Eagles Draft Nuggets

Posted: April 9th, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 111 Comments »

Chip Kelly was down at LSU for their Pro Day. WRs Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham were the big names, but Kelly was watching a lot of guys. LSU is loaded with NFL talent every year. Here are the top names (not in any order).

WR Odell Beckham
WR Jarvis Landry
OG Trai Turner
RB Jeremy Hill
RB Alfred Blue
QB Zach Mettenberger
DT Antonio Johnson
DT Ego Ferguson
ILB Lamin Barrow
S Craig Loston

Go here to see the full list of players who worked out. Even a few former Tigers stopped by. OLB Sam Montgomery, who was a mid-round pick last year and then got cut, was on hand to show teams he wants back into the league. I don’t know if anyone will be interested in a guy who has openly acknowledged that he picks and chooses when to  try hard.

Landry had a bad day. I wrote a piece about him and trying to understand Pro Days over at ScoutsNotebook. That workout is definitely going to hurt Landry.

Gil Brandt has the numbers from the Pro Day.

* * * * *

Geoff Mosher had an interesting update on the Marqise Lee visiting Philly story.

That’s more than just passing interest or due diligence. It doesn’t mean the Eagles love him, but they obviously are taking a very serious look at Lee.

Some readers had a question about Lee’s size. He was 192 at the Combine and 199 at his Pro Day. USC had him listed at 195 on his bio and they aren’t one of those schools that generally puts up wrong sizes. I’m guessing that Lee is normally in the 195 range. I would bet he went to Indy light trying to run well.

Lee isn’t a burner. Never has been. He runs hard and has good burst, but lacks ideal long speed. That’s okay. You don’t need elite speed to be a playmaker if you are quick and elusive. And 4.5 isn’t slow. Remember that Boldin ran 4.71 at his Combine. He was a bit heavier, but 4.7 is stil 4.7.

* * * * *

The Eagles were at the Pro Day for Morgan State CB Joe Rankin. He has some size and athleticism, but is a late rounder or UDFA.

* * * * *

Chip Kelly was a Penn State’s Pro Day and got to see WR Allen Robinson up close and personal. Robinson changed his body from the Combine, hoping to be faster and more athletic. In Indy he was 220 and ran 4.6. At the Pro Day, Robinson was down to 207 and ran in the 4.5 range. He isn’t a burner on tape. I am curious as to what size he played at this year. PSU had him listed at 210. Was he heavy at the Combine or had he bulked up intentionally?

I like Robinson for the Eagles. He has good RAC skills and would fit the offense well. The one concern is that he’s a marginal blocker, and that is probably a generous description. Kelly would only draft him if Robinson promised that he’d be a better blocker in the NFL.

I wouldn’t consider him at 22, but would think about him at pick 54.

_


111 Comments on “Eagles Draft Nuggets”

  1. 1 Noah D. said at 12:01 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Tommy,
    I’ve had my eye on Trai Turner since he was being recruited.
    He ran a 4.93 at 6’3″ 310, with nice 34″ arms. Dude plays mean, and has really good athleticism.
    Think he’s a possible 3rd-5th round Eagles’ target?

  2. 2 TommyLawlor said at 12:07 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Could be. The Eagles like run blockers with athleticism. He’s not the most agile guy, but that speed is impressive.

  3. 3 Insomniac said at 12:51 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    He’s pretty stiff in the hips though. 8.03s 3 cone. It might not be as important for guards but that’s only a fifth of a second better than Louis Nix.

  4. 4 Anders said at 6:49 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    8 sec 3 cone? That is like he cant even turn his hips at all.

  5. 5 D3FB said at 4:06 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Hips like the titanic.

  6. 6 D3FB said at 11:38 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    He’s best suited for a power scheme I don’t think he fully grasps
    offensive concepts. He projects best as a “go block the crap out of that
    guy” kind of blocker.

  7. 7 brza said at 12:13 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I know the eagles are just doing their due diligence but I hope they have cooks and obd rated higher than Lee. His performance last season and his mediocre measureables just don’t seem to be good value at 22 in this draft.

  8. 8 anon said at 2:19 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    The names ODB and Cooks are so hot right now i think they need to do diligence in case they aren’t there. That said he was a beast against Oregon when Kelly was there, MB knows him well so can speak to character, work ethic, etc. I think he’s got a great chance of being the pick depending on his knee. I don’t like his drop syndrome.

  9. 9 Call Me Carlos the Dwarf said at 2:42 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Lee is a top 15 pick in just about any other draft, and he was fine last year when you consider the circumstances.

  10. 10 Ark87 said at 11:40 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    That last bit is what the extra diligence is all about about. There is the guy from 2012, and the guy from 2013, and very different circumstances if both scenarios. They’re working hard to figure out which season is the outlier, how likely are each circumstance to be repeated (he and Barkley had really good chemistry is 2012, 2013 there was some injury stuff, gotta check that out, project if that will be a problem), and then project their conclusion over a variety of other circumstances. Whichever way they decide to go, at least we will know they did the homework behind their decision.

  11. 11 Weapon Y said at 12:18 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I’m really high on Dri Archer. Not as a starting receiver necessarily, but as a scary slot guy and kick returner. I’d be open to drafting a top WR in the 1st round and then Archer in the 4th. He’d be a good poor man’s DeSean Jackson and successor to Darren Sproles in 2-3 years.

  12. 12 HazletonEagle said at 12:37 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Archer has been on my radar for a long time. And I LOVE his speed. But people need to cool it on calling him a receiver. He didnt catch that many passes. I think people see a small fast RB and want to compare him to DeAnthony Thomas, and Thomas is a good receiver both from the backfield and lined up in the slot. Archer does not have the receiver experience that Thomas has. Archer is primarily a RB.

  13. 13 D3FB said at 1:34 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I mean Archer had 99 receptions for 1194 yards and and 12 TDs.
    DAT had 113 for 1296 and 15. Sooooo…..

  14. 14 Insomniac said at 2:03 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I think he would have outproduced DAT in receiving if they both stayed healthy last year.

  15. 15 planetx1971 said at 5:08 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Who DAT? seriously though. Who is DAT? 🙂

  16. 16 Cedric Basedprophet Bost said at 7:44 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    deanthony thomas

  17. 17 RC5000 said at 2:00 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    What the heck are you talking about? Archer lined up all over the place. Out wide , in the slot, in the backfield. Ran the ball also.
    Both will probably best be used as hybrid role players.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrIbV2sn9P4

  18. 18 Insomniac said at 2:04 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    His point might be that DAT is more refined as a receiver. Dri is no doubt the better RB and his extra gear shows in his production.

  19. 19 anon said at 2:07 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Agree though I don’t see a lot of what he did against S. Alabama and teams of similar calibur translating especially outside of a RO / Spread offense. I don’t care if we take him in the last two rounds, though frankly think we need depth at other positions.

  20. 20 Insomniac said at 2:34 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    We still need a return specialist. I don’t see Sproles or Brad Smith as the answer for that.

  21. 21 Call Me Carlos the Dwarf said at 2:42 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Then you’ve never seen Darren Sproles return a football.

  22. 22 Insomniac said at 2:58 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    He’s on the wrong side of 30. He’s still viable but nowhere near what he USED to be.

  23. 23 RC5000 said at 2:43 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Archer didn’t carry the ball that much either. More than DAT in 2012 but he only had a handful of games in his career with more than 11-12 rushes. Archer isn’t going to be an everydown back so like DAT, he will be best used as a receiver as well as back in the NFL.
    Archer caught 39 passes for 561 yards in 2012. DAT 45 passes for 445 yards in 2012. Both were hampered by injuries in 2013. Archer carried the ball a little more but he’s only had a handful of games over 12-13 carries in his career.
    His extra gear will show receiving as well.

  24. 24 HazletonEagle said at 9:16 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    what really got me to comment was the hyperbole used in the OPs post. He called him a “scary slot guy”. And its not just him. People are really overrating his receiving ability based on very little. He really has a lot of work ahead of him to become that.
    DeAnthony Thomas was a slot WR and RB. He received coaching as a WR. He lined up at WR a lot.
    Archer caught a few passes and people want to say hes a slot WR. Far from it.
    I love him. I think he compares more closely to Jamal Charles. He may become a very good pass catching back with elite speed, but hes not much of a slot WR. Hes going to really need to develop those skills.

    I have Thomas rated higher because he is more elusive as a RB, and a much more polished receiver prospect. Also performed against much greater competition. Only thing Archer has on him is that 4.2 speed. Id grade Thomas a full round or 2 ahead of Archer. But I do think they will go very close to each other. Once one tinker toy goes, teams wont want to miss out on the other and he will go quick.

  25. 25 HazletonEagle said at 8:42 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    So archer averaged 20 some receptions a year and of course a bunch of those came out of the backfield not lined up at WR. Thats what im talking about. Thomas had more than him and played only 3 seasons and is really much more experienced in the slot.
    Of course Archers size dictates he is a tinker toy but people are pencil in him in primarily as a slot WR and he’s far from being that. He’s going to need a lot of work in that area of his game.

  26. 26 Insomniac said at 12:38 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Love Dri but he’s a gadget guy until he learns to run routes better.

  27. 27 Lukekelly65 said at 12:40 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I totally agree with you.. I would love to grab him in the later rounds but I think it all depends on how the draft shakes out the more I think about it trading down out of the first and adding picks sounds like a good call but it all depends who is on the board at 22 and how chip and howie feel about the later round talent

  28. 28 Cedric Basedprophet Bost said at 7:43 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    but he cant catch!! read a scouting report of watch some film of something!

  29. 29 Insomniac said at 12:36 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I’m not sure where you got the numbers on Landry from but they’re incorrect. Actual pro day results.

    http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=205112574

    Landry might not be the best athlete or the biggest but who cares? After Watkins and ODB, he’s one of the few WRs that are plug and play guys in this draft. He’ll gladly put his body on the line to make up for his physical limitations. You can’t teach that or his hands and knack for coming up with the ball. What he offers now is way better than what guys like Mike Evans (best illegal push-off in college) or Martavius Bryant can. The worse thing you can do is give this guy another chip on his shoulder so he’ll work his butt off to prove the doubters wrong. We know how that certain one guy did and now his records are untouchable.

  30. 30 mksp said at 12:43 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I think Chip’s analytics guy will tell him WRs w/ Landry’s measurables have a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of becoming a starting-level NFL WR. I guess we’ll see if Chip thinks he can overcome that.

  31. 31 Insomniac said at 12:48 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    You never know when that one in a million will come. The 49ers hit on it a few decades ago. Landry can thrive as a slot receiver in the league. He already has most of what Chip looks for in WRs. I don’t expect him to be drafted by us since Howie knows how to crush the hopes of fans.

  32. 32 anon said at 12:57 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    He plays in the SEC, led LSU in catches, yards and TDs, let the SEC in 3rd down catches for first downs. Unlike ODB he had 7 games with TDs, multiple games over 100yds receiving.

    Heard Pats took him to dinner — bet they miss Welker.

  33. 33 Insomniac said at 1:04 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    He really fights for those 3rd down conversions too.

  34. 34 mksp said at 10:26 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    There’s always guys that are able to overcome their physical limitations and be successful, but they’re rare, and the question is whether you want to use your limited resources on those guys.

    This is why a team like the 49ers, which is already stacked, and has 11 picks, is in such good position – they can use a 3rd or 4th round pick on Landry, and if he’s a bust, its not going to have a meaningful negative impact on their team.

    I’d take him if he’s still there in the 5th, but he’s nowhere near the athlete that a Welker or Ward was.

  35. 35 Insomniac said at 6:28 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    That’s interesting. If you compare Ward’s scouting report to Landry’s it’s the polar opposite. However, measurables and athleticism is almost on par. Ward was considered raw but Landry is polished and less fluid. Both have 3rd round grades.

    Ward’s scouting report
    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/events/1998/nfldraft/topplayers/39.html

  36. 36 Anders said at 6:47 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    or Kelly can just look at Jason Avant last year and see a young more dynamic clone of him.

  37. 37 TommyLawlor said at 8:04 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    @ insomniac…

    I linked to those results in the original post. But never trust the numbers a school puts out over the numbers Gil Brandt puts out. The school has an agenda. Brandt does not.

  38. 38 Insomniac said at 4:32 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    i’d take each of the numbers with a grain of salt. I tend to disagree with Brandt pretty often so there’s that too.

  39. 39 Lukekelly65 said at 12:54 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I believe the main things chip is looking for in a WR is RAC, blocking, and diversity.. I think if you can play all the WR positions and are willing to plays balls to the wall every play your a perfect fit on this offense.. I think using those three things to narrow down prospects I would say ODB, cooks, and donte moncrief are the three I see most fiting also Devin street from Pitt is a later round guy that I could see being a great fit at wide out for chip

  40. 40 Insomniac said at 1:03 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Cody Latimer fits the bill too.

  41. 41 Anders said at 6:46 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    PE.com did an article, they look for:

    Hands
    Route running
    YAC
    Blocking

    in that order. There is also some off hand comments from Kelly about been able to beat man coverage. Beating man coverage can be done by two means, 1 is route running and getting a good release and the other is size.

    Lets compare Cooper and Maclin. Maclin will beat man coverage with his elite route running and that he is strong enough to beat a jam. Cooper will beat it with his shear size as we saw last year, but will actually struggle against big press CBs

  42. 42 D3FB said at 1:36 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I know everyone wants to compare Landry to Boldin. He actually reminds me of a more recent draft prospect: Mohammed Sanu

    http://2011.scoutsnotebook.com/mohamed-sanu/

  43. 43 Insomniac said at 2:00 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I think you’re going to have to elaborate some more. I don’t really see it besides the toughness comparison.

  44. 44 D3FB said at 2:12 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Sanu is a bit taller. Both make catches with defenders hanging all over them. Both have the abilty to have RAC yards due to their ability to break through the tackle of the first man. Neither is a burner but they run good routes. Both were very good blockers. They both timed poorly. Both get off press coverage well. Both relish the opportunity to go over the middle and get smacked in the teeth, pick themselves up and go back and do it all over again.
    I don’t mean this as a slight to Landry in any way. I was a huge Sanu proponent during that draft. Somebody called Landry a rich mans Jason Avant the other day and that’s what prompted me to be reminded of Sanu.

  45. 45 Insomniac said at 2:31 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Thanks for the info as always. A rich mans Avant sounds a lot better than people think.

  46. 46 Anders said at 6:44 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    yea, I keep calling Landry a more dynamic Jason Avant.

  47. 47 RC5000 said at 3:24 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Sanu is significantly bigger and has a bigger catch radius and he’s a better leaper. The height could be closer depending on the tenths, I’m going by NFL.COM. Sanu has a bigger catch radius and is more athletic and has more quickness and strength. Both have big hands at 10+
    Sanu 6-2, 211 33 1/2 arm length, 36″ vertical, 126″ broad, 19 reps
    Landry 5-11, 205 31 3/4 arm length, 28.5″ vertical, 110″ broad, 12 reps
    Sanu was timed at 6.88 in 3 cone drill with 4.22 ss at combine, Landry was DNP but 7.41 3 cone drill at Pro Day with a 4.55 ss whereas Beckham was 6.69 3 cone drill. Landry’s vertical and broad were a 2-3″ better at Pro Day where he apparently weighed 196 instead of 205 at combine.
    You can’t only go by combine obviously or workout numbers but Landry’s are outliers so it could affect his stock some.

  48. 48 D3FB said at 3:38 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Sanu was bigger and a better athlete. I’m making the comp simply based on game film.

  49. 49 RC5000 said at 3:59 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Yes I know. ?

  50. 50 bubqr said at 5:42 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    He reminds me of….Jason Avant! Good hands, route running, body control, but not a great athlete. Remember him at Michigan, really similar situation – Great college WR, so-so workouts.

  51. 51 Dan said at 8:41 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    More of a Donald Driver type

  52. 52 GEAGLE said at 7:56 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I like the Hines Ward comparison

  53. 53 bubqr said at 6:23 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Jarvis Landry – Latest LSU prospect in whom I really believed in, despite poor workout numbers? Ali Highstmith. Does anyone remember how good he looked in college, how he could become our WLB of the future in the 2nd or 3rd round(that was on TATE back then)?
    Then he ran a 4.9x. I still believed in him, just a bit less. I think the Cards picked him up, and he washed out of the league.

    ODB: The more I watch some of the cut-ups on Youtube, the more I like him. really. He’s quick, runs good routes, has great hands, good YAC, what more than that do you need? I don’t believe he’ll be there at 22.

  54. 54 deg0ey said at 6:52 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I think all this courting of Marqise Lee is just a smokescreen. What they’re actually planning is to trade for Marc Easley from the Bills.

  55. 55 eagleyankfan said at 8:11 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    a lot of resources for a smoke screen….

  56. 56 GEAGLE said at 7:50 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    A-Rob making it out of the top 50 is a pipe dream…

    I’m starting to really want us to draft a rd 2 TE for the second year in a row….Austin Sefarian Jenkins paired with Ertz gives us a scary Future…

    Ideally they trade out of round 1, so we would have two 2s and two 3s

    Grab ASJ and KVN in round 2
    Moncrief and Marcus smith in round 3
    ….
    Really hoping we land Jeff Janis later! along with Deandre Coleman,Jonathon Dowling. atone Exum! Brent Urban

  57. 57 Tom W said at 10:23 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    ASF is a giant headache and uber diva supposedly. coming off a poor season where he supposedly didn’t give it his all.
    Dowling is horrible.

  58. 58 mksp said at 10:29 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Sometimes I swear you just grasp for big names and measurables.

    Have you ever watched tape of ASJ? Dude plays with no effort, one of the most lackadaisical “weapons” I’ve ever seen. And plays with a demonstratively poor attitude.

  59. 59 Scott J said at 7:52 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Do we really need another receiver in the same mold as Maclin and Cooper? I would prefer a guy with speed, besides Sproles.

  60. 60 A_T_G said at 8:22 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Clone Mac, Jax, Avant?
    Not enough balls on offense,
    Or Dix in the D.

  61. 61 eagleyankfan said at 9:23 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    That’s the million dollar question

  62. 62 Arby1 said at 2:54 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Are you confusing
    Cox with Dix again, A_T_?
    Understandable!

  63. 63 A_T_G said at 2:58 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Big Cox is no joke,
    But the play at safety was.
    Ha-ha to rescue.

    (And nicely done with the 5-sylable word!)

  64. 64 Arby1 said at 3:19 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Oh, I see – safety,
    Who plays on All-Penis team?
    Ha Ha Clinton Dix.

  65. 65 IrishEagle25 said at 8:24 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I dont think we need to take one in round one, as much as i love ODB, because i dont think it will be the most important position in our offence.. for example say we pass on a WR in the first but come away with a Landry/Latimer/Moncrief level reciever along with a versitle guy like DAT or Archer, i think id be just as happy… By having 2 guys get 700 yards each rather than one getting 1100 and another 300 its harder for a defence to know where the ball is going on any play…
    By doing that you can also spell players so that they dont have to be on the field for every snap keeping them fresher and more explosive later in the game.

  66. 66 Ryan said at 9:23 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    I would love to get Allen Robinson. I think that he’s a better player than Lee and projects better to the pros. He is an excellent athlete that reminds me of TO in size, speed, and style of play without the drama. He’s not quite as athletic as Lee but it’s close and Robinson’s size more than makes up for any of that. Lee strikes me as similar to Jeremy Maclin–above average at several things but not really outstanding in anything.

  67. 67 Tom W said at 10:28 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    ODb may be my favorite player in this draft. But there is at least 4-6 other guys mentioned from LSU the eagles could draft …. Barrow and Loston would be nice value in the fifth and Ego Ferguson is like a Logan clone.

    I think Mettenberger will end up being the best qb in the entire qb class. Read the vikes and bucs really like him in the second.

    Landry may fall to the 5th-7th rd now …. somebody is gonna get a strong wr3.

    Hell .. Jeremy HIll has probably the most upside of any rb in this draft.

    Trai Turner is young and a stud athletic guard … wonder if we are interested in the 4th-5th rd area

  68. 68 Tom W said at 11:34 AM on April 10th, 2014:

    Why does Moesher act like he is the one breaking the story and has sources when it was a national story first … by just repeating the national story and acting like that is a source is a joke. seriously just give the national story author credit and retweet his story instead of pawning it off as your own

  69. 69 austinfan said at 2:58 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Workouts provide valuable information, but it’s just part of the whole set. One of the things I look at is weights at different workouts, Robinson would worry me, he looks very nifty at 207 lbs, but can he play that light? And what happens as he fills out naturally over the next few years, does that mean he’ll slow down (see Fred-ex). Red flags.

    Huge red flag for Ego Ferguson, dropped from 315 to 302 lbs for his workout, then put up 5.03 SS and a 8.00 cone, we’re talking serious slug, which is ok for 330 lb NTs, not guys at a “3” weight.

    All I’ll say about Lee is Isaac Bruce, 4.50 speed, not that big, all he did was put together an elite career, including solid playoff performances. Another name I’ll throw at you is Reggie Wayne, 4.55 speed, but in the end has had a more impressive career than Marvin Harrison, his teammate, and a much better playoff performer. Speed is the most overrated characteristic of WRs, route running, body control, eye to hand coordination and soft hands are more important.

  70. 70 ACViking said at 6:08 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Austinfan:

    I’d like to read more about why you think Wayne’s outperformed his former teammate Harrison. The raw numbers — receptions, yards, TDs — don’t seem to support you.

    Harrison: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HarrMa00.htm
    Wayne: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WaynRe00.htm

  71. 71 Insomniac said at 6:16 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Marvin’s postseason stats aren’t very good.

    16 Games
    7-9
    65 catches
    883 yards
    13.58 yards per catch
    2 TDs
    1 2 point conversion

    compared to Reggie Wayne’s stats.

    18 Games
    9-9
    92 catches
    1242 yards
    13.50 yards per catch
    9 TDs

    1 2 point conversion

  72. 72 ACViking said at 6:52 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Neither were Jim Brown’s.

    But I’m not sure what to make of that, except the other team’s shut him down.

  73. 73 Iskar36 said at 3:14 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Obviously if they “tried” to do this trade and it didn’t work, we would need to add more to the trade offer to get it done, but if they can make this happen without using our first round pick, I would LOVE this deal.

    https://twitter.com/BrandonGowton/status/454335164697415680

  74. 74 Anders said at 3:53 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    I would Graham and a 1st

  75. 75 Insomniac said at 4:27 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    I’d just offer the first straight up for him. Trade BG for a lower pick and have 5 picks instead of 4.

  76. 76 Anders said at 4:50 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    That works as well.

  77. 77 anon said at 10:12 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Might use that first to get a 2 and a 4.

  78. 78 SteveH said at 4:51 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    This all the way. You’re dealing an expendable asset in Graham, otherwise you’re trading basically the 22nd overall pick for the guy who went 3rd overall last year, someone who fits your system perfectly and has a history with your HC.

    Thinking about it this way, would you trade Graham and the 22nd overall for the 3rd overall pick? I think most people would say hell yes in a heartbeat.

  79. 79 Insomniac said at 7:12 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    For this years 3rd pick? You’ll have to do the Falcon’s mortgage for Julio Jones for that. Dion Jordan would have a decent chance of going top 15 pick this year. Draft status is highly overrated but in terms of value, he shouldn’t be worth more than a 2nd and more.

  80. 80 Sean Stott said at 7:13 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    That’s bad thinking. Trent Richardson was also the third overall pick, and he’s terrible. TBH, Dion Jordan is looking closer to terrible than a top3 pick. Brandon Graham is straight up better than he is at linebacker, defensive end, and pass rushing. I don’t understand why people like Dion so much. He was useless last year.

  81. 81 Insomniac said at 7:15 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    They’re not losing much in Jordan either and quite honestly forking over a first in this draft would be a steal for them.

  82. 82 D3FB said at 7:16 AM on April 11th, 2014:

    Now you’re talking out your butt. On no planet is Brandon Graham a better linebacker than Dion Jordan. Graham’s ability to drop into coverage is subpar. Graham’s pass rush involve power moves only. Brandon Graham has about as much value in a 34 as a bag of potato chips. His athleticism is gone after that microfracture surgery. All these criticisms have played out over multiple years.

    If you were to kidnap Dion Jordan the day before last years draft and bring him forward in time to this years draft, he would go right behind Mack. He would be a top 10 player. What changed between then and now? He was forced to play in a scheme that he does not fit, as a roookie, behind a perennial pro bowler and a guy who burst on the scene with 11.5 sacks.

  83. 83 Iskar36 said at 7:22 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    I understand why people would be excited by this trade, but I can’t say I fully buy into the logic that you are using. It really isn’t trading Graham and the 22nd overall for the 3rd overall pick. The same argument can be made with a negative spin that it is trading Graham and the 22nd overall pick for a player the Dolphins believe is a bust for them.

    Obviously that is the extreme negative spin version, but the only reason Miami would be willing to part with Jordan is because they believe he isn’t a good enough pass rusher as a DE in the 4-3. Keep in mind, to trade him they would have to believe that so strongly that they are willing to take on a significant cap hit. While moving to OLB in a 3-4 in theory should be a (much) better fit for Jordan, you have to seriously wonder if THAT’S ALL it takes to make him go from “bust” to “elite.” That really seems unlikely to me.

    I don’t question that Jordan would have value here, and I do think the fact that Chip Kelly knows him well and apparently wants him here is a good sign, but at the same time, I think it is an oversimplified analysis to just throw out all of last year. He will be rushing from a different position, but he will still be going up against an LT and will be required to us technique, power, and speed to beat the tackle to the QB.

    I wouldn’t be necessarily upset if we did that trade, but I definitely don’t think it is as simple an equation as trading Graham and our first for the 3rd overall.

  84. 84 Insomniac said at 4:26 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Better add Damaris Johnson and Roc Carmichael too.

  85. 85 Ark87 said at 4:32 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    maybe throw swoop in?

  86. 86 Insomniac said at 4:34 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    I’m sure that throwing in the Sixers would seal the deal.

  87. 87 Ark87 said at 4:35 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    where do I sign?

  88. 88 Insomniac said at 4:39 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Knowing Howie and Chip? Probably some Cuban Sandwich place in Miami.

  89. 89 Ark87 said at 4:50 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Can we get that with the trade?

  90. 90 anon said at 10:09 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Honestly, Curry + a RB + 2 + 7 is where i’d be at if I was the dolphins.

  91. 91 JJ_Cake said at 9:04 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    The thing that bothers me the most about this report, and somewhat linked to the DJax one… seems that the Eagles’ partners can’t keep their mouths shut.
    Everone knew we didn’t want DJax, hence no one would trade for him; Everyone now “knows” or thinks they know we don’t want Graham either, so his value is worth nothing.
    The Dolphins feel like they have the upper hand because we want Jordan.
    I’ll credit the Eagles with trying to get Jordan and trying to get something for DJax, but they didn’t play the game very well. At the least they ought to come out and squash the perception that the FO is a bunch of suckers. Have Howie laugh it off and say “Chip and Dion have a great relationship going back to thier Oregon days, we felt like the Dolphins weren’t utilizing Dion as well as we could and made them an offer that we thought would be a win-win, obviously we are high on Graham as he’s been an outstanding player for us. Seemed like a no brainer, we tarade a 4/3 DEfor a 3/4 LB. We changed our D to 3/4 and the fins are runing a 4/3

  92. 92 anon said at 10:09 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    True in any negotiation, plus i mean what are we really giving them? Nothing basically for a top 4 pick last year.

    Interesting that Curry isn’t there. I’d be interested to see if they don’t try him at OLB.

  93. 93 JJ_Cake said at 2:52 AM on April 11th, 2014:

    Brandon was the 13th pick in his draft, and has showed flashes as a DE. If the biggest issue is that the dolphins take a big cap hit before June 1, then ok, I get it.

    It still pisses me off to see all these reports about, the eagles were trying to trade so and so, and our FO guys are just staying quiet and taking it.

    Have some balls guys and put a positive spin to make us smell like “roses”… Mr. Roseman (I do like Howie, but couldn’t resist)

  94. 94 Joe Minx said at 4:38 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Gil Brandt‏@Gil_Brandt
    Kelvin Benjamin 30th in my new rankings. Was told KB recently blew off workout w NFL coach who had made special trip, said he was too tired

    How would this affect where you’d take him Tommy?

  95. 95 Insomniac said at 4:40 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Personally, I’d cross him off the board unless he’s there in the 4th/5th. That attitude won’t fit here.

  96. 96 Anders said at 4:51 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    I do not want him at all. We just cut a far better talent at WR than Benjamin, so doubt he will be on the board at all

  97. 97 Joe Minx said at 4:52 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Agreed. I’d probably take him off my board entirely. I’m curious to see how other decision makers will view it.

  98. 98 Mac said at 4:58 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    I seem to recall Tommy having little interest in Benjamin to begin with… so this is probably like strike 5 or 6.

  99. 99 Joe Minx said at 5:04 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    You’re right, Tommy doesn’t particularly care for him anyway. I meant more from the standpoint of how it would change his opinion were he an objective GM.

  100. 100 Anders said at 5:07 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    I would guess it would take him completely off.

  101. 101 A_T_G said at 5:58 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Wow, whatever his measurement is for the broad jump, they need to update it. He just leapt two days in a single bound.

  102. 102 ACViking said at 5:58 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Is there not the possibility that Brandt’s being played by someone?

    That this is just a BS story put out by some team that wants Benjamin to drop?

    The kid already has a few issues: 23 year-old r-Soph; only 1 notable year; weak combine.

    Seems almost too hard to believe that he just “blew off” a coach who made a “special” trip.

    Also, the term “private workout” wasn’t used.

  103. 103 Neil said at 6:04 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    This is a good point. It’s hard to believe anybody who isn’t at DRC levels of I don’t care could pull something like this.

  104. 104 Iskar36 said at 7:00 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    No idea whether the story is true or not, but I have always been under the impression that Brandt does good work and has good sources. I wouldn’t necessarily take what he says as 100% fact, but I would definitely think it has reasonable credibility.

  105. 105 Phils Goodman said at 6:20 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Speaking of LSU… Donte Moncrief vs LSU (2012)

    http://youtu.be/qNmiRu3Kcf0

    I kept saying, “Wow, wow, wow, wow.” Don’t judge his game based on the mostly terrible QB performance. His ability to dominate single coverage and get behind a talented defense looks incredible. And his blocking is outstanding. I have to rank him with Cooks and Adams as potential studs at #22.

  106. 106 Weapon Y said at 7:40 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    Anyone think DaQuan Jones could be a fit here? Or what about John Urschel for o-line depth? Chip could’ve just had Azzinaro or Stoutland respectively come to Pro Day if those were his primary targets, so he clearly was interested in Robinson (skill guys are his expertise and he’s not going to go out of his way for a 3rd-5th round guy). But it’s possible he might have seen something in one of those two guys and will move them up his board.

  107. 107 D3FB said at 6:59 AM on April 11th, 2014:

    Both Jones and Urschel are fits. Jones has ideal size to play NT and has experience taking on and fighting through double teams, and he has shown a few flashes at rushing the passer. Urschel absolutely fits our scheme and I would love to have him. He’s a little athletically limited, he’s never going to be an all pro, however he does all the little things so well. You can see his intelligence show up on game tape, he’s very cerebral, and it’s a pleasure to watch that quality of line play, even if he’s not the most physically overwhelming prospect. Urschel would be a late day 3/UDFA pickup that could back up both guard spots and maybe play some emergency center, who would provide competition for any “guards of the future”

  108. 108 Cedric Basedprophet Bost said at 7:42 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    to say marquise lee isnt a burner and that he has never been is just hindsight!! if anyone would have asked what do they expect lee to run at the combine tommy would have said 4.3 4.4 range. the man kills people deep from the 5 games i watched.

  109. 109 Mitchell said at 10:16 PM on April 10th, 2014:

    YAY!!!!!! My Disqus works again!!!!

  110. 110 Fabrizio said at 6:10 AM on April 11th, 2014:

    A 1st and B.G FOR Dion Jordan and their 2nd.

  111. 111 The Linc – What Could Nick Foles’ Next Contract Look Like? | Sports Feedr said at 7:40 AM on April 11th, 2014:

    […] Eagles Draft Nuggets – Tommy Lawlor, Iggles BlitzChip Kelly was a Penn State’s Pro Day and got to see WR Allen Robinson up close and personal. Robinson changed his body from the Combine, hoping to be faster and more athletic. In Indy he was 220 and ran 4.6. At the Pro Day, Robinson was down to 207 and ran in the 4.5 range. He isn’t a burner on tape. I am curious as to what size he played at this year. PSU had him listed at 210. Was he heavy at the Combine or had he bulked up intentionally? I like Robinson for the Eagles. He has good RAC skills and would fit the offense well. The one concern is that he’s a marginal blocker, and that is probably a generous description. Kelly would only draft him if Robinson promised that he’d be a better blocker in the NFL. I wouldn’t consider him at 22, but would think about him at pick 54. […]