2014 Eagles Draft Preview
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.
_
Tommy, last year I think Barkley was the only pick which really suprised you. what would really suprise you this year?
Megan Fox showing up at his door with a case of PBR and some bags of Funyuns. oh, thats not what you meant? 😛
Maybe Baloophi and his agent (you know, LA) can make something work in this regard.
I think he’s got an in at Funyuns…
***Radio City Music Hall Roll Call***
Anyone up for attending the Draft on Friday?!
Since I moved to New York I am seriously considering watching it LIVE this year. As I understand from GEAGLE he may be coming too.
So unless the Eagles trade away all of their second day picks for Sammy Watkins there’s the once in a lifetime chance for a ‘meet & greet’ with GermanEagle.
#flyeaglesfly
I went Thursday and Friday last year. Friday >>>Thursday live. No booze so make sure you’ve had your before you get there. Cell/Internet service is so/so, but if you get the gift bag they have a personal radio with ESPN and NFL Network.
Awesome!
Can you please give me some advise in terms of the following:
– when to line up
– do I have to pay anything for tickets
– are all granted access?
Cheers
Doubt I’ll be at the draft, but I’m only 2 hours from there (near Scranton, PA)— we need to meet up at a game this year, would be fun to meet another IgglesBlitz “groupie”……
I get the feeling you’re trolling, or you forgot to update the right side of the OL in your probable depth chart. 🙂
I noticed that too. I think he’s trying to be a comedian.
Tommy,
just a small correction: it is Bradley Roby, not Courtney. Maybe you were just thinking of Cox (not Fletcher though!). 😉
Also I am interested why you didn’t have Nix on the Eagles Value Board. Don’t you think he would be a fit for them?
Thanks for the great work!!!
There is a Courtney Roby that plays for the Saints on ST, might’ve got him mixed up
Logan is the starting NT…the big boy we add will replace Square. Dont think its a coincidence that all the DL we looked at were late round prospects…doubt we even consider tuitt or nix
..
You going to the draft bud?
Hey GEAGLE:
Sorry I don’t know the story – are you banned from Birds24/7 or are you boycotting?
I dont know the story either bud(believe it or not).. I was blocked, but they only block you for 1 to 3 days, havent tried since…its odd because it happened during a day, when people werent even arguing, only thing i can think of is mcmanus didnt like me calling him out for using the same howie quote from 2 months ago, for like the 30th time…thats the only thing i can think of, which pisses me off so i havent tried to post since…
So you are in full-on “boycott mode” now. Did you insult the writing or just your fellow (and not so fellow) posters?
Either way: not sure you’re keeping up but your input is missed over there (In a legitimate way, not in a “Dutch’s posts were so ridiculous that they were awesome” way).
You would be welcome back by most of the board. I’m sure you just have to play nice and totally ignore the ridiculous people… instead of talking so much about how and why you are ignoring them.
Draft day. Can you think of a better time to make your triumphant return?
He was banned from the site.
For Life?! Surely he didn’t get to the Donald Sterling levels of offensive!
Yes buddy! Let’s meet up tomorrow. I can send you a pm on twitter to swap numbers??
General question for everyone – Tommy has 27 guys listed as “1st round value.” Assume that the Eagles are picking at 28, and all those guys are gone, and there are no teams willing to give you anything close to the trade chart in value for a trade back – Do you consider drafting a “2nd round value” at 27 a reach? I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. If at 22, and using Tommy’s value tiers, the only 1st round values left are QB and TE, and there are no palatable trade back options (assume nothing better than a 5th for moving back to around 40), is drafting, say, Attachou really a reach?
I was thinking along these lines a few weeks back. In theory, if all of your players with first round grades are gone when you pick then technically you’re reaching. However, you can’t always control that. In that scenario, where nobody will trade up, you have to pick somebody. You pretty much have to consider your top 3 guys with second round grades.
Hey, now with the RG depth chart. Hey, now.
Tommy’s been up all night with this piece. Cut the man some slack.
Or do you take it as some kind of omen of a pick from left field…..?
Draft day jitters.
Under current depth chart: RG – Danny Watkins???? [has terrible flashback]
Yeah. Please remove Watkins from the depth chart. Ugh. I had almost. Almost. Removed him from my memory bank.
yeah. jesus. i thought we resigned him and i missed it. PTSD.
I can’t decide which network to watch.
ESPN:
Berman, Gruden, Ray Lewis, Kiper, and reporter Kolber
NFL:
Eisen, Faulk, Mariucci, Irvin, Mayock, and reporters Sanders and Stark
I can’t believe these are the best ex-players they can come up with. Faulk is pretty good though.
Gotta think NFL has the better reporters TBH. Eisen is a good host and Mayock knows his shit, and he’s no where near as pretentious as Kiper and McShay. Plus Melissa Stark is hot.
It’s like picking between the Rangers and the Penguins.
I have Dish with dual tuners. I watch one channel and pause the other all while in picture-in-picture mode. I swap tuners all throughout the draft and don’t miss anything. All the while, I am recording both channels to make sure I don’t miss anything.
On top of that, I recorded and saved the East West Shrine game, Senior Bowl and and the entire Combine. That way, next week I can rewatch each checking out the Eagles picks.
EDIT: Typically when Sanders and Irvin, (and now Ray Lewis) are speaking, I will fast forward so I don’t have to hear their drivel.
I sometimes jump back and forth, but they always seem to have commercials on at the same time! And they always go to a commercial just before the Eagles pick!
NFL Network has a decent lineup, they play well off one another. Eisen is a good host imo. I can’t like Irvin though.
The whole right side of your line stinks. I’d prefer the kept Lane at RT 😀
I don’t think Bradley Roby will even be on the Eagles board – wasn’t there a bar fight also in his recent past? Kyle Fuller fits the model citizen profile though.
…
Howie Roseman said that he has listed 5 players, any of which he would take at #22. I suspect if at# 22– 4 or 5 of them are still available, he’ll trade back in the round. If only 1 or 2 are left–he’ll just pick there, and not risk anything.
I hear that Rich Kotite has joined the Eagles war room—does Sirhan Stacey have a younger brother? How about Antone Davis?
I thought howie was joking with spadaro when he talked about having 5 cards
I wondered about that, but Howie usually doesn’t play games.
Question is–who are those five guys? He gave no hints on that.
Don’t you ever mention those names again…………. NEVER. EVER. AGAIN!
Antone Davis is coming in to coach Lane Johnson on how to pass protect.
“Lane, just do the opposite of everything I say.”
this is such an amazing post. (ignoring RT/RG on the depth chart…)
i have been waiting all offseason for this!
Praise be to the Lawlor!
Someone probabily posted this already but im not reading through all the comments…why do you have Danny Watkins listed as RG, Todd Herremans as RT and no Lane Johnson? Did something happen while I was at work the past few days? Please don’t tell me Watkins is back 🙁
Watkins is back, we traded Lane Johnson to Miami for Jordan & Watkins 😀 How’s that feel? Conflicting isn’t it?
No we can probably get a decent OL in this draft — harder to get same quality OLB in this draft.
Everyone noticed that. I only one guy pointed out a missing Sproles.
A great scenario would be if they draft Barr today, then trade Graham tomorrow for a 4th or 5th rounder.
Im not sure we can get a 7th for BG
Tommy – where would you put Darren Sproles on the depth chart?
As the #2 RB or among the WRs group? I don’t see him anywhere.
WR…think Wes Welkers role…of course we will see him in the backfield, but that doesnt mean much considering we saw Desean in the backfield at times…when he is in the backfield, it will be for screens and wheel routes..but i think we mostly see him in a wes welker role
Agreed. I definitely see him getting the majority of his snaps out of the slot position. But for depth chart purposes, I suppose he will still get filed under RB like he has been his whole career.
But would he be the #2 RB off the bench if (God forbid) Shady misses games? I would think Brown or Polk would get the starting nod and Sproles would sneak in backfield snaps here and there.
I want a WR in this draft, but I don’t think we need to reach for one in rounds 1 or 2 or even 3.. given the fact that Maclin and Cooper will start outside, Sproles in the slot, and then we have other options out wide for 4-wide out / stack looks with our TEs (Ertz, Celek, Casey) and the wildcard of Benn. (I’m cautiously optimistic he will be healthy this year.. and will show something positive).
Yeah, i think Brown or polk would be up next(if god forbid you know who gets hurt, dont even wanna say his name lol)
..
Bryce would start, and Sproles would stay in his scatback/slot WR complimentary role…dont think Sproles would become the strting HB if our stud got injured
Agreed; a combo of Brown/Polk at RB with Sproles as our hybrid player would still create mistmatches
…He’s funny, generous and even a nice guy when you meet him in person. If only I could say that about Jimmy Bama.
I 100% agree with you because judging by Bama`s comments, when shown–by way of data he posted– that having a leading receiver and a winng record don`t necessarily go hand in hand– his highly intelligent and well thought out response was “This comment is so confusing and devoid of logic it caused me to involuntarily punch my cat in the face“.
Philly.com must be beaming with pride.
I personally HATE the draft being moved. It times terribly with other sports, it causes draft coverage to become nauseating due to over exposure. Story lines get so freaking tired. I am not a college ball guy. The draft “experts” are batting about .200 lifetime so I consider it a waste of time putting any stock into their articles, or even reading them. If anything it sets you up for disappoint IMHO. I liken it to Ryan Flaherty batting; perfect time to take the trash out or get a drink because usually best case scenario he is striking out, and all too often he is killing the offense with a double play.
The fun of the draft for me is learning everything about the new players; projecting their fit here in the short and long term, seeing how they fit the system, learning their story. Moving the draft back not only takes longer to kick that off, but gives you less time to focus on it before stuff really heats up and it goes by the wayside.
If they move it back to memorial day I will boycott the NFL from after FA until after draft. Plain and simple it’s terrible. I really despise the overhauling the league approach R.G has taken in his tenure. I really find myself rooting for some serious kick-back to the pockets of the league. Sucks, but that is how I feel.
“I personally HATE the draft being moved.”
Me too. It used to coincide with my birthday! More presents on my birthday, please! (i.e. move it back)
Man, you’re projected 3rd round. Feels like everyone I want is in that round….
Just a hypothetical, but what if you could trade back several times and end up with say 6 3rd round picks (5 additional ones + ours), but no 1st or 2nd? Would you be okay with that? So 2 picks for 5.
So instead of, for example:
1) Marquise Lee
2) Marcus Smith
3) Pierre Desir
You get:
3) Pierre Desire
3) Billy Turner
3) Will Clarke
3) Bruce Ellington
3) Jordan Tripp
3) Terrance Brooks
Do you make that progression of trades?
I wouldn’t if Barr or Fuller or on the board, but if they’re gone and its a Lee or Cooks pick…..Man its tempting.
I think the Eagles need a playmaker on defense, not bodies. Last year that might have made sense, but we need 1st and 2nd round impact players, and I don’t know how many of those guys are that.
Biggest need for me is pass rush, I don’t care where it comes from but we need more!
jaguars have two 4ths and three 3rds(8 picks total in first 5’rounds, 11pics total)..problem for the jags is they pick #7 in round two…dont sleep on Teddy or manziel falling to 22, with the jags leaping all the teams looking to get a QB at the end of round 1, early round two, jump the Browns and KC and trade all the way up to 22…which would net us a nice haul of extra picks..it wont be cheap for the jags, but they could end up with:
Khalil mack and teddy or Sammy Watkins and manziel, say they give us their 2nd, 3rd and 4th…they would Watkins/teddy and still have a 4th and 3 3rds….
…
A trade between jags and Eagles benefit both teams..we get 3-4 extra picks, they get a stud in the top 5, and still get a QB they considered at #3
…
We wouldmt pick til 39, but we would have something like:
39
54
70
86
105
122
164
237
Great work, Tommy! Besides the mistake (or should I say: test if the people here are really reading what you’re writing) at the right side of the O-Line, it’s as informative as it gets.
While I’m at it, one more hypothetical.
Lets pretend the Texans really want Foles, and will give up the #1 pick. Would you make that trade? Take Khalil Mack (or Clowney if we’re comfortable with his motor).
Then draft Derek Carr at #22, who could thrive in Chip’s offense?
Also….tempting. And I like Nick!
Blasphemy 🙂
Didn’t Foles just thrive in Chip’s offence?
Yes. But Derek Carr has more physical talent and played in a spread offense.
PLUS, we’re talking about Foles vs. Khalil Mack AND Derek Carr.
Dunno guys.
Carr under pressure wilts. Being a better athlete and having a better arm is great but put guys in his face and he struggles mightily. Plus his offense was a bit on the gimmicky side.
UK eagle, will you be hype to see us add your fellow country men Mauro, DE from stanford? Id rather take a bloody, brit, block any day over another player from Canadia who probably fancies himself a hockey player/fireman.. Smh at grown men playing with fire Trucks!!
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Wouldnt mind a tough brit like mauro
Agreed with UKEag– why trade Foles for the #1? Even if you believe that Chip’s system is what made Nick successful, Nick still has to make the correct reads and decisions; a 27 TD to 2 INT ratio is pretty freaking good, even if he is as mobile as a paralyzed giraffe
I don’t know if the mobility thing is quite fair (I recognize it was an exaggeration for humor). Foles has some Big Ben in him, good pocket mobility, and adept at throwing on the run. Can look pretty damn awkward when he decides it’s time to sprint for yardage, though (like a 2-legged giraffe, say). But I agree with your overall point. People have been going to the “Chip makes everyone awesome” axiom a bit too much. One year is a great start, but we’ll need more years to see which pieces are interchangeable and which one are not.
His pocket mobility and presence really is top notch– I’d argue that Foles has shown more “in” the pocket than McNabb showed as a vet and leader of our team in the mid and later 2000’s.
Tommy clearly has an anonymous source that told him that Sammy Watkins would be drafted by the Eagles. Unfortunately the moment he found this out, his Funyun deep fryer caught on fire and he had to call the fire department. After the fire department had everything under control, he chatted with one of the fireman over a PBR, only to discover that he had recently returned from Canada. Tommy, in a fit of PTSD, accidentally mixed up his Watkins’ and miswrote the depth chart shortly afterwards.
This is the only viable explanation for the mixup.
Merry christmas boys!!! “ITS TIME, for your main event of the evening”-in my best Bruce Buffer voice.
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Dont sleep on the Eagles trading with the Jaguars!
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Ideal scenario, We end the night with Dion Jordan or Anthony Barr as eagles..
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If we dont trade back, im assuming it would be between Lee,Cody(yes at 22) or allen Robinson..
I’m so conflicted. I want us to trade back, even out of the first, but I loathe to think about sitting through the all-night glacial coverage to get to the back-end of the first round just to find out we traded out. GREAT NEWS, but I’ll be soooo pissed. Thursday is just the first round right?
Lol same…my friends are all going to the draft tonight, and i didnt want to go so i can root for us trading out…it would suck as fans, but we will be better off, and the next two nights would be alot of fun,,,..we can charge the jags a kings ransom trading up to 22 from 39 so they can jump the browns nd KC for a falling teddy or manziel….im sure the jags getting out of round 1 with Mack and teddy is more important to them then using two 4th round picks, and three 5th round picks….watch the eagles/jags trade, if the niners decide to trade up higher than 22….if we do trade with the niners and go to 30, im sure we would trade back again and not pick anyone in round 1
If the Jags want to come all they way up they can give us 39 and a sixth. I’ll take their first next year. A top 10 pick next year is worth way more than four or five day 3 picks this year, no matter how deep this draft is.
Agreed wholeheartedly — I’m okay with sacrificing our 1 this year as long as it nets us a high 2nd this year (and maybe some change), AND a first next year.
A team like The raiders or jags that knows will have a top 5 pick next year, probably isnt dumb enough to give their first next year in a trade….doubt they would risk looking like the dumbass redskins who delivered the 2nd pick in a great draft to the Rams,..
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I will GLADLY take next years 1 instead of more pics this yeat. Put me down for a HELL YEAH…but that type of stpidity will shock me from the Jags. Thinm they have coaches/front office/ owner in place to turn the franchise around…getting their 1st would be at the top of my wish list, im just not sure they would be that dumb…39 all the way to 22 for a QB is an Expensive leap….we could end up with something crazy like trading down to 39, and getting 70 and two of their 5th round pics…if a guy like teddy falls to 22 and the 39th pick wants to move up and jump the browns, im sure howie would hold their feet to the fire and we would make out nicely..
If they think they can get their QBOTF they would likely do it. They need to put butts in seats and to basically only give up a future first and a sixth is a bargain. They could easily sell their fan base on having their LEO or Sammy this year and a QB over having a high first next year. Gus is a good coach and with those two added players this year, plus probably another couple of starters with the rest of their picks, they could easily win 6 or 7 games.
I think we will do business with one of these teams:
Niners
jags
Vikings
Bucs
Raiders
jets.. They have 12 picks, would be surprised if they try to draft two players in round 1, get their pass catcher and CB to replace Cromartie…
I like that ideal scenario. Dion Jordan via trade with Miami or Barr falls to us at #22. I wouldn’t trade up (and give up too much) for Barr. Minus Barr / Mosely / Fuller, I would prefer to trade back.
What would we need to give up for Barr? Rumor was the Eagles offered a 2nd round pick and B. Graham for him and the Dolphins declined…
Would you give #22 and B. Graham to get Jordan? then again, his cap # might mean he’s not getting traded no matter what – even if he is a backup in their 4-3 D.
Yeah i dont think BG will be traded, because i dont think anyone will value a 1yr rental whos contract expires at the end of the year…i would assume 22 and bryce brown, or Tobin or barbe could get Dion, which is fine by me…probably cheaper to get Dion with 22nd pick, than to trade 22 and a 4th to go get Barr
I wonder if the Eagles interviewed Brandin Cooks at the combine. Apparently was blowing teams away in his interviews. We know those things matter for this team. He is also conspicuously absent from the interest list. Anywho, great article on Cooks: http://grantland.com/features/brandin-cooks-nfl-draft-oregon-state-wide-receiver/
I really like this kid, but with the Eagles showing zero interest (more likely that they really aren’t interested because of size and cost (as Geagle pointed out) than them just trying really hard to pretend they aren’t interested) says it’s very unlikely that we get him. I just see him as such a great weapon to be used like DAT (and a longer term solution to that kind of role than Sproles).
In terms of personality, many say cooks is the best kid in the draft
$$$ ANNUAL IGGLES BLITZ CHALLENGE $$$
UPDATE: We’re a little short of my goal of 35 donors. If you’re like me and have an unhealthy addiction to this site please consider clicking the “DONATE” button and making even a small contribution… think of it as buying Tommy a PBR or a pudding packet! Also, I’m worried I failed to count everyone so if you’ve already given let me know! Let’s try for 35!
NEED 31…
PRO BOWL PLAYERS
Rambler
Anders
bubqr
Dominik
**********
Friends,
With the NFL draft hours away 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.
Each year I’ve asked for an increasing number of donations and this year the goal is 35 – up ten from last year. If we can hit 35 before the draft, I will make a three-digit contribution to IgglesBlitz. In the past I’ve named a per donation dollar amount but being “between jobs” at the moment I’m afraid I can’t commit to a specific amount for fear of Mrs. Baloophi kicking me to the couch – and she has much better legs than Alex Henery. That sounds weird.
Your annual contributions go a long way toward acquiring and maintaining a tape library, licensing and legal fees, Megan Fox blow-up dolls, and bribes to Swoop for inside information.
On the right hand side of the page under the “Blog Roll” 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, just that you have. And if you’re 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 donated to the site just a couple months ago to help get Tommy to the Senior Bowl and that he was enormously grateful. Now let’s help keep the site going for the 2014 season!
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 trade all their picks to move up and draft Johnny Manziel.
how do you know how many have donated? do we all need to tell you? or do you have some other source?
In case its the former, i just made my donation. I just wish i could give more than just $5… but I think of it like i’m buying Tommy a beer. enjoy it!
Thanks! And the only way I know is when people respond to this thread… that’s why I’m nervous that I’ve missed people…
also, props to you for organizing such a thing. its definitely appreciated by me (and Tommy from what i read in this post above)
Made my donation….will i be receiving a letter documenting my donation to a proper 501(c)(3) org or is this really a gift by me…..either way I am good….
It’s just a gift. However be aware Tommy is on the fed’s radar for PBR and pudding smuggling activities.
Not to mention this whole “in-home LASIK” scam…
well at least that explains the sunglasses…
Plus the Russians. They “hacked” the site just like people get their twitter “hacked”. Fortunately this one just involved the site not working not pictures of genitalia. Although if it was Megan Fox’s…
Also, make sure Tommy knows that this is funnelling cash to him that normally is donated to the United Way or the local dog shelters….better make good use of it….
Wow so surprised you don’t like Gilbert in the first round….at one point you were joking about figuring out a way to get Gilbert and Clowney in some trades into the first round…..what is so bad about this feet that cannot be corrected???
I dont think the CBs really matter. i like Fuller alot, but i think he is grossly under rated by mock community. have a feeling the lions take gilbert at 10(if they dont trade up for Sammy) and it will set off a run of CB wth the Titans taking Fuller 11th to replace Alturan verner…dennard going to the steelers or Jets….
Random Nightmare Scenario:
1) To spice things up, the NFL has former players for each team deliver the cards from the table to the podium.
2) Anthony Barr slips to #22.
3) Reno Mahe is our representative and is too slow to the podium.
4) Priest Holmes and Boomer Esiason race past him to make selections.
5) Reno has to go BACK to the table for our next pick… we don’t actually make our first pick until midway into the second round.
Better than Greg Lewis doing it….. GLew tries to catch the pick when Chip tosses it to him; he fumbles it, the Packers recover the pick and hand it to Roger, thus stealing and using our first round selection. Somewhere, the Fat Man chuckles to himself….
6) Mahe is stopped on his way out of RCMH with a box full of stolen silverware.
7) J.R. Reed offers to take his place and tries to jump over a crowd-control fence, shredding his hamstring in the process.
8) Jerome McDougle takes over for Reed and is accosted by the gang from the “Beat It” video. Has to shoot his own leg to escape.
9) Plaxico gets so excited he also shoots his own leg, but by accident. Gets arrested.
10) Shawn Andrews take the pick and mysteriously disappears from Radio City Music Hall. When Chip texts him to ask where the hell he is, Shawn texts back “personal issues”.
Grrrrrr hate when people mention Andrews…we should have Wilfork still beasting fools for us, instead of that idiot who retired half a dcade ago….
11) Juqua Parker volunteers to go find Shawn Andrews. Calls up his buddy Todd Herremans and they take off in his van. The two are found hours later sitting in a Gray’s Papaya staring at their hands.
Reno Mahe comments are solid gold……I remember him having a return against the Giants to seal the victory for us once though….
I love this. You could also replace Reno with Jeff Sydner.
anyone else here fancy a game of NFL Draft Buzzword Bingo? i put together some spreadsheets containing a mix of about 50 different buzz-phrases that we hear all the time in the draft. if anyone wants a copy, i can figure out how to share it on google docs…
Similarly, if anyone has any buzzwords/phrases to suggest, i’m open to new ones! I stole a bunch of these from various sites offering a similar idea (or a drinking game version of it)
here’s my list so far, apologies for the long post.
Mel Kiper’s Hair (Free Space)
“I Love This Pick”
40 Yard Dash time
best player available
blue collar
boom or bust
can make all the throws
character issues
downhill runner
draft pick is wearing something silly
drafted player is crying
elite [position, such as Wide Receiver]
escapability
explosiveness
fans boo a pick
football smarts (or I.Q.)
football speed
fundamentals
get him the ball in space
good kid
good/great/quick feet
great athlete (athletic)
great burst
great hips
Gruden says a play name (i.e. Spider 2 Y Banana)
high ceiling
high motor
high risk, high reward
high upside
impact player
intangibles
intriguing pick
Kiper shakes his head while McShay is talking
missing piece of the puzzle
off the charts
player drafted from his living room
player interview
playmaker
potential
project player
quick off the ball
raw ability
report about a player’s childhood and growing up
second level
shutdown corner
sleeper pick
soft hands
something racist
stud
this player is the next [current player]
Tim Tebow or Brett Favre are mentioned
Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round
toughness
tweener
undersized
value pick
violent hands
penetration
Like this idea… the drinking game version sounds suicidal.
I submit:
– “Classic Belichik pick”
– Footage of Aaron Rodgers alone in the green room
– Footage of Eagles fans booing McNabb
– Jets fans in the hall picking their noses or butts on camera
– Jason LaCanfora with the “inside scoop” that the Redskins are trading up for RG3.
Mayock used the word “edge” to describe just about everyone of his picks during last night’s draft.
plays in space really well
can play w/hand in the dirt or standing up
a physical player (we are talking about NFL players here, aren’t we?)
road grader
AC Viking yesterday identified the pivot point for Anthony Barr at pick 16 with the Cowboys. This morning ESPN radio reported rumor that Eagles were in pursuit Pittsburgh’s #15 pick to get Beckman. I restate my assertion from yesterday that Howie is playing on assumptions that Eagles are desperate for a receiver to mask their interest in Barr.
If Barr falls to #15 and Manziel is gone (or Cowboys haven’t moved up already to take Manziel), then I think AC’s point about getting to #15 ahead of Cowboys may come into play.
i think Barr is the only player i’d be OK with trading up to grab. yea, i would love most of the top 10 picks like Evans & Watkins, but realistically speaking, we’re not moving up that far.
This sounds believable to me. And I would be fine with that move.
Id bet ANYTHNG we have no interest in trading up for a WR…if we go up, its ONLY for Barr.
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Chip believes in his system, a guy who believes in his system to the point that he would cut desean, believes it wont be difficult to replace him. Assume he is confident that he can plug a guy into his system and make it work…this is a coach who never had a top 10 recruting class yet produced top teams….chip doesnt strike me as the type who thinking that he has to trade up because he absolutly has to have a certain WR. A system guy like Chip isnt going to think there is this one WR he has to have….im sure chip thinks he doesnt have to use multiple pics to go get a WR to make his pffense work….its not the chip way to be so desperate for one pffensive player. think he is confident in his system, and his eye for talemt and he feels it wont be hard tp get a WR on ths draft that he can make shine in his system…
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OLB is a much higher valued position than WR
OLB is a much greater need than WR for us
OLB is very scarce in this draft compared to WR
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The ONLY way the eagles would trade up is for Barr… I believe that 100%….. Chip is a system guy..there is just no way that he sees a WR that can,shine in his offense significantly more than guys he knows will be available without trading up…
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if mike evans is there at 17 i think we’d move
I dont even believe chip likes Mike Evans…
B/c he only ran 3 routes and played on one side? That can be unlearned in training camp.
Who is better with that size? If he’s there when we draft who, honestly, would you take over him?
ODB = Old Drunk Bastard?
j/k
If Evans is there at 17 — The entire Rams staff should be fired immediately.
Interesting article about wide receivers:
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/05/03/4884003/observer-study-search-for-no-1.html#.U2umZcZqJKM
It says of the top 10 receivers in the NFL, 9 are over 6’3″. Bryant is the shortest at 6’2″.
Sounds like we need our equipment manager to insert lifts into our receivers’ cleats. Problem solved.
Very interesting! And obviously Chips observation, too (“You can beat man coverage with size or speed – those who have both are elite”).
I’m in on Watkins. 2014 #1, 2015 #1, 2014 #2, 2015 #3, 2015 #5
do it- will be fun to have a legit top WR
picks are overrated
God NO!
This kills me “The Eagles don’t have any glaring roster holes.” as it’s the second time you’ve written that. I’ve also heard it on talk radio. I guess it’s the new buzz words to use. The Eagle team clearly has holes to fill. This team is not a superbowl team. If you’re not a superbowl team — you have holes.
I tried listening to the radio today, and i couldnt stand 10 minutes of either radio station. I had to shut it off, its unbearable..i dont understand how clueleass the radio host and fans are…
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We love to say we are an “intelligent fanbase” and we know our sports, yet fans and media dont even know what our real needs are. It baffles me how a paid media member could think that a major need for the eagles is safety and that we should trade up for haha or pryor…smh..
We will be lucky if the eagles add a safety in the 4th or 5th round..
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Last year the media had braindead fans running around talking about drafting Dee Milner with the 4th pick…like thats pathetic.
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you get it. 🙂
The real fans don’t listen to our “sports radio stations”, clueless hosts and clueless callers.
I don’t think you quite understand the difference between a glaring hole and a serviceable starter.
yes I do. serviceable starters don’t deliver titles. Eagles have plenty of them. They are the glaring holes that need to be filled to deliver a title.
Second — Eagles have Cooper and hopefully a healthy Mac. Outside that — who exactly can they count on at WR? That is a glaring hole to fill.
Those are two different things. Needing better talent for the future is not a “glaring hole”. The Cowboys DL is a glaring hole. Anthony Spencer had microfracture surgery. Henry Melton is coming off a torn ACL. George Selvie and Nick Hayden are not NFL starters. The Panthers have a laughable recieving core. Their DB’s aren’t much better. If these teams don’t draft better players at these positions they will get killed all year long. You can’t point to any one spot and say the Eagles are screwed this year if we don’t draft a player there. That’s the difference.
Sure can — WR.
Second — if the Eagles do not have the talent to win a SB — there are glaring holes. SB is the ultimate prize. Otherwise, what are they playing for? A whole boat load of NFC East titles? If your team is not a contender, you lack talent. You lack talent, you have a glaring need.
The WR’s need some fortifying but once again it’s not like they are a hot dumpster fire at the position. Seattle did pretty good year with an average group.
The team is a contender. They should make the playoffs. In the playoffs anything can happen. The roster as is can beat any team in the league. They aren’t a top 5 roster but that doesn’t mean that they should be running around like a chicken with their head cut off because they don’t have 22 pro bowlers. No team does.
The roster — can not beat any team in the league. They can not beat Denver. They can not beat Seattle. They can’t beat Patriots. I’d bet money they can’t beat SF. On any given Sunday — yes a team can get lucky and win. To win a SB, you need more than luck. I get that you don’t need 22 pro bowlers. But this team does need better talent. I’m not saying the defense needs 22 new bodies. If I said they are 2 players away on defense to get this team over the top, than that is 2 holes.
Seattle and Denver they probably have a 25-30% chance. The Niners probably 40%. Anybody else it’s pretty much even money give or take health and venue. I can live with those odds. The Giants didn’t have a top 5 roster their last two titles. The Ravens didn’t have one two years ago. The Cardinals didn’t have a top 10 roster when they came within 35 seconds of winning one. The team will be improved by an infusion of young talent. However there isn’t a single position that you can say “well if we don’t get player x or y or z, screw it cancel the season because we have no shot in hell”. That’s a glaring hole. Big difference.
The Giants and Ravens had an unbelievable defense. Their(both?) defenses had major talent. They all peaked at the right time.
Ok, I see what you’re saying. Yes going into any game the Eagles have a chance because they do have talent. But by that definition of a glaring whole — wouldn’t that cover every NFL team? Say for example — Jets/Giants. Do they have glaring holes?
Jets have glaring holes. Dimitri Patterson is a starting CB for them right now. Pace is like forty million years old and I haven’t watched Coples play OLB but what I’ve heard from Jets fan friends he’s an awkward fit at best. They definitively need a TE. The Giants have to upgrade the OL and LB spots.
Not every team would have these holes though. The good teams, like most of last years playoff teams don’t have a ton of holes.
gotta agree with yankfan on that
You weren’t impressed by Mcnabb pointing out all the division banner he put up in the rafters? Lol
lmao.
You’re just further demonstrating that you just plain can’t grasp the difference. A “glaring need” is much more urgent than a serviceable starter that you’d prefer to replace. I don’t see how you aren’t getting that
The difference to me is — Danica is a serviceable race car driver. She’ll never win. Eagles have a serviceable team. They will never win. If you say “we need to upgrade talent” .. you’re saying there’s a hole there because the current talent is not and will not be good enough.
We have needs but no *glaring holes*. Meaning we have starting caliber players across the board. The issue we have is we don’t have enough difference makers on defense. To be a good defense you need a few of them, we have…maybe 2? We need at least 1 more playmaker/ difference maker somewhere on that defense. And we need depth pretty badly at every position on the defense with possible exception to DL and ILB (we have some solid back-ups surprisingly).
Point is, everything is welcome, nothing is so bad that we HAVE to reach for one if something doesn’t fall to us.
Every nfl team has starting caliber players across the board. I agree that we don’t have to reach, but it doesn’t mean we don’t have holes. Even if those holes can’t be filled with this draft, we still have them(as you said, 1 or 2 playmakers)
I think others speak of holes at a positional level. And trust me, there are teams who have some glaring holes on a positional level in the nfl right now. Basically if it can’t be addressed early in the draft, they will grab a serviceable free agent immediately after.
My point is, if you see a team with a glaring hole (positionally), that specifically means they are targeting that position in the draft. It’s a tell, they are going to address it before the season, but not before they see what happens with the draft. The Eagles don’t have that tell, that horribly ignored, can’t even fill out a depth-chart position to give a clue as to what we are targeting and possibly reaching for in the draft this week. We’ve definitely got needs, but it is in a vaguer sense that applies to every draft. (IMO our biggest need is pass rush, honestly I think a lot of our picks make the team this year, because we badly need depth in general).
I hear what your saying ….
i think last season when we had Chung playing safety, that was a *glaring hole*. this year, safety is certain a position we could upgrade, but its not quite at that same level of need.
I agree – -we can put warm bodies out there to try and complete… just not good enough to contend.
If you listen to the media or the organization, here’s what you will learn:
1. We didn’t sign Player X in Free Agency because we’re more than one player away.
2. But, we don’t have any glaring holes
3. However, we’re still a playoff team, just not a Super Bowl contender
4. But we’re building to be competitive every year. If you get to the dance often enough you’ll eventually come out on top
It’s really quite maddening.
TOP TEN SIGNS DRAFT DAY IS HERE
10. Gus Bradley and Jaguars GM David Caldwell seen loading a fold-up table in Bradley’s pick-up outside a Staples…
9. Jerry Jones establishes secure phone line with Satan to discuss a possible new deal…
8. Fans of comedy line up to pay their respects to Al Davis on this, his shining day…
7. Panic spreads across northern Jersey as tanning salons, gyms and rim shops are suspiciously closed for the day…
6. Mrs. Baloophi reviews this month’s credit card statement and mutters something about divorce…
5. Jason La Canfora texts his “inside source” and assures her he’ll have the car home by 10pm…
4. Firefighters in British Columbia gather together and briefly change the channel from junior hockey to the draft to see who’s going to win the lottery this year…
3. GEAGLE forced to do some quick field surgery on his keyboard…
2. Sensing increased levels of human stress as evidenced by hand-wringing, pacing, and colorful language and/or objects hurled at a televised Brian Billick, pets take shelter…
1. Excited Eagles fans gather for a draft day party outside the gates of the NovaCare Complex, ready to cheer the newest member of their beloved team…
cheer our pick/mourn not picking their man-crushes.
Love this list. That Jaguars war room picture always kills me.
This is exactly what happens if we trade up in the 1st for Blake Bortles. Hopefully they invested in a good panic room at the Novacare.
My favorite one in the list…..on Sundays at home, my dog does the same thing…..in fact during FB season everytime she hears the crowd roar on TV she starts to get all nervous because she thinks that the yelling will ensue.
My favorite draft related picture, I’m glad someone else knows about it!
Random semi-related thought:
Last year we expected to see a ton of double TE, and I think Chip did as well. The problem? He really like our 11 personnel. Here’s my theory as to why, better match-ups for the run game. Sounds counter intuitive but here’s the rationale. It’s about match-ups. Avant blocking a Nickle CB or safety is a match-up we win more often than say, Zach Ertz on a Linebacker or tackle.
Avant is gone, I suspect we may see more 2 TE sets and less 11 this year. Besides that we also picked up Sproles. Now for the weak tie-in to how that is relevant to draft day: I believe this year we don’t even look at any slot WR options. I think we exclusively look at Outside WR options who are strong against man coverage and can block. I also conclude that a TE in the 2nd-4th are a distinct possibility. Chip probably adores Celek, but every year we see the wear pile onto Celek, and every year we wonder if he’s going to come all the way back. Then again maybe James Casey becomes a big part of this offense. Just spit-balling.
We will absolutely see more 2TE sets this year. if you look at Foles numbers, he was at his best when 2TE were on the field. I believe Ertz will be our best pass catching weapon in the near future, so he will always be in the game…figure Celek has much more left in the tank than Avant had last year. I expect to see more snaps for casey….and i wouldnt be surprised if we adde another TE high in the draft
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What drives me insane, is when media uses the drafting of Ertz as an example for us going BPA. “We drafted a TE when we just signed one and already had Celek”..anyone who makes that statement is a clueless simpleton. Dont care that they are all listed as TE, we had NOTHING on our roster that compares to Ertz… Casey isnt the same postion as celek, and Ertz is different from Celek and Casey… Ertz is jimmy graham type, glorified WR…Celek is a traditional in line TE like Gronk…casey is an Hback like Hernandez…all 3 of our TEs are very different…They may as well be listed as different positions… Saying ERTZ was a BPA pick is a joke, i can argue that ertz was nore of a NEED than a BPA pick…
Yeah I failed to mention the other more obvious reason for double TE, Ertz becoming a main feature of this offense.
He will count as a TE, but like Jimmy Graham he will probably look more like a WR…tho he isn’t a prissy wimp like Jimmy. Ertz works on his blocking and is willing to smash DBs
Really really hoping the eagles can pull off trading the 22nd pick for Dion Jordan. Its the best possible value we will get at 22. barr wont make it past arizona, and im worried attaucho or marcus dont last til 54
…
Id be thrilled with barr or dion, but there is just no way barr will get past the cardinals, if he even gets past the vikings,lions,titans, and Cowboys…
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Best case realistic Scenario is barr falling to 19 and us having to jump the cardinals…id rather pay 22 for dion, than 22 and a 4th or 5th round pick for barr.
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I prefer dion over barr anyway, but for those that prefer barr, what would you rather have?
..
Barr or Dion and Kirksey?
barr or Dion and Brent Urban?
barr or Dion and Jarvis Landry?
barr or Dion and Dontae johnson?
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Now the ABSOLUTE best case scenario, if howie could pull this off, he is just a DON!!!:
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Eagles trade 22 to the niners for 30 and 77…
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With the 30th pick, the philadelphia eagles select…wait, there has been a trade. The eagles trade the 30th pick and bryce brown to the Dolphins for Dion Jordan!! Lol
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If Howie could get Dion and an extra 3rd for 22, he would be a boss!!
Don’t forget cap hit, buddy. Desmond Trufants (#22 last year) salary cap hit this year will be $1,855,931. Jordan (obv. #3 last year) is $4,675,522 (both numbers from overthecap.com). ~ 3 millions make a difference financially. From the football angle, you’re right, though.
Im confused..are you trying to say the difference between paying Dions salary and the cheaper salery of drafting someone at 22 would matter to us? Or the cap hit the dolphins have to take by trading him is going to matter?
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Pass rushers cost so much money and we are in a good cap position. Doubt that extra 3mil will keep us from trading for dion..its up to miami. Im sure we would jump at the opportunity to give up 22 for dion
“I will be so happy to see Barr or Dion become eagles tonight”
Me too, don’t get me wrong. ROLB is my priority #1, we really have to fix this “king position” in the 34 for the long run.
I was just referring to your argument about Jordan being the better target because we would (maybe) have to give up less in terms of draft picks. That is true, probably, but 3 millions in cap hit also can be important.
Gotcha,,..
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Recent rumblings are the Giants And Cowboys have their eye on Manziel…we will need a nice ROLB to play pinball with his head if he joins the NFC east. I pray he join nthe cowboys or giants!!
The cap hit for the Dolphins for Jordan this year is $4,675,522. However only $495,000 of that is salary. The rest was the prorated portion of his signing bonus which the Dolphins already paid and is only on their books as a cap hit. His entire signing bonus would be accelerated to this year for them ($16.8M). The eagles would be paying him peanuts for the next 3 years.
Interesting, Thanks!
Dude…….sweet!!! 🙂
What about pick #22 and Graham for Barr? I think it Barr makes it past Steelers, Ravens and Cowboys, we have a deal in place with Miami.
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I would love it if we can’t make a move to get Barr, we package pick #22 and a player or two for Jordan. I don’t think it happens with the cap hit but never say never.
***attending draft roll call***
Friday, 05/09/2014
I will be going to watch the draft live this year. Anyone else going and fancy to meet? Holla back.
Also any advise (in terms of when to line up etc) is much appreciated.
could consider but hear you’ve gotta get there super early.
Maybe eagles fan ‘jack Bauer’ can offer some advise, as he’s been to both draft days in the past.
How early did you hear, mate?
U Are definitely going? Which day?
Tomorrow! A definite yes unless the Eagles trade away their second day draft picks tonight!!
I’ve been on the Barr Wagon for a while now. I desperately hope he falls in to the 14-15 range so the price is right and we can trade up for him.
When you only have 6 picks, there is no right price..but if we have to use multiple picks on a player, i would hope its Barr
I have a feeling, we will all be totally shocked by the way round 1’unfolds. I think it will be completely different from what all the mocks have led us to believe…. Im thinking:
1) NO QBs get drafted in the top 10, no more than 1 QB for sure. Thinking the top 10 picks will be:
1) Clowney
2) Greg Robinson
3) mack
4) Sammy Watkins
5) Lewan
6) jake mathews
7) ODB
8) Aaron Donald
9) Evans
10) Justin Gilbert
11)’Fuller
12) zack Martin
13) Haha Dix
what if — Texas passes on Clowney. Do you think the Rams will take him?
No…rams would love Clowney on the board because it would be easy for them to trade back…I think the rams would really like to trade back to 6 and take jake mathews(I think that’s there top trade scenario)…
I think Lewan,Robinson,Mathews, Aaron Donald are all going top 10
http://discoverypatterns.com/nfl-draft-prediction-based-on-discovery-patterns-analytics/
Interesting way to look at multiple talking heads and amalgamate the latest draft order.
1. Robinson
2. Matthews
3. Clowney
How do we not draft this dude?
http://grantland.com/features/cameron-fleming-stanford-nf-draft/
We can just use a 7th on the Braniac OL from Penn state..
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Who was the dude on Stanford with the photographic memory, who sites and takes brain snap shots of every formation, and than draws them so coaches and QBs can have the snap shots of each play the way the pros get from the booth? Think it was Stanford’s center or backup center..??
We have another year, maybe two of our HC knowing the college prospects more than every NFL HC. Chip has known many of these kids since highschool. He has spoken to many of their highschool coaches in the past. I also doubt many teams have a HC who was studying draft prospects on Saturdays during the NFL season…Last year, Chip led one of only two teams, who’s first, second and third round picks played 16 games…,..this is such a deep and talent rich draft, I’m just dying to see which of these prospects Chip feels like he has to have…
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Soon, our coach will no longer know all the draft prospects since they were in high school. it’s seems Iike a major advantage, and last years draft points to that. Its imperative that we take advantage of these next two drafts, before we know longer have such a valuable advantage over all the other coaches..
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Basically, Chip Kelly jumps to the NFL, uses his inside knowledge of all the new wave of players coming into the NFL, and builds himself an NFL juggernaut with his first 3 drafts…ATleast that’s the plan.
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I think really really really highly of Earl W olff, and it have a feeling he will prove to be a brilliant pick. Kind of wish we didn’t draft Barkley, just to see what Chip would have done with the 4th round pick..if C hip is just going to hit on all of our picks in the first 5 rounds, we will have a scary roster in no time
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We can argue and disagree over what type of player Wolff will be. But I think worst case scenario, he will develop into a defensive player you want on the field in subpackages, but I do see starting potential and I have heard coaches and team mates rave about his work ethic and some of his team mates really sound like they have faith in him becoming a great player..C are Williams loves him, and he doesn’t like anyone lol…even if Wolff can’t grow into a starter, he won’t be a bum we are petrified of putting on the field. At the very least he will be used in subpackages…and if you get a subpackage player in round 5, that’s a good pick…so, not counting Barkley. We likely hit on 4 picks last year. Also expect a player emerges from the group of Kruger, Long, Knott..
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If we can have a strong draft and add 4-6 players that will be nice additions to our future, we will be one more draft away from a really nice roster. Lane and Ertz have probowl potential. We need to add ATleast two more players of their caliber these next 3 days…
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Getting nervous and anxious
Just remember Aaron Rogers was picked at 24!!! The Eagles are going to rock in this draft. I hope a CB or OLB for a 1st but a premier WR would work too.
I know people think I’m nuts, but I believe Billy and Chip want Cary and Brad as our starting QBs…think we signed them to contracts we could get out of as a tryout, and I think we like what we see and we intend on restructuring both so they could start for us another two to three years…so if I think our coach likes our CBs more than we think, I have to assume we will draft CB to develop in the later rounds…I’d be pretty surprised to see us draft a CB early. I think we would draft fuller or Gilbert! but I have a feeling neither will make it to 15. I don’t even think Demnard or Verrett are on our draft boards, so the one wild card would be Roby, but I can’t really see us taking him at 22…
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Rather take Dontae Johnson and Exum later and figure out if we should play them at CB or Safety later, or Terrence Mitchell in the 5th
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And if we aren’t happy with Brad and Cary after this year we can go get Ifo Olomu in next years draft
re: 1st sentence: Pretty sure St. Nick has that position on lockdown. lol
Cary is what we want, but he’s 29 already right? How many more years can he chase guys that run sub 4.5. It’s not like he was pro-bowler in his peak — last year is the first time he actually started.
I think we’ll stack big guys behind him and he’ll be gone once they can outplay him.
Fletcher can go — he’s alright but is heavy on the PIs and injury time.
Ryan Mallet(contract is expiring and pats know he won’t sign with them)
Nassib
Glennon
Kirk Cousin
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QBs who could be on the move tonight. Wonder how that will effect this draft..
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Week ago rumors of the Giants wanting to trade Nassib emerge, and now Rumors of the giants taking Manziel if he falls is heating up. Manziel becoming a Giant or Cowboy would be the glorious gift that keeps on giving. if we aren’t lucky enough to have Manziel and RGknee in our division, than I pray he goes to the jags and is the day 1 starter, so his first game can be against the eagles? Vinny Curry and Cox will crush him!!
I can’t take this anymore. I need the draft right now.
Yeah i’m going to sign off until tonight — sad part we might not even pick until tomorrow.
I feel you bro…trying anything to make time go by faster…hate that we only get 1 round tonight. Watch the Eagles not pick tonight. If Barr doesn’t fall to us, I’m fine with not picking anyone tonight.
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NFL network is currently telling us how we are targeting Clinton Dix or Pryor at 12,..,sigh..I can’t take anymore of this horrible draft coverage. Listening to the most clueless idiots possible talking about what our team will do…
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The funniest thing to me is when a philly media member does a Q and A for fans.. I can’t fathom why the hell I would ever ask Les Bowan, Geoff Mosher, Jeff McClane or any of our clueless media what the Eagles will do. I cringe everytime I see fans ask them questions on twitter, as if they actually know better than the fan asking the question.. Moving this draft back was just cruel, and I’m losing my mind
I’m with you on our media but Reuben Frank made a good point on the radio this morning. We only have two legitimate WRs on our roster and one is coming off an ACL. How can we not take a WR with our 1st pick? That does make some sense to me.
More and more, I just want Marqise Lee. I remember when Reggie Wayne came out in 2001. People preferred Koren Robinson and Rod Gardner because they were physical specimens. Chris Chambers and Santana Moss offered the speed. Everyone thought Reggie Wayne was probably the most pro-ready but there was nothing physically special about him. That’s how I’m beginning to feel about Lee. There were 5 receivers (including David Terrell) drafted ahead of Wayne. We could see the same scenario with Lee this draft.
I’m with you on this. I have Reggie Wayne images in my head every time I see Lee. Isn’t always the flashiest player on the field but flat out gets it done consistently.
I thought we needed to draft two WRs back when I thought Desean,Mac!in and Cooper would all be here, so I DEFINITELY think we should add a WR now…
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The one thing Frank didn’t consider is I think no matter who we draft Ertz will end up being our number 1 WR…which is why we always hear Howie make sure he mentions that we view our skill players as a group, not as WR TE and RBs…ERTZ will be our number 1 WR in the near future…
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I thought it was important to get an extra pick in the first 3 rounds so we could add two WRs, a ROLB and ILB high in the draft…so WR is absolutely a major need for us, that needs to be adressed, but ROLB is just as big of a need if not more, it’s a more valued position than WR and it’s much more scarce in this draft than WR..if we don’t get a ROLB in round 1, I can’t just assume be can find one at 54..I. Can’t say that about WR…there will undoubtably be WRs available at 54 with a really high ceiling to develop
Your argument makes perfect sense too. Unless Barr falls though, I’m not sure if they have another ROLB ranked that high. Maybe they like Attaochu or Smith more than we know. There are so many different directions that they could go. It’s mind numbing.
My worry is after Barr, Attaucho and Marcus, it’s slim pickings…..I’m scared none will last to 54. If I could count on Attaucho or Marcusnbeing available at 54, drafting WR with our first pick would be a no BRAINER for me…
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Barr needs to get past the lions, Titans. Cowboys, Jets and Cardinals will really really want him. Our only hope is that a QB the cardinals absolutely LOVES falls to 20. Then again, I’m sure they could use a DB, but it’s going to take someone special for Arizona to pass on Barr
GE:
Any 6’2″ 245 lb DEs from small Div I or I-AA schools on the board?
That’s been the Steelers’ predominant formula — or was from ’95 – ’05 — for finding ROLBs.
6’6” and 281 = Taylor Hart – Oregon DE.
too big AC? Stats and Profile: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1664845/taylor-hart
Oh yeah, also, Azz coached Hart at Oregon.
OD:
I’m thinking of an undersized college pass-rushing end.
I wasn’t clear. Sorry ’bout that.
Not that I know of…..no small school Jamie Collins types….maybe the kid from, ugh can’t think of the school, Bloomsburg maybe? The kid who is being looked at as a TE and OLB..someone will remember his name(we brought him in for a visit)..
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I like that D2 WR Jeff Janis tho..
Trade down to take Atta or Marcus then draft your WR in the 2nd or 3rd round. That would be ideal for me. Well, Barr would be ideal but I can’t see it happening. In my mock, which means nothing, I have Dallas moving up to take him. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Think we may have to go with your suggestion
I agree 100% that we need to think in terms of receivers and not WR, TE, RB.
Tommy, avoid Josh Huff (Oregon). When it is a home run ball for a win, he drops it. Not a focused WR in my opinion. According to Eugene Register Guard – “average size, too many dropped passes, injured as a sophomore and junior”. Please stay away from the Eagles Josh!
Any word on Lyerla? He has been completely silent. Why hasn’t his agent tried to drum up some interest, leaking that teams are interested to make his client look draft able? Did Chip tell him to fly under the radar se we can snatch him? If we didn’t want him, why didn’t Chip do him a solid, bring him in for a visit to show teams he is draft able and not someone they shouldn’t consider?
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What’s the word on Avery Petterson and Lokombo? Hoping they both go Undrafted because I assume they would migrate to philly
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What’s the word on Hart? He is the duck I think with the most chance of becoming an Eagle, just no idea which round..
Here is the local paper’s take: Lyerla – 7th/UFDA. Patterson – UDFA because of below average speed. Lokombo – 7th/UFDA inconsistent and currently recovering from injury BUT an elite athlete (I love his aggression and blitz ability).
Hart – 3-4 physical and great against run. The guy makes plays!
DT – 4-6. Chip loves this guy for obvious reasons. May not be an NFL fit for obvious reasons.
I’d be soooo happy to see Avery,Lokombo and Lyerla all go Undrafted. Think Lokombo can bring it on ST and grow into a nice subpackage LB who can cover or blitz..
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I have a feeling one of these 3 players will be eagles: Brent Urban, josh Mauro, or Taylor Hart…one will be drafted to backup Thornton
Lyerla isn’t happening.
If we can get Dion or Barr and we can’t get an extra 2015 1st round pick, then I want us to stockpile picks:
1) trade #22 to the jags for #39, 70 and 105
2) Trade a 2015 2nd round pick for the Niners #77:
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39) our best bet would be to secure one of the few pass rusher, Attaucho or Marcus darling because we can still definitely find a quality WR at 54. Maybe not Cody or Arob, but we can still get Jordan,Devante, Moncrief maybe KB
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Interesting tho that Walterfootballs final mock has Allen Robinson and Moncrief both falling past the eagles in round 3 which sounds crazy. Walter did have Bennie Logan mocked to us in round 3 last year for like a months straight which I thought was crazy…this year Walter has us taking Kirksey in round 3 who I LOVE. He is saying we have shown a ton of interest in Kirksey talking to him multiple times..
Some are saying that Caplan is hinting a Dion deal. Is Dion and the Eagles even possible? I don’t see a trade scenario.
Take the pick that Miami wants, trade the pick for Dion, dead money pain on both sides.
I’d assume it was a typo, but considering the length of some of your other posts, I think your bullet points 3 through 38 got cut out.
Getting more picks means more guys to be exited about, but I hate the idea of giving up future picks. There will always be positions to upgrade and prospects to covet. Let’s not go mortgaging our reason to be excited next April… and May… and possibly June for all we know.
Just heard Howie talk..no worries, he won’t trade future picks.. He just made that very clear
Hey Tommy,
Long time reader, first time commenting. Interesting article on draft economics that I think you’ll enjoy (if you haven’t already read it): http://www.vox.com/2014/5/7/5683448/how-nfl-teams-ignore-basic-economics-and-draft-players-irrationally
Thanks for making the work day much more bearable with your great articles!
Great stuff. Love Vox for day to day news as well.
Re: Beware Khalil Mack . . . and Other Info
Asked who the best OT he faced in college, Khalil Mack said the Baylor LOT he faced in 2010 when RGriffin was there.
That’s Danny Watkins.
TRUE STORY.
I’m not sure what that says about Mack. Or Watkins. Or Howard Mudd.
__________________
Are WRs harder to pick in Rd 1 than other positions?
Well, here’s the data covering the 1980-2010 drafts (my own rough calcs based on good + great vs. bust players).
WR success rate: 44%
QB success rate: 43%
DE success rate: 45.5%
Best rate of success? Cornerback at 54%.
PAGING CB COREY FULLER . . . h/t D3FB who was on Fuller way early.
______________
I may repost this comment if depending on the traffic here in the next couple hours.
They let him use the fire hose when he was OT at Baylor.
Polian just said 64% of WR drafted in first two rounds FAIL…yikes..
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Chicago Emry did a study that since 2006, QBs drafted after round 3 haven’t panned out..
GE:
Not a surprise, right?
The failure rate of WRs drafted with 1st Rd picks is somewhere south of 55%. (I have it at 56% from ’80-’10.)
And 2nd Rd picks don’t do as well as 1st Rd picks.
But to get to from 56% to 64%, that means 2nd Rd picks fail at the the much higher rate of 72%.
So basically, a WR picked in the 2nd Rd has about a 1-in-4 chance of being good to great.
___________________
Still want to trade down into Rd 2?
I say, “yes.”
Why? Because — like you — I bet that there are 1st-Rd grades on WRs whom the Eagles like who will fall into Rd 2.
I’d just take Jarvis Landry in the 3rd and call it a day.
A —
LOVE Jarvis Landry.
I hope the Birds have him at the top of their Rd 3 wish-list.
Mayock’s right in one respect. It’s hard to tell the difference between Beckham and Landry on film — at least on short- to mid-range passing.
Baloophi:
1. Rules for The Helmet Phone . . . you may only take it out during draft week.
[Although in a few years, the NFL may spread the draft over a full month, right? Someone yesterday suggested putting a week between rounds to gin-up interest and trades.]
2. Nowhere but here can you find a still from the Bride of Frankenstein linked to the Eagles’ bunker at Nova Care.
That’s a brilliant choice . . . w/ Colin Clive leading the pack.
Anyone thing Manziel could have a geno smith like fall tonight?
Yes. There’s always 1(or 2) that dress up and go home without a call…
And then cry about it and threaten to go home then end up having to stay because they just hurt their draft stock.
That was hilarious last year — he looked like someone took his birthday cake.
Have a feeling no QB gets drafted in top 10 and they all fall
Why no Sproles on the depth chart???
Miami wants to trade down, have spoken to Eagles.
(link: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000347843/article/report-dolphins-exploring-tradedown-with-several-clubs?campaign=Twitter_nfl_cb)
So if Fuller or Barr are available at #19, we want to jump AZ & GB, would it make sense to trade #22, Brandon Graham and a 5th to move up 3 spots?
*Maybe* we could do it without the 5th, but that would value BG as a high 4th round pick….
No, I don’t like getting hosed for no reason. I’m not talking to Miami unless the words Dion Jordan are coming out of their mouths.
Attaboy!!! We don’t negotiate with friggin terrorists!
Graham seems to have little value to us, and none 8 months from now, so deal away.
I wouldn’t be so sure about that…recent comments by Howie make me believe that we have no interest in dealing BG..we are also allegedly impressed by the shape he showed up in, Have a feeling is future isn’t as much in doubt as we expected…
That would be a nice surprise, but I bought that line last year, this year I am going to remain skeptical. After all, if you are going to trade the guy, a comment like that can’t hurt his value.
What value? This isn’t the NBA where teams value an expiring contract…you going to give up the chance to draft a player in the 6th round who you can control for cheap for 4years, for a backup DE, who’s contract expires at the end of the year. And who will want to test the free agent market at sign with his best chance to get playing time? I wouldn’t be surprised if we can’t get a 7th for a 1yr rental of BG…
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Best bet is to trade him for another expiring contract like Jabaal Sheard. Problem is, brown new coach likes how violent he is…
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Ultimately, BG won’t sign with us, so I pray we can get some value for him, i just don’t have much hope for it…love to be wrong tho
So, is there an actual rule saying that a team can’t draft a player that’s already been drafted? I mean, this sounds like something so stupid that they mightnot have had to actually codify it, but I’d be interested in the shit storm that would come out of it.
not sure what you are talking about?
i think there is a rule where the player can choose not to play for the team he was drafted, but he cannot play for the league that year and he would re-enter the draft the following year.
i could just be making that up too. not sure…
Is there a clause for the first team making a really dumb pick? Like, for example, the Cowboys drafting the best 3-4 OLB to replace the superstar they just lost to cap mismanagement, despite the fact that they run a 4-3 now? Is there an independent committee that can disqualify the fist team for being dumb?
Cowboys drafting Barr would be incredibly frustrating, like a Dion deja vu. Not only are you stunting their development, but other teams (ahem, Eagles) could actually use them. Would be the biggest disappointment of the night for me if it happens.
How would the faithful feel about Manziel ending up on a division rival? Giants and ‘Boys both seem like possibilities.
Who cares? We’ve had Vick for 4 years, if we can’t figure out how to scheme against an improvising QB by watching tape from the ’12 season then we need to get all new players and staff.
I just don’t see him as NFL ready, e.g. his footwork is poor and tends to scan the field on his toes which delays his release time. He will get killed by DE and LBs. Chip was wise to change his views on “mobile” QBs – NFL is a whole different animal; just ask RGIII.
I haven’t written off RGIII yet, but I definitely agree about Manziel. Watching his tape, everything is just so improvised and off the cuff. Maximum drama and fun to watch. Jeez that whole team seemed to have a flare for the dramatic. Watching Mike Evans go up for a catch and come down on 1 knee and a hand plant like a Mech that just fell out of the sky (insert Titanfall or Gundam) or Johnny doing a double jump double windmill pump fake…all the kids are going to imitate but it’s a baaaad Idea. Only 1 modern QB ever got away with being such a badass that you can just do things your way, and that’s Brett Favre. You say ask RGIII, I say ask Tim Tebow. Same thing, for some reason the college football viewer loves watching white dudes juke people…in that awkward going-to-get-you-killed in the nfl way they do.
I just feel uneasy about him. Wouldn’t feel good about him on this team because there too high of a chance of him being a bust or idiot or both. Would hate him on a rival’s team because there’s too big of a chance of him being a star. My money is on bust, but I still wouldn’t feel strongly enough about it to be comfortable.
That is where I am at also. I am also trying to use the fact that taking him leaves one more guy that I hope we get one spot closer to us to counter my concern that, if he were to become successful on a rival, he would garner an irrational, Romo-level hatred from Eagles fans.
Oh, much much worse. He’s already a star in that state (which I already have an irrational hatred of, from the Alamo, to the secession talks (please make this happen) to the everything is bigger/ don’t mess with…) and the way the national media goes nuts with the Cowboys anyway…and every year someone always oggles over their talent and predicts they’ll win a superbowl, add in Manziel as the cowboy Messiah, uuuuuhhhg. I seriously would not be able to handle the amount of attention and….omg thanks ATG, I’m going to have to go get a drink.
Between this and highlighting Stevo’s worst case scenario I’m feeling like a ray of sunshine this afternoon. I hope no kittens wander into the street while I am taking my kid to karate in a few minutes.
My blood pressure might have permanently gone up a few points even beginning to go down that rabbit hole of a rant.
Manziel is awful, so him going to a rival is for the best.
Just got some interesting nuggets from Howie..
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1) he doesn’t believe in trading future picks. It would have to be an extremely rare situation for him to trade a 2015 pick this weekend..
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2) we aren’t getting Clinton Dix or Calvin…made it a point to talk about Malcom, Wolff and Nate
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3) this past week they are talking to every team, discussing trade scenarios..we put all the info we get from other GMs on the board, so we can go back and find out who was being honest, and who was being dishonest for future dealings(smart move)
..l
4) Last year Howie was going crazy when we didn’t have pics in round 6, he had to leave the building and go for a walk to stop himself from trading future picks to get players who were still available. He went and started running laps on our practice field lol…turned out to be smart. Because we got Kruger who was one of the guys he wanted to trade up for.
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5) look forward to those moments when someone drafting ahead of you takes someone unexpected who you didn’t have rated til later, it’s a high five/fist bump moment knowing someone you like will get pushed down a spot because someone got drafted who you weren’t anticipating…..
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6) there will be some really good players on the board when we pick, who just don’t fit our schemes so it wouldn’t make sense for us to draft them
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7) we hated trading a 5th but when he saw Sproles in an eagles jersey this week he was,pretty pumped. We will put Sproles up on the board in the 5th, and of course we would rather have him than what will be available..we did the same thing with Meco..
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8) with only 6 picks, it has to be a really special situation for us to move up..
That all sounds good to me, especially #1. Dix would be nice, but not with what it would take to go get him.
Never was especially interested in HaHa until he was like “I wan’t to be an Eagle, come and get me, please!”….well dammit now I feel bad because there’s just no way…
Recently people are saying he could fall…not sure we would draft him if he were on the board at 22
Ark, anything is possible. This first day is going to be a wild ride. Hope I’m sober by the time the Eagles pick.
IF the eagles pick!!!
There going to surprise us today GEagle. Rumors are all over the net.
Sure hope so brother…Dion or Barr would make me shed tears of joy
500 upvotes, my friend.
Big IF
What exactly did Sean Payton know that the Eagles don’t about Sproles?
They have no money. They lost will smith who Bellicek picked up, doubt Sean Peyton knows anything bad about Will… If you have to cut a bunch of players due to salary, makes sense to snip the 30yr olds
More like what he didn’t know — our sports science program.
Faith is the tonic of all true believers.
Just teasing. It’ll be interesting to see how long Sproles holds up.
That extra 5th may have helped land a pass-rusher in Rd 1 or 2 who’ll be here for the next 7-8 years.
I think Sproles will be long gone by then.
Normally a 5th is not what tips a big trade. If we really wants Barr and he drops we just offer a 4th instead or the 5th we still have
Money was part of it.
Did you guys check put Clowneys high school highlight video? It’s floating around, easy to find… HOLY HELL!!! Watch it
Hey guys, what’s your preferred source of draft coverage, nfl network, PE.com, other (I don’t have cable, stick to the interwebs myself, wondering if there’s any other good coverage, internet based, live steaming preferred)?
The helmet phone is operational. I repeat: the helmet phone is operational.
Off on foot to meet laeagle and hopefully find a power outlet in the bar.
Good luck, everybody! See you on the other side!
What’s the number?!? I want to call in!
I already tried 867-5309, wasn’t Baloophi, so apparently he isn’t having a good time.
Unsurprising since his name is Baloophi and not Jenny. (I assume his real name is Baloophi).
That seems like a safe assumption. I know a Bills fan named ShereKhanbuf that agrees.
+1
Not sure how they do it out there in L.A. but I think you might need a phone jack too.
I just saw that Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is from Canada. Add him to those please avoid these players list tommy.
DE Brent Urban, from UVA — and one of T-Law’s mid-round favorites — is also from Canada.
Urban took up football only after outgrowing hockey. Couldn’t skate like Chris Pronger or Zdano Chara.
Yes, but Urban isn’t an offensive lineman, its an important distinction.
Good point.
On the other hand, former Eagles DT Gary Pettigrew from Stanford (2nd Rd pick, draft of ’66) was a Canadian.
Only slightly better than Watkins.
So? Freddie Mitchell and DRC were from Florida. Nnamdi is from Louisiana. Are you never going to draft a receiver or DB from those states ever again? Bronko Nagursky, in the Hall of Fame, one of the greats who helped make the NFL popular, was from Ontario. Roy Gerela, Gerela’s Guerillas – Pittsburgh Steelers, was from Alberta.
Guess somebody didnt get the joke
Two reliable,sources:
..
1) Marquis Lee won’t make it past GB at 21 (Mortenson says this is belief league wide)
..
2) jay Glazier says Maziel to Arizona…. If a quality QB and Barr are on the board at 20, probabky our only hope of Barr getting passed them? QB is the only position more valuable than edge rusher
Is a 5th to Miami at 19, plus 1st swap, too much to get Lee ahead of GB?
yes. worth it for barr/fuller tho
BINGO.
That’s why the Sproles trade hurts just a bit.
We have a certain OLB/former DE who would be welcomed in MIA instead of that 5th…
That would make the draft.
Forget Lee, Cody Latimer is the guy.
Clowney is in for the most epic fall of all time…all the way down to 22 🙂
I’m booking it. If it doesn’t happen, a pox on your house.
I wouldn’t draft him first, but if he dropped past 2, I would trade a lot to jump and get him. People say he’s a 4-3 end, but you can see from his pro day he can drop into space, fluid hips for size, athletically he just makes a mockery of everyone else his size. Romeo was having a field day working him out, which is great since we run the same scheme.
I wouldn’t draft the first b/c i think he needs to get knocked off the pedastool a little to make him hungry. If you can motivate him I would LOVE to have him run all over the weak-a** o-lines in this division. RGIII would probably just sit out twice a year. Put him on bump and run against djax.
we doing an open thread for this beast?