CB Prospect Update

We’ve talked a lot in recent days about OL and DL prospects. The Eagles have also shown interest in some of the top CB prospects in the upcoming draft. Today was especially important for one of them.

Devon Witherspoon wasn’t able to work out at the Combine or Illinois’ original Pro Day due to a hamstring injury. He had his own Pro Day on Wednesday and there were a lot of eyes on him. Witherspoon isn’t a special athlete and some wondered what his 40-time would be.

From scout at Illinois Pro Day
Devon Witherspoon ran 446/442

That'll work

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 5, 2023

That’s fantastic for Witherspoon. Teams wanted to see a time under 4.50 so he took care of that. Witherspoon is the best hitter/tackler of all the corner prospects. He has good hands. He is instinctive and a good playmaker. Witherspoon solidified himself as a Top 15 prospect and he’s got a good shot to go Top 10.

I think Witherspoon would be a good fit for the Eagles so I hope they’re interested.

*****

Emmanuel Forbes is visiting the Philadelphia Eagles pic.twitter.com/uvxUJE91Cs

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 5, 2023

Forbes isn’t in the running at 10, but could be in play at 30. He is 6-1, but only 166 pounds. That is small for a CB. Really small. So why would the Eagles be interested? Forbes is the best playmaking corner in the draft.

• 14 career INTs
• 6 career pick-sixes (NCAA record)

The Patriots have another SEC player visiting in Emmanuel Forbes, who reminds me of Jack Jones

On the lighter side for a boundary CB, but has the instincts, closing speed, ball skills, and return ability NE covets in DBs

Also flashed in press and showed fire as a tackler https://t.co/GsGsp79VSN pic.twitter.com/84onP5ba1B

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) March 29, 2023

Emmanuel Forbes had some really good reps vs Jameson Williams in 2021. pic.twitter.com/T2dL2AQPMo

— Nick Martin (@themicknartin) March 28, 2023

Most importantly, if the Eagles take him DeVonta Smith will have someone on the roster that he is bigger than and can pick on.

I’m a big fan of Forbes and would love to see him picked. We know Nick Sirianni loves takeaways. That’s Forbes specialty and he’s good at it.

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Penn State @PennStateFball corner Joey Porter Jr. visited #Raiders today, #Commanders on Monday and has upcoming visits with #Ravens, #Panthers, #Saints and #Eagles, according to league sources. #NFLDraft2023 @KPRC2 https://t.co/kbcBUbuYDd

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 5, 2023

Porter is a stud corner. He’s got great length and excels in physical coverage. I don’t see him as a great fit for the Eagles, though. He’s at his best in press coverage and only has one career INT. Sirianni wants playmakers. Porter can cover, but he doesn’t have the ball skills to come up with many INTs.

I wouldn’t consider him at 10. If the Eagles move back, maybe he makes some sense. I just question the fit.

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It isn’t all corners.

Sources: LSU @LSUfootball pass rusher, rising draft prospect B.J. Ojulari visiting #Jets #Buccaneers #Panthers #Eagles @KPRC2 #NFLDraft2023https://t.co/sZH6AR6KwU

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 5, 2023

Some people love Ojulari. I have mixed feelings. He is very talented, but I just don’t think he is as disruptive on a consistent basis as he should be. I have a second round grade on him. He could go in the 30 to 40 range. There are other players I’d rather take at 30. If the Eagles move back, I’d be more comfortable.

https://twitter.com/BenFennell_NFL/status/1557732945061851138

That’s Ojulari at his best. I just don’t think we saw that enough.

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https://twitter.com/DiBirdsBlog/status/1643606712111308802

Witt is a highly athletic, but raw OL prospect. He started playing TE and moved to OT, playing both RT and LT. Witt would make a ton of sense for the Eagles to take a chance on. He will need time to develop. Lane Johnson will be playing a couple of more years. Witt might be ready to take over when Lane is ready to walk away.

I thought of Todd Herremans when I read about Witt. Herremans played at Saginaw Valley State (another small Michigan school) and got on the NFL’s radar when he played in the old Cactus bowl (was a D2 all star game). Herremans then had a lot of NFL people at his Pro Day and ended up being a fourth round pick. He played for the Eagles for a decade, moving from LT to LG to RG to RT. How’s that for versatile?

Would be pretty cool if history repeated itself and the Eagles took Witt and developed him into a starter.

Give DiBirds a follow on Twitter. He’s doing a great job of covering visits and the draft.

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