Philadelphia Eagles' Top Needs, Fits for 2015 NFL Draft to Build for the Future

With free agency more or less wrapping up, the Philadelphia Eagles are turning their attention to the NFL draft. Reports of private workouts, trips to pro days and prospects visiting the team facility have been ramping up in recent weeks as the Birds begin to go about finalizing their board.

This is a critical draft for the Eagles, as there are significant needs all over the roster. Cornerback, safety, linebacker, wide receiver, offensive line and possibly even quarterback are all areas of concern for Philly exiting free agency, and with training camp and the regular season approaching, this will be one of the last opportunities to address all of them.

That's what the interviews, pro days and visits are all about—finding the right fits. Hundreds of promising athletes will have their names called in the draft, but they aren't all necessarily talents the Eagles will covet for their culture and scheme.

We went ahead and evaluated Philly's biggest needs and why, then looked at prospects the Eagles have either been formally linked to or who would otherwise make sense. Given the comprehensive nature of this list, don't be surprised to find several of these names herein wind up wearing midnight green this coming season.

Safety

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

If you thought Philadelphia couldn’t do any worse than Nate Allen at safety, well, it seems the club is putting that theory to the test. Allen departed via free agency, and after the Eagles failed to lure Devin McCourty from New England, they didn’t bother signing a replacement.

Nor is there a clear-cut alternative on the roster. As of now, 2013 fifth-round selection Earl Wolff is the front-runner to start alongside Malcolm Jenkins. In fact, those are the only two players on the team with meaningful NFL experience at the position. Obviously, competition must be sought in the draft.

Eric Rowe, Utah

Rowe actually played cornerback his senior season, breaking up 13 passes and grabbing one interception, which he returned for a touchdown. The previous three years, he started at safety, racking up an additional 23 breakups and two picks. That versatility will appeal to the Eagles, who like to use their safeties in man coverage, but could also deploy Rowe as a corner in their dime package.

Rowe’s measureables are off the charts, standing 6’1”, 205 pounds and finishing among the top-performing safeties in literally every drill at the combine. The Birds visited with Rowe at the Senior Bowl, while head coach Chip Kelly attended Utah’s pro day.

Damarious Randall, Arizona State

At 5’11”, 196 pounds, with 30 ¼" arms, Randall isn’t as big or long as the Eagles traditionally prefer in a defensive back. However, it’s difficult to argue with the rest of the numbers.

Randall was among the top three performers at safety in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle at this year’s combine. The junior college transfer also recorded six interceptions—two for touchdowns—and four forced fumbles in two seasons at ASU. Dane Brugler for CBSSports.com reported on March 12 that Randall had a visit lined up with Philly.

Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss

Prewitt burst onto the national scene in 2013, leading the SEC with six interceptions and going on to earn first-team all-conference honors the past two seasons. He finished his four-year career with 12 picks and five forced fumbles. Prewitt possesses excellent size at 6’2”, 208 pounds but is neither the best athlete nor the strongest. The Eagles met with Prewitt at the Senior Bowl.

Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State

Philadelphia’s reps also met with Drummond at the Senior Bowl. Though he’s viewed more as a late-round pick, Drummond has nice size (6’1”, 208 lbs) and was productive at MSU (12 interceptions in four seasons). However, the 2014 Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year is a limited athlete, which will push him down draft boards.

Landon Collins, Alabama

Because safety is such a huge need, and because this year’s class is a thin crop, Collins—as the only first-round talent available—inevitably will be linked to the Eagles. The truth of the matter is, as Sheil Kapadia explores for Philadelphia Magazine, the consensus All-American doesn’t fit the Birds’ scheme, making this an unlikely marriage.

Cornerback

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Sticking with the secondary for a moment, a lot of people seem to be under the impression that the situation at cornerback has been fixed in Philadelphia. It hasn’t. The only proven talent under contract beyond 2015 is Byron Maxwell, and it remains to be seen if he’s worth the massive free-agent payday.

Even if the Eagles can get by with what they have for one season (which is debatable), they can’t afford to exit the draft without addressing this looming need.

Byron Jones, Connecticut

Jones wasn’t too high on many radars until the combine, where he put on one of the most impressive all-around displays in the event’s history. Besides potentially setting a new world record with a broad jump of 12 foot, three inches, Jones was among the top-performing cornerbacks in the vertical jump, three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle.

According to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt, the Eagles sent a large contingent to Connecticut’s pro day to get a closer look at Jones, who also possesses ideal size at 6’1”, 199 pounds. It’s possible his stock has risen high enough to make him a first-rounder, which could explain why Kelly and company decided to make the trek.

Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest

Per Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, the Eagles were among the teams scheduled to host Johnson on a visit, suggesting legitimate interest in another potential first-round pick.

A three-year starter at Wake Forest, Johnson finished his career with seven interceptions and 38 pass breakups. Clocking 4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash won’t overwhelm, but he was among the top-performing corners at the combine in several drills, including the vertical and broad jumps, the three-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle. Johnson has quality size at 6’0”, 188 pounds and makes sense as an Eagles target.

Quinten Rollins, Miami (OH)

At 5’11”, 195 pounds, with 30 ¼" arms, Rollins is a tad undersized compared to what Philadelphia typically looks for in a defensive back. Then again, Rollins isn’t your typical football player. After spending four years on Miami’s basketball team, he traded the hardwood for the gridiron, lining up at cornerback his senior season.

The results were impressive, to say the least. Rollins led the MAC with seven interceptions, taking home conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in the process. Not sure if the Eagles are a likely landing spot, but the team met with Rollins at the Senior Bowl.

Josh Shaw, USC

Shaw likely would’ve been regarded as one of the top cornerback prospects in the draft, but he was suspended 10 games in 2014 for an off-field incident. He was eventually reinstated after no charges were filed against him, but it cost him an opportunity to build on an excellent junior campaign.

Shaw turned in a decent all-around performance at the combine, though, and is strong with an NFL build at 6’0”, 201 pounds. The Eagles spoke to Shaw at the Senior Bowl, so if they’re convinced about the young man’s character, he could be a steal in the middle of the draft.

Wide Receiver

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Despite Jeremy Maclin's unexpected departure in free agency, the cupboard isn't entirely bare for Philadelphia at wide receiver. The Eagles invested second- and third-round picks in Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff in the 2014 draft, respectively, and recently added veteran Miles Austin as an insurance policy of sorts.

That being said, Matthews, Huff, Austin and Riley Cooper are currently the only wideouts on the roster who have dressed for an NFL game, let alone caught an NFL pass. The Birds don't necessarily need a No. 1, but some form of help is clearly a must.

Nelson Agholor, USC

The Eagles have shown significant interest in Agholor. Not only did Yahoo's Rand Getlin report a visit at the team facility, but Kevin O'Donnell for Fox13 News adds that Kelly attended a separate workout for Agholor in Tampa.

At 6'0", 198 pounds with 4.42 speed, Agholor may not stand out from a pure measureables standpoint. However, he was highly productive at USC, particularly in 2014, finishing with 104 receptions, 1,313 yards and 12 touchdowns. His NFL.com scouting report suggests his ceiling is slot receiver, but that would allow Matthews to slide outside, which is why Agholor may make sense in Round 2.

Breshad Perriman, Central Florida

You can't blame the Eagles for being among the many teams that have hosted Perriman on a visit, per ProFootballTalk. Not only does he possess prototypical size for an outside receiver at 6'2", 212 pounds, but if Gil Brandt's NFL.com report of Perriman clocking a 4.25 in the 40-yard dash is true, every NFL team should probably want to see this kid. That's faster than any player who ran at this year's combine.

Perriman averaged over 20 yards per catch each of the past two seasons at UCF.

Jaelen Strong, Arizona State

Strong's measureables won't blow people away quite like Perriman's, but he possesses quality size and speed at 6'2", 217 pounds with a 4.44 in the 40. Strong was also more consistently productive in college, recording 157 receptions, 2,287 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior college transfer at ASU. Strong implied that he met with the team via an Instagram post (h/t Rotoworld), further confirming the Eagles are seeking receivers in this draft.

Rashad Greene, Florida State

The parade of wideouts to visit Philadelphia continues with Greene, according to Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times. It's noteworthy the Eagles would host Greene after missing Florida State's pro day, as explained earlier.

Greene doesn't possess particularly outstanding measureables. He's undersized at 5'11", 182 pounds and won't make up for it with blazing speed or quickness. However, Greene was very productive over four seasons at Florida State, eclipsing 1,000 yards receiving each of the past two seasons and finishing his career with 29 touchdowns.

Phillip Dorsett, Miami

Perriman may be the faster player, but Dorsett was the one getting all the attention at the combine, where the Miami product clocked a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash. Dorsett is of a much smaller build as well, coming in at 5'10", 185 pounds. Still, he could be a big-play machine at the next level, averaging 24.2 yards per catch as a senior to go with 10 touchdowns. The Eagles met with Dorsett at the Senior Bowl.

Offensive Line

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Three of the Eagles' projected starters along the offensive line are in their 30s, and according to Ian Rapoport for the NFL Network, one of them—All-Pro left guard Evan Mathis—is on the trade block. In addition to age-related concerns, the unit struggled mightily last season when injuries mounted.

By and large, quarterbacks are only as good as their protection. Running backs are only as good as the big guys paving the way. Philadelphia must add reinforcements up front before the foundation of its offense begins to crumble.

Jake Fisher, Oregon

Unlike most of the players we've looked at, there are no reports of the Eagles visiting with Fisher. Of course, being that Kelly recruited and coached the young man at Oregon, such formalities probably aren't necessary.

Fisher was once a tight end, so naturally, he's more athletic than your average lineman. He's a tackle by trade but also has experience playing, so he could potentially fill in on the interior for a year or two before sliding outside when perennial All-Pro Jason Peters eventually moves on. Don't be surprised if Fisher winds up as Philly's first-round pick.

Ali Marpet, Hobart

If Marpet played for a more well-known program than Division III Hobart, he might be a surefire first-round prospect. One of the most athletic linemen at the combine, finishing among the top performers in the 40-yard dash and three-cone drill, Hobart's stock will be hurt some from playing against inferior competition. Still, his agility projects well on the interior of Phiadelphia's offense.

Terry Poole, San Diego State

At 6'5", 307 pounds, Poole is massive, only his NFL.com scouting report suggests he'll be a better fit at guard than at tackle at the next level due to his lack of quickness. Poole posted one of the top times in the 40-yard dash (5.09), so he does have good straight-line speed at least. According to Bo Marchionte for Football Insiders, Poole met with the Eagles for a visit.

Outside Linebacker

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Connor Barwin is coming off of an All-Pro campaign, and Brandon Graham finally has been promoted to starter at outside linebacker. Depth, however, is an extremely serious concern.

2014 first-round selection Marcus Smith barely saw the field as a rookie, Bryan Braman is purely a special teams contributor and Travis Long has yet to play a down in the NFL. This situation is unacceptable, especially in a league where a team can never have too many pass-rushers.

Owa Odighizuwa, UCLA

In terms of pure athleticism, you won't find a much better all-around prospect. Odighizuwa was among the top-performing linebackers at the combine in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump and 20-yard shuttle. At 6'3", 267 pounds with 33 ¾" arms, he has freak size and length go with amazing ability.

Unfortunately, Odighizuwa is not an especially gifted pass-rusher, finishing with a career-high six sacks in 2014. He's also a question in coverage despite possessing the natural talent to be effective in that aspect. According to Tim McManus for Philadelphia Magazine, the Eagles had Odighizuwa in for a visit, so maybe the team believes it can unleash his full potential.

Nate Orchard, Utah

In terms of pure production, you won't find a much better all-around prospect. Orchard finished 2014 with 18 sacks, good for second in the nation, while his 21 tackles for a loss were fifth. Not surprisingly, Orchard earned the Ted Hendricks Award for best defensive end in college football.

While Orchard got the job done on the field, his body of work is largely limited to last season. He didn't test well at the combine, either, and has limited experience dropping into coverage. Still, Orchard could be an excellent situational pass-rusher if he slides to the middle of the draft. As noted earlier, Kelly attended Utah's pro day.

Shane Ray, Missouri

One of the most interesting developments in the lead-up to the draft is the Eagles using one of their draft visits on Ray, according to Terez A. Paylor for The Kansas City Star. Many mocks and rankings predict Ray Will be a top-10 selection or higher.

That being said, if Ray somehow slides to Philadelphia at No. 20, the club has to consider him. The 2014 SEC Player of the Year registered 22.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks last season. Ray is a tad undersized at 6'3", 245 pounds, and learning to drop into coverage will be an adjustment, as it is for many 3-4 outside linebackers coming out of the draft, but the talent is clearly there. 

Interior Linebacker

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With Kiko Alonso, Mychal Kendricks and DeMeco Ryans all on the roster, plus the surplus of quality reserves, interior linebacker may not seem like much of a need. Then again, Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation complied several tweets from prominent sources in regard to speculation that Kendricks could be on the trade block. Meanwhile, Ryans will be 31 and is coming off of his second Achilles injury.

Furthering the rumors are the many interviews the Eagles have been conducting with several incoming prospects.

Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State

McKinney's numbers might not jump off the page, but just look at the guy. He measures in at 6'4", 246 pounds with 33" arms, a 4.66 in the 40-yard dash and a 40.5" vertical. The kid is a presence on the football field, covering a ton of ground and space.

McKinney's seeming lack of playmaking ability is somewhat of a turnoff, as he registered just seven sacks, one forced fumble and zero interceptions in three seasons at Mississippi State. Then again, he has the pure athletic makeup to take away the middle of the field. Via draft insider Tony Pauline, the Eagles had McKinney in for an official visit.

Denzel Perryman, Miami

Philadelphia interviewed Perryman at the Senior Bowl, which is interesting, as he measures 5'11", 236 pounds. Size will probably be one of the potential issues with Kendricks.

In Perryman's defense, he's a two-time Butkus Award finalist for the top linebacker in the nation, so obviously, the young man must be doing something right. Perryman finished his senior season with 110 tackles, two sacks, an interception and three forced fumbles, showing he can make plays all over the field.

Mike Hull, Penn State

Hull might be the latest entry in the long-standing tradition of Penn State producing NFL linebackers. If NaVorro Bowman for the San Francisco 49ers and Sean Lee for the Dallas Cowboys serve as any indication, Hull could have All-Pro potential.

Hull's body of work is largely limited to his senior season, during which he racked up 140 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. However, a strong combine performance in which he finished among the top linebackers in the bench press and three-cone drill, in addition to a solid 4.66 in the 40-yard dash, should help raise his stock. The Eagles spoke to Hull at the Senior Bowl.

Quarterback

Ross Franklin/Associated Press

If Sam Bradford is able to get his career back on track in Philadelphia, quarterback won't be much of a need at all. But after an underwhelming five professional seasons, the last two of which were ended prematurely by torn ACLs, Bradford's resurgence is far from a given.

Even if the Bradford trade does pan out for the Eagles, it never hurts to have a developmental passer on the roster. Of course, depending on who is available and when, the signal-caller the Birds target could wind up being so much more.

Marcus Mariota, Oregon

Mariota truthers still believe Bradford will ultimately be used as a trade chip in a move up for the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. There's little denying Kelly would love to get his hands on the impressive young man he recruited at Oregon, but as the head coach himself admitted, per Reuben Frank for CSNPhilly.com, it's difficult to envision a scenario where Mariota falls within Philly's reach.

Brett Hundley, UCLA

Beyond Mariota and Florida State's Jameis Winston, the draft lacks another clear-cut first-round talent under center. However, the dearth of passers could push Hundley into Round 1.

Hundley's career 67.4 completion percentage and 75-25 touchdown-to-interception ratio are impressive, as is his 4.63 time in the 40-yard dash. However, his NFL.com scouting report notes he hasn't demonstrated the ability to "win from the pocket," which will be necessary at the next level. While the Eagles seem unlikely to reach for a quarterback, Rob Rang for CBSSports.com reported Hundley had a private workout and film session with the club.

Bryce Petty, Baylor

Like Hundley, Petty's stock will probably rise when names start falling off the board. He posted a tremendous 62-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio as a two-year starter for Baylor, but a 62.7 completion percentage leaves a little something to be desired. Petty also has prototypical size and an NFL arm, although he isn't particularly mobile. Again, he may be gone earlier than the Eagles are willing to make a move.

Blake Sims, Alabama

The Eagles could be looking in the later rounds for prospects, where Sims will be a name of interest. The Alabama product only started one season but completed 64.0 percent of his passes with 30 touchdowns and 10 picks. However, Sims' biggest detriment is his height. The 4.57 speed may get teams to look past his 5'11" stature and small body of work, but not before Day 3 of the draft.

Cody Fajardo, Nevada

According to Mike Kaye for Bleeding Green Nation, the Eagles held a private workout with Fajardo. Fajardo's passing numbers won't blow anybody away—less than 10,000 yards with 57 touchdowns and 29 interceptions in four seasons. Then again, he also ran for over 3,000 yards for his career. He's obviously a project but could be worth a flier late.

Combine measurements provided NFL.com.

Confirmed Senior Bowl visits compiled by Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com.