Philadelphia Eagles: Full 2016 Draft Guide and Preview

A trade up for what's seemingly a long-term project under center isn't going to fill the myriad holes the Philadelphia Eagles need to address in the 2016 NFL draft.

After moving up from the No. 13 overall pick to No. 8 at the dawn of free agency, the Eagles weren't done there. They saw an opportunity to guarantee themselves one of the top two quarterbacks in the class in a trade with Cleveland for the No. 2 overall pick, with most of the major offerings coming in the form of 2017 picks. 

The trade knocked the Eagles' number of draft picks from nine down to seven, but that doesn't change their plans beyond Round 1. The need is still there to knock some mid-round picks out of the park after surrendering their second-round pick for Sam Bradford (that's awkward), and there's no shortage of spots where Philly needs to get some help even after some solid free-agency maneuvering.

General manager Howie Roseman's work on this draft will center on how his new quarterback fares in the future, but he and the Eagles' front office can buy themselves some good favor by finding a few early-impact players for the 2016 campaign. 

So let's jump right in and assess everything about the Philadelphia Eagles and this 2016 draft—the biggest one the franchise has been a part of in years.

Draft Picks

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Draft Picks

• Round 1, pick No. 2 overall
• Round 3, pick No. 79 overall
• Round 5, pick No. 153 overall
• Round 5, pick No. 164 overall
• Round 6, pick No. 188 overall
• Round 7, pick No. 233 overall
• Round 7, pick No. 251 overall

What to Know

1. Roseman made the move to No. 2 without any guarantees on who's going first, so he's making it sound like he'll be happy with either Jared Goff or Carson Wentz. He told Andrew Porter of CSN Philadelphia that the two quarterbacks are like "vanilla and chocolate." If you like both vanilla and chocolate, you probably nevertheless have a favorite. Whether the Eagles get their favorite flavor (I mean, quarterback) isn't up to them to decide, and that will undoubtedly make the Rams' selection nerve-wracking for Roseman and Co.

2. The Eagles went crazy drafting receivers in the Chip Kelly regime, taking three in the opening three rounds of the last two drafts, per NFL.com. In their previous 36 draft selections, only one was a wideout. With an investment in Nelson Agholor, Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff, don't expect the Eagles to look there this weekend.

3. Philly has drafted 14 linebackers in the last 10 years, per NFL.com, by far their highest-drafted position. After the team shipped away Kiko Alonso in the offseason, however, this is a spot you could expect the Eagles to look toward in the middle rounds. 

Top Needs

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1. Offensive Line

Jason Peters is still the left tackle, but at 34 years of age and with two expensive years on his contract after 2016, his time in Philly may be coming to an end sooner rather than later. The Eagles did well to get guard Brandon Brooks and fill a void in the starting lineup, but they need some young talent up front to coincide with a new franchise signal-caller.

2. Defensive End

Jim Schwartz is calling the shots now on defense, and his signature 4-3 design asks a lot from his ends. Can Connor Barwin, Vinny Curry and Brandon Graham be enough there?

The switch from 3-4 will be an adjustment for each player, so finding a better fit this weekend would be a good move.

3. Linebacker

The 3-4 to 4-3 switch obviously comes a bit easier for the linebacker position, but the Eagles still have little to no depth behind starters Nigel Bradham, Mychal Kendricks and Jordan Hicks. Given the scheme change, this new coaching staff should spend a pick or two on guys they believe fit the system and can provide immediate depth.

4. Quarterback

If the Eagles were putting this list together, QB would obviously be at the top as shown by their aggressive move to No. 2 overall. The re-signing of Sam Bradford and acquisition of Chase Daniel essentially ensured that any QB drafted in 2016 would get a redshirt year, but that didn't stop the Eagles from making sure they got one of the top guys in the class.

5. Cornerback

Cornerback has been arguably the worst position for Philadelphia in the last several years, and the big signing of Byron Maxwell last offseason (who's already been traded) didn't help. The Eagles have already been aggressive in adding impact players there, getting Leodis McKelvin and Ron Brooks behind an assumed starting duo of Nolan Carroll and Eric Rowe.

You'd be hard-pressed to find an Eagles fan who loves the current secondary setup, but there may not even be any roster spots available for a potential draft pick at corner.

Top Targets

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Since the Eagles likely won't address any positions other than QB until the third round, we're going to be realistic about the targets for every other position.

Offensive Line

1. Shon Coleman (Auburn): It would be a little surprising if Coleman fell to No. 79 for Philly, but he's such a good fit that the team should consider moving up if he's anywhere close. The tackle needs some development time, which he'll get in 2016 behind Peters, but his strength, length and agility make him a shoo-in to be a dependable starting left tackle in a year or two.

2. Evan Boehm (Missouri): This would be a better pick in Round 5 than 3, but Boehm's durability, intelligence and leadership make up a great combination. The Eagles could use some interior line depth right away, and Boehm has the overall makeup to develop from that into a longtime starter.

Defensive End

1. Jonathan Bullard (Florida): The Gators have produced some good ends in the last few years, and Bullard is the next in line. He'll fit perfectly into Schwartz' 4-3 scheme and would likely get some special roles just based on his ability to get to the passer. These are the types of guys that Schwartz loves up front.

2. Yannick Ngakoue (Maryland): Just look at the sack leaders in college football if you want to know Yannick Ngakoue's skill at getting around the edge. He finished second in the country with 13.5 sacks and uses his slighter frame to get lower than his opponent before slipping by. His size may cause him to fall to Round 5, where Philly would be mad not to take him.

Linebacker

1. Tyler Matakevich (Temple): A lot of folks are calling Tyler Matakevich too small or not strong enough for a NFL linebacker despite being arguably college football's best defensive player in 2015. You know, people sais a lot of the same things about Luke Kuechly, which caused him to fall into the middle of the first round a few years back.

2. Kentrell Brothers (Missouri): Brothers has some of the same knocks on him as Matakevich that could cause a skilled player to fall right into the Eagles' lap in the middle rounds. He led the nation in tackles per game in 2015, showing incredible instincts that are essential for a dependable inside linebacker.

Quarterback

1. Carson Wentz (North Dakota State): Is Wentz the preferred QB for Philly? You have to think the team loves both after moving to No. 2, but Wentz just makes more sense. His bigger body translates better to the NFC East, and he would benefit much more from a year or two on the bench, which appears to be the Eagles' plan. 

2. Jared Goff (California): That said, I can't imagine the Eagles hating the prospect of drafting Goff. He had much more action in his collegiate career while going up against much stiffer competition, and just about every throw he makes looks perfect on tape. There's a reason two big-market franchises mortgaged their futures for these two QBs.

Cornerback

1. Cyrus Jones (Alabama): If the Eagles somehow still want an early-impact corner in the draft, Cyrus Jones would be their best bet. He comes from the pro football factory of Alabama, and his ability to become a NFL corner after starting his career at wideout tells you his natural skills. Oh, and he can also return kicks and punts.

2. DeAndre Houston-Carson (William & Mary): Houston-Carson didn't become a consensus All-American until his senior year switch to safety, but he had already emerged as one of the best corners in the nation before that. His potential to impact at both positions could make him even more intriguing for a long-struggling secondary.

Latest Rumors

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Sam Bradford Latest

The agent of Sam Bradford confirmed to ESPN Monday that his client is demanding out of Philly and wants to "go some place and know he's the man." Roseman responded to that by reiterating Bradford is still the starter, per John Clark of CSN. Glad everybody is on the same page (that's sarcasm).

Philly obviously wants Bradford as the starter in 2016, and as you'd expect from a team that gave up a second-rounder for him a year ago, the team wants at least that much to let him go, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on 97.5 The Fanatic. That's um, a big ask, and it will be beyond interesting to see if any QB-needy teams with the cap space will make a jump for him.

Front Office Eyes Skill Positions

Wide receiver and running back don't feel like huge needs on paper for Philly, but the front office doesn't seem to agree. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller reported the Eagles covet wide receivers and running backs highly: "My sources in Philadelphia's front office said the team wants to add at least one receiver and running back with its remaining selections. Speaking of running backs, I'm told it wouldn't be a surprise to Eagles scouts if they went quarterback and then running back with the team's first two picks."

Don't Count on Goff

If any Eagles fans still out there are hoping that the Rams take Wentz over Goff, you might want to get with reality. Sources from four teams told Jordan Raanan and Mark Eckel of NJ.com that Goff to L.A. is a "done deal." Time to order your Wentz jerseys. 

7-Round Mock Draft

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Round 1, Pick No. 2: QB Carson Wentz, North Dakota State

The Eagles don't get the first quarterback taken in the draft, but the draft capital they gave up to have a shot at Wentz indicates they see him as a franchise centerpiece. His 6'5", 230-pound frame and dual-threat ability will allow Wentz to handle the rigors of the NFC East and give the franchise something to look forward to offensively.

Round 3, Pick No. 79: OT Shon Coleman, Auburn

The previous slide indicates Philly wants to add a playmaker with this pick, but it makes a lot more sense to answer a huge question up front. Coleman needs time to develop but would give the Eagles a long-term answer at left tackle, which is all the more necessary with the drafting of Wentz.

Round 5, Pick No. 153: DE Anthony Zettel, Penn State

Zettel's experience leading a formidable Big Ten pass rush isn't the only thing he has going for him. The former Penn State standout is among the most versatile ends in the class, showing the ability to rush from the interior or line up on the edge and do everything from batting passes to forcing fumbles. Schwartz will put him all over the field.

Round 5, Pick No. 164: LB Blake Martinez, Stanford

When you can get a physical defender in the fifth round who led a defense like Stanford's in tackles for two straight seasons, you take him. Martinez's stock is relatively low due to a reliance on run-stopping and a weakness in coverage, but the Eagles could utilize his strengths in specialty passes while developing the rest of his game as a backup and special teams maestro.

Round 6, Pick No. 188: WR Tajae Sharpe, UMass

If the Eagles want to add a receiver in the draft, the sixth round is where they could get a steal, and Tajae Sharpe would be exactly that. The 6'2", 194-pound deep-ball threat is also a great route-runner and is aggressive going up to high-point the ball, a necessity largely missing in the Eagles' receiving corps.

Round 7, Pick No. 233: RB Keith Marshall, Georgia

You've heard all about Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb out of Georgia, but Keith Marshall has unfairly flown under the radar. If not for a few bad knee injuries in college that kept him from really showing out, Marshall would be an early-round pick with perfect size and breakaway speed to hit the home run. 

Round 7, Pick No. 251: CB Morgan Burns, Kansas State

With one of the last picks in the draft, the Eagles will look to add some depth and competition to their struggling cornerback staple. Morgan Burns is one of the fastest players in the draft and uses that to jump routes and cut off opponents. He may find a roster spot with his skills in the return game.