Posted: May 8th, 2014 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 299 Comments »The NFL moved the draft back to early May this year. I would say the public reaction to this experiment is less than enthusiastic. I hate it. The draft is made for late April. Hopefully the NFL will learn from this and adjust. Anyway…let’s move on to talking about the draft.
The draft is finally here.
The Picks
1st round – Pick 22
2nd round – Pick 54
3rd round – Pick 86
4th round – Pick 122
5th round – Pick 162
7th round – Pick 237
Targets
My top 3 guys are:
1 – LB Anthony Barr – UCLA
2 – WR Marqise Lee – USC
3 – CB Kyle Fuller – Virginia Tech
Barr has an ideal combination of size, length and athleticism. He explodes up the field and then is able to bend and turn as he gets by the blocker. Most bigger guys don’t show that kind of agility. I think Barr could be an excellent ROLB in the Eagles 3-4. He played in the 3-4 at UCLA so there would be less of a transition for him than someone who has a 4-3 background. I doubt Barr gets to 22, but if he does, run to the podium with that card.
Lee could go as early as 15 or as late as the 30s. He is a tough prospect to get a read on in terms of value. I love him. He has a good frame at 6-0, 192. He isn’t blazing fast, but does play faster than he times. Lee is the kind of versatile player Chip Kelly will love. He can play in the slot as he’s comfortable working in traffic. Lee is fast enough to go outside and get open vs top CBs. He is also a dynamic KOR. While he’s not huge, he can be a tough, physical receiver. I also love his competitiveness. He reminds me a bit of Anquan Boldin when I watch him play. Lee had 25 TD catches over his first 2 years so the guy is absolutely a playmaker.
Fuller just kept showing up on tape. You focus on him and he’s impressive. You try to watch DB Antone Exum and there’s Fuller making a play. Watch DE James Gayle and there’s Fuller making a play. Watch some of WR Brandon Coleman and there is Fuller making a play. He will hit and tackle. He has great instincts and great ball skills. The Eagles don’t “need” him for 2014, but he could be a terrific starting CB over the long haul. Fuller should be the first or second corner off the board. He might make it to 22, but I wouldn’t count on it.
Trade Back Scenarios
Pick 22 could be a valuable spot. If teams in the Top 10 pass on QBs, as I think they will, that means that teams in the late 1st and early 2nd round could want to move up to get their guy. CLE might want to move up from 26. HOU (33), OAK (36) and JAX (39) could all have interest in moving up.
There are rumors that SF might want to move up from 30 to get a WR. DEN reportedly might want to move up from 31. You can bet the Eagles have already talked to these teams about some scenarios. If a certain player those teams want falls, a deal might be worked out. Howie Roseman has talked about compensation and knows who really wants to move up and who has more casual interest.
Here are some players the Eagles could target if they do move back
1 – WR Cody Latimer – Indiana…he could be the target at 22. I’m sure the Eagles would love to move back a few spots and get him if that is possible.
2 – CB Bradley Roby – Ohio State…I thought he was a Top 10 player coming into the year. Playmaker who can cover, hit and tackle. Outstanding on STs. Had a recent arrest that will bother some teams.
3 – LB Jeremiah Attaochu – Georgia Tech…Another player I struggle with in terms of value. I like him quite a bit, but I don’t have a good feel for what NFL teams think. I’d love to see the Eagles get him.
4 – LB Marcus Smith – Louisville…Maybe the most complete 3-4 OLB prospect in the draft. He can set the edge, rush the passer and cover. Looks natural at all 3.
5 – WR Kelvin Benjamin – Florida State…I don’t want him, but the Eagles just might. Has great size at 6-5, 240, but is an awkward player. Some offensive guru is going to fall in love with his potential. I’m hoping it is Sean Payton and not Chip Kelly.
PROBABLE DEPTH CHART
WR – Riley Cooper… Brad Smith … Jeff Maehl
WR – Jeremy Maclin … Arrelious Benn … Damaris Johnson
TE – Brent Celek … Zack Ertz
H-back – James Casey …. Emil Igwenagu
RB – LeSean McCoy …. Bryce Brown ….. Chris Polk
QB – Nick Foles ………. Mark Sanchez … Matt Barkley
LT – Jason Peters ……. Allen Barbre … Andrew Gardner
LG – Evan Mathis…… Matt Tobin
OC – Jason Kelce……. Julian Vandervelde … David Molk
RG – Todd Herremans ……
RT – Lane Johnson.…. Dennis Kelly … Michael Bamiro
DE – Fletcher Cox ….. Vinny Curry
NT – Bennie Logan …. Damion Square
DE – Cedric Thornton … Joe Kruger
ROLB – Trent Cole … Brandon Graham ,,,, Phillip Hunt
WB – Mychal Kendricks ….. Najee Goode … Emmanuel Acho
MB – DeMeco Ryans …. Jason Phillips ….. Jake Knott
LOLB – Connor Barwin …… Travis Long … Casey Matthews
SS – Nate Allen … Earl Wolff … Chris Maragos
FS – Malcolm Jenkins … Keelan Johnson
CB – Cary Williams ……. Nolan Carroll
CB – Bradley Fletcher ….. Roc Carmichael … Curtis Marsh
NB – Brandon Boykin
P – Donnie Jones
K – Alex Henery
LS – Jon Dorenbos
NEEDS
The Eagles don’t have any glaring roster holes. This draft won’t be about needs. It will be about the future. Kelly and Roseman are going to find the best players that can help the Eagles over the long haul.
Because this is such a deep group of WRs and the team is thin there after letting DeSean Jackson and Jason Avant go, you can bet they will draft at least one WR.
My focus is on the Eagles landing a ROLB. I want someone that is a gifted pass rusher. That doesn’t have to be a 1st round pick. They can take someone in the 2nd or 3rd. Heck, I could even live with the 4th round. Just find someone that can help get after the QB and who fits the 3-4.
Aside from adding a WR, there really isn’t anything that I’m sure of with this draft. I might desperately want an OLB, but this isn’t a great class and the Eagles may look to other spots.
PLAYERS THAT HAVE VISITED PHILLY
* WR Mike Evans – Texas A&M – 6-5, 231
* WR Maqise Lee – USC – 6-0, 199
* WR Kelvin Benjamin – FSU – 6-5, 240
* WR Cody Latimer – Indiana – 6-2, 215
* WR Odell Beckham – LSU – 5-11, 198
* WR Kevin Norwood – Alabama – 6-2, 199
* OG Trey Hopkins – Texas – 6-3, 305
* OG Spencer Long – Nebraska – 6-5, 320
* OC/OG Marcus Martin – USC – 6-3, 310
* DE Taylor Hart – Oregon – 6-6, 284
* LB Jeremiah Attaochu – Georgia Tech – 6-3, 252
* LB Anthony Barr – UCLA – 6-5, 255
* LB Marcus Smith – Louisiville – 6-3, 251
* LB Larry Webster – Bloomsburg – 6-6, 252
* ILB Jordan Tripp – Montana – 6-3, 234
* ILB Christian Kirksey – Iowa – 6-2, 233
* ILB Telvin Smith – Florida State – 6-3, 218
* CB Aaron Colvin – Oklahoma – 6-0, 186
* CB Jaylen Watkins – Florida – 6-0, 194
* CB Dontae Johnson – NC State – 6-2, 200
* S Deone Bucannon – Washington State – 6-1, 216
* S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix – Alabama – 6-1, 208
PRO DAYS / WORKOUTS
QB Brett Smith – Wyoming … Bill Musgrave was at his Pro Day
QB Garrett Gilbert – SMU … Bill Musgrave was at his Pro Day
RB Jerick McKinnon – Georgia Southern
RB Tre Mason – Auburn … worked out by Duce Staley
RB Andrew Pierce – Delaware
RB Charles Sims – West Virginia … “had meetings with the Eagles”…not sure if at Combine or private workout
WR Donte Moncrief – Ole Miss … worked out by Bob Bicknell
WR Robert Herron – Wyoming
WR Brandon Coleman – Rutgers … worked out by Bob Bicknell
WR Quron Pratt – Rutgers … worked out by Bob Bicknell
WR L’Damian Washington – Missouri
TE Asante Cleveland – Miami
TE Richard Rodgers – Cal … Ted Williams worked him out
TE Blake Annen – Cincinnati … worked out by Justin Peelle (Asst TE coach)
TE Marcel Jensen – Fresno State … at his Pro Day, had dinner with him the night before
TE Justin Jones – East Carolina
TE Rob Blanchflower – UMass … attended workout
OT Ja’Waun James – Tennessee … worked out by Jeff Stoutland
OT Tiny Richardson – Tennessee … worked out by Jeff Stoutland
OT Laurent Durvernay-Tardiff – McGill
OT Brandon Thomas – Clemson … worked out by Jeff
OG Dakota Dozier – Furman … worked out by Jeff Stoutland & Greg Austin
OG Zach Fulton – Tennessee … worked out by Jeff Stoutland
OG Trai Turner – LSU … met with him at the Combine
OG Tyler Shatley – Clemson … worked out by Jeff Stoutland
OC James Stone – Tennessee … worked out by Jeff Stoutland
NT Zach Kerr – Delaware … worked out by Jerry Azzinaro
NT Eathyn Manumaleuna – BYU … Jerry Azzinaro at his Pro Day
DE Khyri Thornton – Southern Miss … worked out by Eagles coach (likely Azz)
DE Kareem Martin – UNC … worked out by Jerry Azzinaro
DE Shamar Stephen – UConn … Jerry Azzinaro was at his Pro Day
DE Ed Stinson – Alabama … Jerry Azzinaro was at his Pro Day
DE Jay Bromley – Syracuse … Jerry Azzinaro worked him out
LB Jeremiah Attaochu – Georgia Tech
LB Will Clarke – West Virginia … worked out by Bill McGovern
LB Scott Crichton – Oregon State … worked out by Bill McGovern
LB Anthony Barr – UCLA … worked out by Bill McGovern
LB Jesse Joseph – UConn … worked out by Jerry Azzinaro, then got additional meeting
LB Keenan Graham – UCLA … worked out by Bill McGovern
LB Chris Smith – Arkansas …. worked out by LBs coach at Pro Day (most likely McGovern)
LB Anthony Larry – Eastern Washington – worked him out
ILB Ryan Shazier – Ohio State … Rick Minter at his Pro Day
ILB Preston Brown – Louisville … Rick Minter at his Pro Day
ILB Jordan Zumwalt – UCLA … worked out by Bill McGovern
ILB Nate Askew – Texas A&M … private workout
Safety — The Eagles haven’t had a lot of individual workouts with Safeties, but they aren’t ignoring the position. Chip Kelly attended the Pro Day for many of the top S prospects (Pryor, Dix, Joyner, Brooks and Loston). Coach Lovett was at Isaiah Lewis’s Pro Day, but I don’t know for a fact that he worked him out.
S Dezmen Southward – Wisconsin … had DB coach at his Pro Day (could also be CB target)
CB Kyle Fuller – Virginia Tech
CB Darqueze Dennard – Michigan State … worked out by John Lovett
CB Joe Rankin – Morgan State
CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste – Nebraska … worked out by John Lovett
CB Mohammad Seisay – Nebraska … worked out by John Lovett
PK Cody Parkey – Auburn
PK Anthony Fera – Texas – Eagles checked him out closely at his Pro Day
PK Zach Hocker – Arkansas – worked him out
* * *
Chip Kelly at these Pro Days:
Alabama
Florida State
Louisville
LSU
Missouri
Ohio State
Penn State
Pitt
Temple
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt
Virginia Tech
Pat Shurmur at these Pro Days:
Alabama
Florida State
Missouri
Bill Davis at these Pro Days:
Alabama
Florida
Florida State
Virginia Tech
* * * * *
SHOWING INTEREST
OLB Ronald Powell – per Jimmy Kempski of Philly.com
RB Storm Johnson – per Elliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com
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. Howie Roseman said the Eagles have about 150 players on this year’s board.
1st Round________________________________________________________________
QB: Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Derek Carr, Teddy Bridgewater
RB: Carlos Hyde
TE: Eric Ebron
WR: Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Odell Beckham, Marqise Lee, Brandin Cooks, Cody Latimer
OL: Greg Robinson, Jake Matthews, Taylor Lewan, Zack Martin
DL: Ra’Shede Hageman
OLB: Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack, Anthony Barr
ILB: CJ Mosley, Ryan Shazier
S: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
CB: Kyle Fuller, Darqueze Dennard, Bradley Roby, Justin Gilbert
2nd Round________________________________________________________________
QB:
RB: Tre Mason
TE: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jace Amaro, Troy Niklas
WR: Allen Robinson, Davante Adams, Jordan Matthews, Martavis Bryant, Kelvin Benjamin
OL: Joel Bitonio, JaWaun James, Jack Mewhort, Xavier Su’A-Filo, Weston Richburg, Marcus Martin
DL: Stephon Tuitt
OLB: Jeremiah Attaochu, Dee Ford, Marcus Smith, Scott Crichton, Demarcus Lawrence, Kony Ealy
ILB: Kyle Van Noy
S: Lamarcus Joyner, Jimmie Ward, Deone Bucannon
CB: Jason Verret, Baushad Breeland, Phillip Gaines, Stanley Jean-Baptiste
3rd Round ________________________________________________________________
QB: Zach Mettenberger, Tom Savage, Jimmy Garoppolo
RB: Jeremy Hill
TE: Arthur Lynch, CJ Fiedorowicz
WR: Robert Herron, Donte Moncrief, Kevin Norwood, Jarvis Landry, Bruce Ellington, Paul Richardson
OL: Billy Turner, Charles Leno, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Trai Turner, Dakota Dozier
DL: Kareem Martin, Daquan Jones, Ego Ferguson
OLB: Will Clarke, Chris Smith, James Gayle
ILB: Christian Jones, Jordan Tripp, Telvin Smith
S: Dion Bailey, Terrance Brooks, Brock Vereen
CB: Keith McGill, Pierre Desir, Jaylen Watkins
All-Tommy Team (my favorite non-1st rounders)
WR Shaq Evans – UCLA
WR Robert Herron – Wyoming
WR Jeremy Gallon – Michigan
QB David Fales – San Jose State
RB Tre Mason – Auburn
TE Arthur (Don’t call me Sam) Lynch – Georgia
OT Matt Patchan – Boston College
OG Gabe Jackson – Mississippi State
OC Tyler Larsen – Utah State
OG Brandon Linder – Miami
OT Michael Schofield – Michigan
DE Chris Smith – Arkansas
DT Khyri Thornton – Southern Miss
DT Shamar Stephen – UConn
DE Scott Crichton – Oregon State
LB Kyle Van Noy – BYU
ILB Chris Borland – Wisconsin
LB Jordan Zumwalt – UCLA
S Lamarcus Joyner – FSU
S Dion Bailey – USC
CB Baushad Breeland – Clemson
CB Terrance Mitchell – Oregon
Out of this list I want the Eagles to get 4 players
WR Marqise Lee – USC
WR Robert Herron – Wyoming
WR Josh Huff – Oregon
WR Shaqelle Evans – Oregon
RB Marion Grice – Arizona State
TE Richard Rodgers – Cal
OL Michael Schofield – Michigan
OL Trai Turner – LSU
DE Brent Urban – Virginia
DL Shamar Stephen – UConn
LB Anthony Barr – UCLA
LB Jeremiah Attaochu – Georgia Tech
LB Marcus Smith – Lousiville
ILB Christian Jones – Florida State
S Lamarcus Joyner – Florida State
S Dion Bailey – USC
CB Baushad Breeland – Clemson
CB Terrance Mitchell – Oregon
Please Avoid These Players
QB Logan Thomas – Virginia Tech … Seems like a good kid, but not a good QB. I think he’s a TE.
QB Johnny Manziel – Texas A&M … With Foles in place, no thank you. High risk.
WR Kelvin Benjamin – Florida State … Not athletic enough for me.
CB Justin Gilbert – Oklahoma State … Hate his feet. Don’t want him in the 1st round.
SUMMARY
I go back and forth on moving up, staying put and trading back. I’m a sucker for more picks so that’s where I lean, but I would love for the team to find an impact player. If that means moving up, so be it.
I think it is a necessity to get a solid pass rushing LB.
There is enough depth at WR that I don’t think you have to take one in the 1st round, but I’m certainly not against that. I would love to see the Eagles add a couple of WRs if they can add picks. I’d love a bigger guy and a slot guy with some return skills.
I’ll be adjusting this preview after tonight and Friday.
* * * * *
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’s funny, generous and even a nice guy when you meet him in person. If only I could say that about Jimmy Bama.
Thanks for all of your support.
_
