NFL Draft Talk from Eagles Would Trade Up for Cox, Not Tannehill

SI.com and TFY Draft Insider Tony Pauline brings us the latest round of scuttlebutt about the draft, including another twist to the possibility of the Eagles trading up in the first round:

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There’s been a buzz building around the Philadelphia Eagles potentially trading up for Ryan Tannehill.  Several sources have told us if the Eagles trade into the top ten it will be for defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, not Tannehill. Cox would be perfect for the Eagles wide nine/nine technique.

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My Take: Although Cox is a much higher floor talent with just as high a ceiling as Tannehill at his position, position scarcity would seem to dictate that Tannehill would be the pick if the team really evaluates him as a potential franchise QB. Cox is absolutely worth a trade up, however, so perhaps what Pauline is referring to is the possibility of trading up to No. 9 or 10 for Cox after Miami selects Tannehill eighth. The price for the No. 7 pick of Jacksonville would be significantly higher because of the potential to take Tannehill.

All that being said, I believe Cox goes to St. Louis at No. 6 unless Trent Richardson or Morris Claiborne leak through to their pick.

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Why has Kevin Zeitler moved up boards and why is he getting first round consideration by a number of teams?  According to several sources many feel Zeitler is as NFL ready as any guard in the draft and could break into a starting line-up early in his rookie career.  He does not possess the upside of the other guards graded immediately above or below him, yet has little in the way of downside.

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My Take: Zeitler is indeed the high-floor/low-ceiling prospect that Pauline describes. Playoff teams picking in the late first often remain playoff teams by swinging for singles and doubles instead of home runs, and Zeitler fits that profile. Baltimore, San Francisco and the New York Giants could be among that "number of teams" giving him first round consideration.

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Fast rising Shea McClellin of Boise State is getting a lot of consideration at middle/inside linebacker by a number of teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, who we reported last week will explore trading down from the 14th spot.  McClellin showed at the Senior Bowl he could quickly adjust to a number of traditional linebacker spots.  McClellin continues to move north on draft boards.  We were told one franchise tried to squeeze him in for a last minute visit but there was no room on the schedule.

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My Take: McClellin has been going to Green Bay in my most recent mocks, and this does nothing to change that. Meanwhile, yet another player has been added to the Cowboys' list of targets. By next Thursday, every player ranked 10th-50th will be a first-round target for them.

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Word from the Windy City is the Chicago Bears are more likely to take a defensive lineman in round one then look for a slot receiver in the second or third frame based on the strengths of each position in the draft.  If Michael Brockers of LSU is there we hear the team will select him.  Last week we reported Chicago has an interest in Shea McClellin.  We now hear Whitney Mercilus of Illinois has been ranked high on the teams board.  Mercilus did visit the Bears and was worked out privately by the team.

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My Take: Mercilus to the Bears has made sense for awhile, but Brockers is an interesting possibility. His size/athleticism combo could make him attractive to teams across the defensive scheme spectrum. Note however, that Brockers is being linked now to teams in the late teens, as opposed to the late top 10, as he was back in January.

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Fighting Illini teammate AJ Jenkins continues to move up boards.  Sources tell us the receiver could land in the late second and most feel if available the St Louis Rams will tab Jenkins in round three.

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My Take: The Rams need a lot of help at wide receiver, so this wouldn't be incompatible with a selection of Justin Blackmon in the first. Jenkins is a speedy wide receiver who could be an excellent complementary receiver to a rugged long-armed target like Blackmon.