6 Best Options for Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 20 Pick in the 2015 Draft
Just over two weeks remain until the much-anticipated 2015 NFL draft, and predicting what Chip Kelly will do is a next-to-impossible plan.
After all, Kelly has been anything but predictable this offseason. In assuming complete control over all personnel decisions, he's taken to the task of methodically molding the franchise into the 53 players that best fit the Kelly way.
You want a coach who isn't afraid to be aggressive in his offseason moves? Kelly is your guy. He traded away the franchise's all-time leading rusher. He sent a Pro Bowl quarterback (and a second-round draft pick) to the St. Louis Rams for a quarterback with quite the history of ACL tears. He ridded himself of another Pro Bowl wide receiver in the prime of his career.
He certainly hasn't shied away from taking on players fresh off injuries, and his sports science ideas will be put to the test this coming season.
In all, Kelly has put a big bull's-eye on himself, and there's still the possibility he may go "all-in" for his former college quarterback, Marcus Mariota. Kelly has openly laughed off such a statement, but then again, this is a man who once proclaimed Nick Foles would be his quarterback for the next 1,000 years.
Should Kelly stay put at the 20th spot in the draft though, a handful of players could be available when the Eagles pick. Last year's first-round plan seemed to backfire when the organization had to reach for Louisville outside linebacker, Marcus Smith. But there are too many intriguing options in this year's draft for that to happen again.
The Eagles need help at a handful of positions. Wide receiver became a liability when Jeremy Maclin signed with Kansas City. There's room for an upgrade at cornerback, despite the $63 million signing of Byron Maxwell. And there's still a revolving door at safety, as Philly enters Year 7 in the quest to replace Hall of Fame talent, Brian Dawkins.
It's also not outside the realm of possibility that Kelly simply picks the best player available, even if it is at a position that isn't currently a major need. Such positions could include offensive line, defensive line, a potential franchise quarterback to groom or a pass-rushing specialist off the edge.
The following six players seem to fit the prototypical Kelly athlete, and if the Eagles do stay at 20, there's a good chance one of these college stars wears midnight green come next season. You won't see Mariota's name on the list. While I'm still among the few who believe Kelly could trade up, it's highly unlikely he can grab such a player with the 20th overall pick.
Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut
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Byron Jones borders on the precautionary tale of not overdrafting a player based on a spectacular pro day or combine performance, also known as the Mike Mamula rule.
Jones was seen as a likely mid-round draft pick before he tested as a world-class athlete, but that sheer athleticism could vault him into the top 20. Jones ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at his pro day. He nearly set the all-time scouting combine record with a 44 ½" vertical leap. And he shattered the mark in the broad jump, actually setting a world record at 12'3".
Jones has everything Kelly wants in a cornerback. He's tall and long with exceptional speed and jumping ability. He's coming off a 2014 shoulder injury that limited him to just seven games, but injuries have never stopped Kelly in the past. And Kelly picked Jones' UConn pro day to attend over that of Florida State, with its many future NFL players.
Jones is a former safety who converted to cornerback in college. That kind of versatility makes him a player made in the mold of Malcolm Jenkins, but hopefully with more playmaking ability. Jones is also said to be a "high-character guy," according to his NFL.com draft profile, and that will certainly appeal to Kelly.
If Jones is there at pick No. 20, he may be Kelly's top draft-day target.
Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon
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Despite an offensive line that Pro Football Focus rated as one of the game's finest in 2014, the Philadelphia Eagles could stand to get younger in the trenches.
All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters is 33. Left guard Evan Mathis is 34 and, despite annually rating among PFF's top guards, has been the subject of trade speculation as of late. And longtime right guard Todd Herremans was just released this offseason, which could lead to a camp competition for his starting spot.
Jake Fisher would add youth and unbelievable athleticism to the line. He's a former Oregon Duck, which means Chip Kelly knows him well, and Fisher has spent time at both tackle and guard in college.
Versatility has always been one of Kelly's favorite aspects of a player, and Fisher would likely compete for the starting right guard position as a rookie (or left guard if Mathis isn't back). Eventually, 2013 first-round tackle Lane Johnson—Kelly's first-ever draft pick—will slide to left tackle to replace Peters, and it's logical to think Fisher would be Johnson's replacement on the right side.
Fisher's 5.01 40-yard dash time at the combine suggests he's going to be an asset in the running game, as he should be able to get to the second level with ease. In fact, Fisher is a converted tight end. Fisher also has the long arms (33 ¼") Kelly prefers in his players. And he's said to be more polished than his former Duck teammate, Kyle Long, a two-time Pro Bowler at guard in as many NFL seasons.
Given Kelly's obvious preference for his former Oregon players, Fisher represents a top talent with a huge upside, and he would fill a critical need for the Eagles.
Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
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Allowing Jeremy Maclin to walk in free agency was understandable considering he commanded $11 million per season. However, if the year started now, the Philadelphia Eagles would be sending out Riley Cooper, Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff as their top three receivers.
Matthews was a success as a rookie slot receiver, and it's reasonable to think he can move to the outside with ease in his sophomore campaign. But Cooper hasn't shown an ability to get open save for a two-game stretch in 2013 that earned him a $22.5 million contract, and Huff is still a largely unproven commodity coming off an underwhelming rookie season.
The Miles Austin signing doesn't negate the fact that Chip Kelly needs to spend a high draft pick on a wide receiver. It's expected that Amari Cooper, Kevin White and DeVante Parker are all off the board by the middle of the first round. Dorial Green-Beckham has all the physical tools Kelly would want, but his character leaves too much to be desired to think he'll become an Eagle.
Realistically, Central Florida's Breshad Perriman is Kelly's best bet at gaining a tall, fast and athletic receiver. Perriman's numbers as a junior in 2014—50 receptions, 1,044 yards and nine touchdowns—are made more impressive by the fact that he dealt with less-than-stellar quarterback play. What he offers is ridiculous speed to stretch the field, a tall presence in the red zone and a terrific ability to gain yards after the catch, if you can deal with his high drop rate.
Kelly's specialty as a coach is putting his players in position to make plays. After all, his offense helped Brent Celek lead all tight ends in average yards gained after the catch per reception in 2013, a byproduct much more of Kelly than the slow-footed Celek (stat courtesy of Pro Football Focus, minimum of 30 catches). Just imagine what Kelly could do with a receiver like Perriman.
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Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
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Nelson Agholor has sneaked into recent first-round conversations, and don't be surprised if the Philadelphia Eagles make him their top selection in the 2015 draft. If last year's Marcus Smith pick showed anything, it's that the organization isn't shy in targeting players who (theoretically) fit their scheme, even if it requires taking them earlier than expected.
Agholor has virtually identical measurables to Jeremy Maclin—both are 6'0", 198 pounds and ran in the mid-4.4s in the 40-yard dash. Agholor is a polished route-runner who could likely make an immediate impact in the NFL.
Last year, Chip Kelly started Jordan Matthews in the slot, despite Matthews' 6'3" frame that would suggest an outside role. So Kelly would have no problem playing Agholor in the same role. Kelly won't have the same ease in creating size mismatches given Agholor's smaller build, but that's where Agholor's exceptional route-running ability will help him out.
Agholor was a standout receiver at USC, briefly playing with current Eagles quarterback, Matt Barkley. Kelly's affinity for Pac-12 players is well-known, and there aren't a lot of red flags with a prospect like Agholor.
Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
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It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall during the Philadelphia Eagles' war-room discussions, especially involving the cornerback talks. Both Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Billy Davis are particular about this position, but in signing Byron Maxwell to what can only be described as an absurd contract, Kelly proved he's willing to pay for the right player.
Kelly likes tall, long corners. That's likely why he continued to play Bradley Fletcher during an abysmal 2014 campaign, even as Fletcher was abused constantly and 5'9" slot corner Brandon Boykin shone in limited situations. So he'll probably want a player like LSU's Jalen Collins over the consensus top two corners, Trae Waynes and Marcus Peters.
Collins didn't have much success in college to brag about, as he recorded just three interceptions in three seasons. But what he does offer is an unlimited ceiling. He's 6'1" and 200-plus pounds with long arms. Not many NFL cornerbacks are as big as Collins, who is still learning the finer points of the game.
He was benched during the '13 season and only made 10 starts in all at LSU. The ideal situation would be that he isn't forced into a major role as a rookie. Maxwell is entrenched as one starter, and the other spot is likely to be a camp competition between Walter Thurmond and Brandon Boykin, with the loser holding down the nickel duties.
So if Collins is nothing more than a No. 4 corner as a rookie, that's fine. He has a lot of potential, and the Eagles will need him to develop into the kind of player who can cover Odell Beckham Jr. and Dez Bryant.
Eric Rowe, CB/S, Utah
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It's a notoriously weak safety class, and to make matters worse, Alabama's Landon Collins—the only surefire first-round safety—doesn't seem to be Chip Kelly's type. He's more of an in-the-box safety than the traditional cover safety (think Malcolm Jenkins) that Kelly prefers.
So Kelly will have to be creative and look for a hybrid player who can suit up at both cornerback and safety. Utah's Eric Rowe (a Pac-12 player!) is that guy, and he's sneaking into first-round discussion.
Rowe tested as an exceptional athlete. He’s 6’1”, 205 pounds and ran a 4.45 40-yard dash with 19 reps on the bench press. Rowe was a four-year starter at Utah who recorded just three interceptions, so like Jalen Collins, this draft pick would be more on potential than what he’s actually done at the collegiate level.
Should the Philadelphia Eagles draft Rowe, he’ll have every opportunity to compete for a starting safety spot. If he doesn’t win it, that would mean the Eagles will have to go with a combination of Earl Wolff, Jerome Couplin and Ed Reynolds.
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