2012 NFL Draft: 5-Round Mock Draft with Alternative Options for Philadelphia

It’s been a long time since my first mock draft for the Philadelphia Eagles. Since then, the Eagles have re-signed DeSean Jackson, King Dunlap and Evan Mathis and also extended Trent Cole and Todd Herremans. They brought in DeMeco Ryans and Demetress Bell and traded Winston Justice to the Indianapolis Colts.

However, the Eagles have other issues too that they need to address in the NFL draft.

Their defensive line is one of the best in the league, but it has a short shelf life unless youngsters come to carry the line for the years to come. Additionally, the offensive line needs more depth and, of course, talent is always welcome regardless of the position.

This mock draft features players that Philadelphia needs to draft and chances are they’ll be available.

1) Fletcher Cox

Fletcher Cox is considered the best defensive tackle of the 2012 draft, alongside Michael Brockers. A dominant player, Cox is 6’4”, 300 lbs and has big arms that allow him to get through blocks and control the surrounding space. He is very agile and fast for his size—he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.81 seconds at the Combine.

Cox is also a versatile player. He can play as a defensive end if required. The most impressive fact, though, is that he is a run stopper as much as he is a pass rusher; he led the Mississippi State Bulldogs in both tackles for loss and sacks.

A brutal force, Cox will definitely be a great acquisition and will make Jim Washburn the happiest defensive line coach of the league. The Eagles will pick him without second thinking, but there’s a chance he might be picked earlier.

ALTERNATIVES

Michael Brockers is a no-brainer if he is available. At 6’5” and weighing 316 lbs, Brockers is heavier and slower than Cox, but has great ability when engaged in the “push and shove” at the line of scrimmage. He is a great tackler too.

If the Eagles can’t get Cox or Brockers, then they would be wise to forget defensive tackle in the first round. Michael Floyd and Nick Perry would be great choices as well.

Floyd is a top wide receiver prospect, second only to Justin Blackmon. He has nice size (6’3”, 220 lbs) and despite not being a burner, he has good speed too. He needs to work on his upper-body strength, but he would make the Eagles’ receiving corps one of the best in the league.

Perry, on the other hand, is a premium pass-rusher. He is very explosive off the snap and always has his sights set on the quarterback. He is 6’3” tall and weighs 250 lbs. Mostly used as a defensive end, Perry can be a nightmare for the opposing offensive line. Being picked 15^th overall might be a bit early, but he won’t be around after the first round of the draft.

2) Mohamed Sanu, Janoris Jenkins

If the Eagles manage to snatch Cox in the first round, they’ll probably turn to offense, since they had struggles there too in 2011. Adding a tight end is a possibility and there are a number of fans that would like Coby Fleener, but there are a couple of reasons I don’t think that this will happen.

Firstly, I don’t think Fleener is a major upgrade over Brent Celek (no doubt, the Eagles could use them in two TE schemes) and secondly, I believe the Giants will get him with their first round pick.

So, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Eagles to go after a wide receiver. Riley Cooper and Chad Hall are not the best backup options for DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, and a talented receiver would add depth and could be very helpful in schemes with multiple receivers.

Mohamed Sanu is a great prospect and a bit undervalued, in my opinion. He has good size (6’2”, 212 lbs) and enough speed and athleticism to become a first-class NFL receiver. He was one of the most explosive players in college football, even though he had no Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III throwing at him.

I don’t think Sanu will go in the first round, but there will be a lot of interested parties in the second. The most likely landing spots are St. Louis, Jacksonville, Miami and maybe Dallas. If he falls to the Eagles’ first second-rounder, I’d like to see him sport their jersey.

The Eagles get to pick again in the second round, after just four picks (the Jets, Patriots, Chargers and Bears have these picks). Asante Samuel was traded to the Atlanta Falcons earlier today, leaving the Eagles with no legitimate backup options at cornerback.

Janoris Jenkins is definitely a very promising player. His quickness and speed allow him to stay with the receiver and he can turn into a top cornerback. He could easily be picked in the first round, but his off-field issues are bad enough to force him down to the second.

Jenkins is 5’10”, 195 lbs, which makes him a bit under-sized. Despite that, he has the ability to cover bigger receivers or even shut them out (Julio Jones knows a lot about it). Under the right guidance and the will to focus on football, he can be one of the future stars at his position.

ALTERNATIVES

It’s all just a matter of who the Eagles get in the first round. If they can’t get their hands on Cox or Brockers and they draft Floyd, Perry or someone else, then they’ll go after a defensive tackle in the second round.

Jerel Worthy, Devon Still and Kendall Reyes, whose stock has been on the rise lately, are all players with enormous potential.

If Jenkins appears too risky a choice, then Jamell Fleming is the guy the Eagles want at cornerback. He is not a steal, though. He’s just a capable player with no exceptional talents. He knows the position very well and is more efficient when playing zone, but he’s nowhere near Jenkins’ quality.

Last but not least, Zach Brown can also make a difference in Philadelphia. The linebacker from the University of North Carolina is very quick and his explosive first step is a rare find. He has the ability to cover tight ends—something that has been a soft spot for the Eagles during recent seasons.

3) Matt McCants

I had McCants as the Eagles’ third-round pick long before Jason Peters got injured and that’s not going to change now. King Dunlap returned to the team and Demetress Bell has also been signed to take Peters’ spot, but none of them is more than a short-term fix.

McCants is a force of nature. He is strong and has a quick launch. Not only can he block the incoming defender, but he can also drive him way off his line of movement. He does a great job on screen plays and the Eagles need that, since they have a lot on their playbook.

McCants’ height is almost 6’6” and he weighs 308 lbs. If he adds some muscle to his frame and improves his technique, he can certainly be a future starter in Philly.

ALTERNATIVES

If the Eagles are going to draft a tight end, then this is the right round to do it. Ladarius Green can challenge Brent Celek for the starting spot and provide the team a big target in the endzone. The both of them can form a deadly duo in “two tight end” schemes. Unfortunately, many teams like him and he might not be available for the Eagles (they have the 26th third-round pick, no. 88 overall).

Terrell Manning is also an option here, if no linebacker is picked in the previous rounds. Manning is a flexible athlete that relies on his speed to make plays. He is more of a weak side linebacker; he needs to bulk up in order to take the strong side spot. He struggles when caught in blocks, but he can avoid them with his elusiveness.

4) Nick Foles

I’ve said before that I’d prefer to see the Eagles drafting a quarterback next year. However, I’m convinced that Howie Roseman and Andy Reid will do it in this draft, and they’d better choose Nick Foles.

The quarterback of the Arizona Wildcats has worked out with the Eagles and he can win the battle for the backup role. His height (6’5”) allows him to see clearly over the line of scrimmage and scan the field.

Foles also does a good job reading the defense. He has a decent arm in terms of strength and accuracy, although he needs to work a lot on his deep balls. He is more comfortable with intermediate throws.

Despite not being an athletic quarterback, Foles can be productive behind a solid offensive line. He’s not a flashy prospect, but he can be a starter in the NFL.

ALTERNATIVES

I also like Joe Adams here. The small receiver of the Arkansas Razorback may be the answer to the Eagles’ kick and punt return problems. He is lightning-fast and if he manages to catch the ball and turn, he’s gone.

Adams has great moves and defensive backs struggle to keep up with him. On the other hand, he needs to add muscle and he will have a hard time with stronger opponents.

5) Tauren Poole

LeSean McCoy is a unique player and will carry the load as the Eagles’ starting running back. However, the Eagles need to give him a capable backup. Ronnie Brown was awful last year and it’s questionable if Dion Lewis can be of much help

Tauren Poole is a 5’10” tall running back who runs straight between blocks and through tackles. He has a nice repertoire of moves and is not afraid to run close to defenders.

Additionally, Poole has a great eye and finds the running lane instantly, but he can also adapt and change direction. His mediocre speed and predictability make him an ordinary running back.

Nonetheless, the Eagles could find Poole’s services very helpful, especially in short-yardage and goal line situations.

ALTERNATIVES

Here’s another tight end, in case the Eagles don’t add one earlier. Michael Egnew (6’5”, 250 lbs) is someone that the Eagles could bring in to add depth. He is more of a receiver than a blocker and needs to become stronger in order to make an impact in professional football.

Despite that, his big arms allow him to catch balls that do not come directly to his body and his jumping ability can get him higher than the defensive backs or the linebackers covering him.

I also like Jonathan Massaquoi here. He is a small-sized defensive end that knows the 4-3 defense very well. His competitiveness has been questioned, but Massaquoi is a pure pass rusher that can be very effective in the Eagles’ defensive line. He must also learn to use his hands better than he does.

On the other hand, Massaquoi has potential, and with the right coaching and mentoring he might prove a great sleeper pick for Philly.