go OG @ 22, but I think that position has some merit. Herreman’s is going to be due for a visit from the financial OJ knife at the end of the season, so it might make sense to draft a legitimate pro bowl level talent now rather than fill the guard position with any current backup player. I can’t point to a specific guy I’d take there, but it would shock me to see O-line (especially OG) addressed in either of the first two picks if they have a high enough grade on a guy who falls to them.
I’m not sure a guard would be the BPA at 22. (I think BPA has a lot of grey areas but it’s what most like. I’m not sure I like it 100%)
I’m wondering if any of the guys on the possible cut list prior to the 2015 season are going to drive any of the draft strategy. There is a ton of salary bloat they might want to plan around replacing:
T. Cole (ROLB) – $6.8 savings
B. Celek (TE) – $4.75 savings
D. Ryans (ILB) – $6.8 savings
C. WIlliams (CB) – $4.85 savings
T. Herremans (RG) – $1.6 savings
The Eagles are currently $17 million under the 2015 projected cap of $140 million, and are $20 million under for this season. Factor in some money each year for draft picks and they would have about $30 million in space going into 2015. If they cut the entire list of guys I have up there we’re talking another $25 million. I don’t see that as realistic, but I don’t see all 5 names making it onto the 2015 roster at their current salary values.
In either case, the 2015 off-season might not have the headlines of the 2014 one, but there could be an overall higher level of action with cuts / extensions / signings.
About Brown — he has some talent. He production probably took a hit for one of two reasons. 1 – he didn’t pick up the new offense to well last year. His second time around might prove to be very productive. Or 2 – He’s not the right kind of guy at RB for CK. I have no idea if that’s true. If he’s not what Kelly’s looking for than a rook rb wouldn’t be out of the question.
When I see film of Oregon triple-teaming Cooks while CK was the coach, it’s hard to imagine CK passing on him should he fall to 22.