2018 Draft Preview – Day 2

Let’s focus on the 2nd round. The Eagles have pick 52. As frustrating as it will be to wait for the Eagles to finally pick, there are plenty of good players on the board. There will be good choices.

*** 1st Rounders still left ***

WR: Christian Kirk, Courtland Sutton

TE: Dallas Goedert

OL: Will Hernandez, James Daniels, Connor Williams

DE: Harold Landry

S: Justin Reid

CB: Josh Jackson, Isaiah Oliver

*** 2nd Round ***

QB:

RB: Derrius Guice, Ronald Jones, Nick Chubb, Kerryon Johnson

WR: Anthony Miller, Dante Pettis, D.J. Chark

TE:

OL: Tyler Crosby, Martinas Rankin, Brian O’Neill, Austin Corbett

DE: Uchenna Nwosu, Sam Hubbard, Kemoko Turay, Rasheem Green, Josh Sweat

DT: Harrison Phillips, B.J. Hill, Nathan Shepard

LB: Darius Leonard, Lorenzo Carter

IB:

S: Ronnie Harrison, Jessie Bates, Tarvarius Moore

CB: Donte Jackson

That is more than 20 players. The Eagles are going to have good choices. Not all of those guys will be on the Eagles board, but then again there will be other players picked who aren’t on the list above. The Eagles will have good options.

Here are the guys who I think have a chance to be on the board at 52 and make some sense for the Eagles.

DE Kemoko Turay
RB Kerryon Johnson
WR Christian Kirk
DE Uchenna Nwosu
CB Donte Jackson
OL Austin Corbett
LB Darius Leonard

Let me offer some short thoughts on the players.

DE Kemoko Turay – 6-5, 253 – Rutgers – Freshman All-American who then battled injuries for two years. Got healthy in 2017 and played well. Really opened eyes at the Senior Bowl, showing just how explosive he can be. You would draft him more for potential than production, but could develop into a good starting DE in the NFL so might just be worth pick 52. Also feels like the Eagles would like to add one more pass rusher this year. They could lose a few guys next year.

RB Kerryon Johnson – 5-11, 213 – Auburn – The Eagles have publicly shown no interest in KJ, but he looks like an Eagles RB. Can catch the ball. Can block. Has terrific feet and is able to make defenders miss. Just feels like one of those players who could turn into a monster in the NFL.

WR Christian Kirk – 5-10, 201 – Texas A&M – Dynamic returner and outstanding WR. Can thrive in the slot or play outside. Scored 26 receiving TDs in three years and 7 return TDs. Kirk is a playmaker any time he gets the ball in his hands.

DE Uchenna Nwosu – 6-2, 251 – USC – Simply put, a football player. Outstanding pass rusher for USC, but so much more than that. Dropped back and played in coverage. Had an uncanny ability to jump at the LOS and knock down passes. Credited with 13 PDs this year. Very disruptive player. Not a huge guy or special athlete, but jumps off the tape when you watch USC play. I could see Joe Douglas and the Eagles coaches loving him.

CB Donte Jackson – 5-10, 178 – LSU – Versatile DB with explosive speed and some return ability. Could compete for the nickel spot right away. Could also help on STs. Lacks ideal size, but that build can work in the slot. Ran 4.32 at the Combine.

OL Austin Corbett – 6-4, 306 – Nevada – Played LT in college, but projects to OG or OC in the NFL. Outstanding run blocker with a real nasty streak. Game tape is a lot of fun to watch. Doesn’t just want to block defenders. Wants to punish them. Eagles could use versatile OL to offer depth at OT, OG and even C.

LB Darius Leonard – 6-2, 234 – SC State – Star player at the I-AA level who went to the Senior Bowl and stood out as the best LB down there. Could play MLB or OLB in the 4-3. Has good instincts and always seems to be around the ball. Has good range. Runs well and can hit/tackle. Would offer depth in case the Eagles move on from Jordan Hicks or Nigel Bradham in the future.   

*****

Here is my review of the move back from 32.

*****

Overall Preview

The picks:

2 – 52
4 – 130
4 – 125
5 – 169
6 – 206
7 – 250

The needs:

Slot
TE
RB
S
LB

The Eagles need some youth at other positions, but those are more about the future than the present.

With Patrick Robinson gone in free agency, the team could use someone to come in and challenge for the slot spot right away. This could be pick 32 or a mid-rounder. The Eagles might play Jalen Mills or Sidney Jones inside, but would love a rookie to come in and make a strong push for that job.

LeGarrette Blount also left. The Eagles would like someone to add to the RB mix. I think there is also a concern about the future. The team may not want to pay Jay Ajayi big money down the line so having a rookie to develop at that spot would make sense.

The Eagles need depth at S. Corey Graham might retire. Chris Maragos is coming off an injury and is better on STs than defense. Unless the team secretly loves Tre Sullivan, they really do need some depth at this spot.

LB could be set if everyone is healthy, but it feels like the Eagles still would like to add another body to the mix.

There is always a need for young talent on the lines.     

WR and DE could be positions of need in 2019 so there is something to be said for drafting those spots now to give the players a year to learn before having to play extensive snaps.

DEPTH CHART (key players)

WR  Alshon Jeffery … Mack Hollins
WR  Mike Wallace … Shelton Gibson
WR  Nelson Agholor …
QB  Carson Wentz … Nick Foles … Nate Sudfeld
RB  Jay Ajayi ………… Corey Clement … Wendell Smallwood
TE  Zach Ertz …….…. Richard Rodgers … Billy Brown
LT  Jason Peters …….… Halapoulivaati Vaitai
LG  Stefen Wisniewski … Isaac Seumalo
OC  Jason Kelce
RG  Brandon Brooks … Chance Warmack
RT  Lane Johnson

DE  Brandon Graham …. Chris Long … Steven Means
DT  Fletcher Cox ……….. Destiny Vaeao
DT  Tim Jernigan ………. Haloti Ngata ….. Elijah Qualls
DE  Derek Barnett ………… Michael Bennett
WB  Mychal Kendricks … Corey Nelson … Nate Gerry
MB  Jordan Hicks ……….. Paul Worrilow
SB  Nigel Bradham ……… Kamu Grugier-Hill
SS  Malcolm Jenkins …… Chris Maragos
FS  Rodney McLeod ….. Tre Sullivan
CB  Ronald Darby  ……. Rasul Douglas
CB  Sidney Jones  ………….. D.J. Killings
NB  Jalen Mills

P Cameron Johnston
K Jake Elliott
LS Rick Lovato

*****

VISITS / WORKOUTS INFO

Visits to Philly

RB Derrius Guice – LSU
RB Rashaad Penny – San Diego State
RB Ronald Jones – USC
WR Daurice Fountain – Northern Iowa
WR Courtland Sutton – SMU
TE Chris Herndon – Miami
OT Chukwuma Okorafor- Western Michigan
OT Connor Williams – Texas
OT Jamil Demby – Maine
OC James Daniels – Iowa

DE Uchenna Nwosu – USC
DE Kemoko Turay – Rutgers
LB Leighton Vander Esch – BYU
LB Darius Leonard – South Carolina State
LB Jermaine Carter Jr. – Maryland
LB Rashaan Evans – Alabama
S Justin Reid – Stanford
S Ronnie Harrison – Alabama
S Jeremy Reaves – South Alabama
CB Donte Jackson – LSU
CB Mike Hughes – UCF
CB Jaire Alexander – Louisville
CB Isaiah Oliver – Colorado
CB Tremon Smith – Central Arkansas

Pro Days

OT Orlando Brown – Oklahoma – OL coach worked him out at Pro Day
OT Chukwuma Okorafor – WMU – Jeff Stoutland worked him out at Pro Day
OT Mike McGlinchey – Notre Dame – Asst OL coach Eugene Chung worked him out at his Pro Day
OT Jamil Demby – Maine – Asst OL coach T.J. Paganetti worked him out at his Pro Day
OT Mattias Rankin – Mississippi State – Jeff Stoutland at his Pro Day
OT Matt Gono – Wesley – scout at his Pro Day…visit in Philly for local pro day
OT Brandon Parker – NC A&T – Private workout
OT Matt Diaz – Wagner – private workout

OG Austin Corbett – Nevada – OL coach at his Pro Day
OG Will Hernandez – UTEP – OL coach worked him out at his Pro Day
OG Quenton Nelson – Notre Dame – Asst OL coach Eugene Chung worked him out at his Pro Day
OG Tony Adams – NC State – Private workout

OC Tanner Stallings – UTEP – OL coach worked him out at his Pro Day

TE Tyler Conklin – Central Michigan – TE coach at his Pro Day
TE Hayden Hurst – South Carolina – TE coach at his Pro Day
TE Durham Smythe – Notre Dame – TE coach Justin Peelle worked him out at his Pro Day
TE David Wells – San Diego State – Eagles will work him out
TE Ben Johnson – Kansas – Eagles showing interest
TE Dallas Goedert – South Dakota State – TE coach Justin Peelle worked him out at his Pro Day

WR J’Mon Moore – Missouri – Says he is “receiving interest from the Eagles”
WR Christian Kirk – Texas A&M – WRs coach Gunter Brewer worked him out at Pro Day
WR Courtland Sutton – SMU – Eagles to meet with him before Pro Day
WR D.J. Moore – Maryland – private workout
WR Anthony Miller – WRs coach at his Pro Day
WR Qadree Henderson – Pitt – Eagles showing interest
WR Korey Robertson – Southern Miss – Eagles showing interest

RB Nyheim Hines – NC State – Duce Staley at his Pro Day
RB Jaylen Samuels – NC State – Duce Staley at his Pro Day
RB Kalen Ballage – Arizona State – Duce Staley at his Pro Day
RB Sony Michel – Georgia – Duce Staley worked him out at his Pro Day
RB Nick Chubb – Georgia – Duce Staley w0rked him out at his Pro Day
RB Trent Cannon – Virginia State – scout worked him out at Pro Day
RB Chase Edmonds – Fordham – Eagles showing interest

QB Kyle Lauletta – Richmond – Press Taylor at his Pro Day…also a private workout

RS/WR Braxton Berrios – Miami – Eagles scout worked him out at Pro Day

***

DE Kentavious Street – NC State – DL coach Phillip Daniels at his Pro Day
DE Rasheem Green – USC – DL coach Chris Wilson worked him out at his Pro Day
DE Josh Sweat – Florida State – DL coach Chris Wilson worked him out at his Pro Day
DE Harold Landry – Boston College – Jim Schwartz was at his Pro Day
DE Joe Ostman – Central Michigan – Showing interest
DE Cavon Walker – Maryland – Met with him at his Pro Day

DT Nathan Shepard – Fort Hays State – DL coach worked him out at Pro Day
DT Tim Settle – Virginia Tech – DL coach worked him out at Pro Day
DT Joshua Frazier – Alabama – met with him
DT B.J. Hill – NC State – DL coach Phillip Daniels at his Pro Day
DT Justin Jones – NC State – DL coach Phillip Daniels at his Pro Day
DT Josh Fatu – USC – DL coach Chris Wilson was at his Pro Day
DT John Atkins – Georgia – DL coach Phillip Daniels at his Pro Day
DT Trenton Thompson – Georgia – DL coach Phillip Daniels at his Pro Day
DT Derrick Nnadi – Florida State – DL coach Chris Wilson worked him out at his Pro Day
DT Tracy Sprinkle – Ohio State – talked to him at his Pro Day
DT P.J. Hall – Sam Houston State – campus workout
DT McKay Murphy – Weber State – son of Dale Murphy…Eagles met with him at Pro Day
DT Taven Bryan – Florida – DL coach Chris Wilson worked him out at Pro Day
DT Maurice Hurst – Michigan – asst DL coach Phillip Daniels worked him out at his Pro Day
DT Julian Taylor – Temple – private visit
DT Bilal Nichols – Delaware – private workout

LB Nate Cichy – Wisconsin – LB coach at his Pro Day
LB Jaylyin Minor – Cincinnati – interviewed by multiple Eagles scouts at all star game
LB Uchenna Nwosu – USC – extensive interview at his Pro Day…DL coach was there
LB Nick DeLuca – North Dakota State – Private workout
LB Leighton Vander Esch – Boise State – LBs coach worked him out at his Pro Day

S Jordan Brown – James Madison – Eagles showing interest
S Natrell Jamerson – Wisconsin – Eagles showing interest

CB Chandon Sullivan – Georgia State – coach at his Pro Day
CB Tremon Smith – Central Arkansas – met with him before his Pro Day
CB Trey Johnson – Villanova – met with him at his Pro Day
CB Josh Jackson – Iowa – Eagles showing lots of interest per Tony Pauline
CB Malik Reaves – Villanova – private visit or workout

LOCAL PRO DAY

RB Ray Lawry – Old Dominion
P Ryan Anderson – Rutgers

SMALL SCHOOLS

James Madison – scout at Pro Day
Maine – scout at Pro Day
Missouri Western – scout at Pro Day
Fairmont State – scout at Pro Day

Do visits and workouts matter? Heck yes. The Eagles brought in Derek Barnett last year. They brought in Shelton Gibson as well, so this isn’t all about 1st round picks either. This stuff definitely matters.

One key point…not every visit or workout gets leaked before the draft. Always keep that in mind.

*****

ALL TOMMY TEAM 

(my favorite non-1st round players)

QB Mason Rudolph – Oklahoma State
RB  Jaylen Samuels – NC State
WR  James Washington – Oklahoma State
WR  DaeSean Hamilton – Penn State
WR  Byron Pringle – Kansas State
TE  Durham Smythe – Notre Dame
OT  Jamil Demby – Maine
OG  Colby Gosseett – Appalachian State
OC  Will Clapp – LSU
OG  Braden Smith – Auburn
OT  Brandon Parker – NC A&T

DE  Uchenna Nwosu – USC
DT  Foley Fatukasi – UConn
DT  Trenton Thompson – Georgia
DE  Marquis Haynes – Ole Miss
LB  Fred Warner – BYU
LB  Josey Jewell – Iowa
LB  Darius Leonard – SC State
S  Siran Neal – Jacksonville State
S  Marcus Allen – Penn State
CB  Avonte Maddox – Pitt
CB  M.J. Stewart – UNC

***

Please draft a couple of these players

WR Christian Kirk
WR Dante Pettis
TE Durham Smythe
OT Jamil Demby
OT Brandon Parker
OG Colby Gossett
RB Sony Michel
RB Jaylen Samuels

DE Justin Lawler
DT P.J. Hall
DT Foley Fatukasi
LB Andre Smith
LB Jack Cichy
S Siran Neal
S Trayvon Henderson
S Jeremy Reaves
CB M.J. Stewart
CB Avonte Maddox
CB Grant Haley

Please avoid these players

DE Tyquan Lewis – Talented, but highly inconsistent.
OT Kolton Miller – Huge and talented, but a project as well. Not worth a 1st rounder.
DE Rasheem Green – I don’t get the hype.
OT Chukwuma Okorafor – Tons of potential, but too erratic for me.
TE Mike Gesicki – I love him as a prospect, just not for the Eagles. Essentially he’s a giant WR. Eagles need a TE.

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