Philadelphia Eagles' 2014 Scouting Combine Stock Report

Ultimately, the Philadelphia Eagles are more likely to reach decisions based on studying game tape than overvaluing a prospect's time in the 40-yard dash. However, if it’s a tie, the NFL Scouting Combine could give a superior athlete the edge.

And let’s not kid ourselves: Teams become enamored all the time with the dynamic physical abilities of players on display at the combine all the time.

The 2014 combine wrapped up in Indianapolis on Monday, which means the official measurements are in on a number of the nation’s top prospects heading into May’s draft. As much as some scouts and analysts will try to minimize the emphasis that’s placed on these workouts, there’s no denying it has some impact on where these players will be drafted.

Hopefully, the Eagles won’t fall into the same traps that other organizations will by basing decisions on what they learned on a glorified exercise routine. That being said, it’s difficult not to read into some of the results from the combine and project how they might have made up the Birds’ minds on certain players.

Here are 10 players who might have altered their stock at this year’s event.

Note: Combine results are courtesy of NFL.com.

Stock Up: S Deone Bucannon, Washington State

Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Louisville’s Calvin Pryor have been the focus of the 2014 draft class at safety, but they may have company after the combine. Washington State’s Deone Bucannon performed better than both in all but one workout—the 20-yard shuttle—and was among the best at his position.

He finished no lower than third among all safeties in the 40-yard dash (4.49 seconds), bench press (19 reps), vertical jump (36.5 inches), broad jump (125 inches) and three-cone drill (6.96 seconds). He finished eighth in the 20-yard shuttle.

At 6’1”, 211 pounds with a 32.375” wingspan and 9.75” hands, he even came in just as big as or bigger than Clinton-Dix and Pryor by any measure.

Considered a second- or third-round pick by many analysts leading up to the combine, Bucannon probably won’t leapfrog either of the consensus top two despite his impressive showing. However, backed up by his strong play on the field, he could make it into Round 1.

He registered six interceptions in his senior season and 15 in his four-year collegiate career. He also totaled 384 tackles—13.5 for loss—one sack, 23 pass breakups and seven forced fumbles.

Given the Eagles’ proclivity for selecting players whom head coach Chip Kelly had firsthand experience coaching against in the college ranks at last year’s draft, Bucannon figures to be on the team’s radar. In fact, Jimmy Kempski of Philly.com reported that staff members had already met with him at the Senior Bowl in January.

Stock Down: S Ahmad Dixon, Baylor

Deone Bucannon wasn’t the only safety the Eagles were seen talking to at the Senior Bowl. Jimmy Kempski for Philly.com also reported the Birds were schmoozing with Baylor’s Ahmad Dixon, who is another purported Day 2 prospect.

He did not fare nearly as well as Bucannon at the combine, however. In fact, his performance may have relegated him to late-round status.

No safety measured more poorly in the vertical jump (32.0 inches), broad jump (111.0 inches) or three-cone drill (7.55 seconds), and only one other did worse in the 20-yard shuttle (4.50 seconds). Dixon also finished on the low end in the 40-yard dash (4.64 seconds) and bench press (14 reps).

He does possess a good build at 6’0”, 212 pounds, but his overall athleticism is clearly lacking compared to the other prospects.

He had limited impact on the stat sheet at Baylor, posting one interception in his senior season and four over his career. He finished with 288 tackles—13.0 for loss—one sack, 15 pass breakups and two forced fumbles in four years of college ball.

That workout at the combine didn’t do him any favors. Dixon still has the potential to make it at the next level, but he may have to overcome a lack of pure athleticism to become a star.

Stock Up: CB Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State’s Justin Gilbert may have been the top cornerback on many boards even before the combine. Afterward, it’s practically guaranteed.

He solidified his spot in the first round with an impressive showing in workouts, including the top time in the 40-yard dash at his position (4.37). He also finished third with 20 reps in the bench press and was above average in the vertical jump (35.5 inches), broad jump (126.0 inches) and three-cone drill (6.92 seconds).

At 6’0”, 202 pounds, Gilbert has few flaws as a prospect.

He recorded seven interceptions in his senior season, giving him 12 for his collegiate career. He also had 32 pass breakups in four seasons.

The only problem as far as the Eagles are concerned is Gilbert’s combine performance likely put him out of their reach. A lot of mocks already had him as the top cornerback over Michigan State’s Darqueze Dennard, but Gilbert’s performance in Indianapolis may have put him over the top.

If that’s the case, there’s no way he’ll be available by the time the Birds are up at No. 22. If he does fall to Philadelphia though, there’s a good chance he’ll be the best player available.

Stock Down: CB Loucheiz Purifoy, Florida

As dreadful combine performances go, Florida’s Loucheiz Purifoy had one of the worst. You could argue no player at one of the Eagles’ positions of need did more to hurt himself at this year’s event.

He didn’t do anything well. His 4.61 in the 40-yard dash is scary for a cornerback, while his lack of participation in the other speed/agility drills doesn’t lend any more insight into what that time might mean. He also did a weak six reps in the bench press, the lowest at his position.

Even his size was disappointing; 5’11”, 190 pounds is not the frame the Eagles are looking for on the perimeter.

Purifoy was something of an enigma at the college level. He was always thought to possess tremendous athleticism, but it never seemed to show up on the stat sheet. He didn’t do much of note up until his junior season, recording the only two interceptions of his career to go with two sacks, one forced fumble and seven pass breakups.

The lack of production would be concerning on its own, but now his overall ability will come into question. How can the Eagles expect Purifoy to be an aggressive cover corner on the outside when he’ll be slower and weaker than most of the receivers he’s matched up against?

A lot of rankings had Purifoy as a first- or second-round pick, but I’d venture that’s unlikely at this point. Philadelphia would be wise to steer clear of him.

Stock Up: CB Jaylen Watkins, Florida

Meanwhile, while Loucheiz Purifoy’s stock was plummeting faster than Enron’s, one of his teammates was putting scouts on notice. Jaylen Watkins didn’t compete in all of the workouts, but the ones he did were impressive enough.

He tied for first among all cornerbacks in the bench press with an impressive 22 reps while tying for fifth with a strong 4.41 in the 40-yard dash. That’s a combo any NFL team can work with.

A strained Achilles tendon prevented him from performing in the other drills.

At 5’11”, 194 pounds, he may not possess the ideal measurements that the Eagles would prefer on the perimeter, but they may be willing to make an exception. Watkins has the versatility that head coach Chip Kelly always stresses, with experience playing both cornerback and safety in college.

There is the matter of a lack of production in college. He didn’t come up with a single interception in 2013 and just three in four years at Florida. He also had zero sacks, zero forced fumbles and just four tackles for a loss.

Watkins hasn’t elevated himself into the conversation among the top cornerbacks with that track record, not based on one combine performance. That said, he solidified himself as a solid mid-round pick and potential starter in this league. He’ll be worth a look.

Stock Down: WR Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State

It’s hard to say Kelvin Benjamin’s stock went down all that much as a result of anything he did at the combine. After all, he’s still 6’5”, 240 pounds and coming off a productive sophomore season for a national championship team at Florida State.

He may have damaged his chances of being a first-round pick, however. For starters, he didn’t run very well. A time of 4.61 could prove adequate for somebody with his catch radius, but it comes in under what was hoped of him as a potential top prospect.

Where he really fell flat was in the three-cone drill, as Jimmy Kempski of Philly.com points out. At 7.33 seconds, Benjamin had the worst time at his position in an exercise that “measures lateral agility and change of direction.” In other words, his time could be suggestive that he’ll never be an explosive route-runner.

According to Kempski, the Eagles have offensive linemen who performed better in the three-cone drill. That can’t be good for Benjamin.

He reeled in 54 passes for 1,011 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2013. Yet even before the combine, the NFL.com scouting report expressed concern he was a raw athlete who would have to polish his route-running ability.

Philadelphia may not have the patience for that. The Eagles could use a big wide receiver, particularly with Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper’s contract situations unresolved. Unfortunately, Benjamin might not be the answer in the first round after all.

Stock Up: WR Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt

If you want to put your stock in what you saw at the combine, Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews put together a solid all-around performance. He didn’t showcase elite athletic ability in any particular drill, but he didn’t finish toward the bottom of the pack at anything, either.

For coming in at 6’3”, 212 pounds, that’s impressive. He was among the strongest receivers to participate at the combine, tying for second with 21 reps in the bench press. He also timed an impressive 4.46 in the 40-yard dash and an adequate-for-his-size 6.95 in the three-cone drill.

That should be enough to back up a prolific collegiate career. Over his final two seasons at Vanderbilt, he posted 206 receptions for 2,800 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The one aspect where he was a little disappointing was in his jumps. Matthews’ 35.5-inch vertical jump and 120.0-inch broad jump were only average, so he’s not necessarily the type of big receiver who's going to run fade routes into the end zone all day long.

Matthews could continue to be a high-volume player at the next level, though. With his size and speed, it’s even possible he’ll slip into the back end of the first round. If not, he won’t last very long on Day 2.

Stock Down: RB De’Anthony Thomas, Oregon

The Eagles don’t necessarily need a running back, with All-Pro LeSean McCoy and a fleet of quality backups on the roster. That being said, there’s no way the team didn't have eyes on De’Anthony Thomas.

He was more than a back in college. He was a wide receiver, kick returner and track star, too. Most of all, he played in Philadelphia head coach Chip Kelly’s offense at the University of Oregon, so who would know better how to use such a versatile weapon?

Only he didn’t turn out being all that dynamic, at least not at the combine. His 4.5 in the 40-yard dash was on the higher end, but it’s not elite, and he didn’t participate in the three-cone drill or 20-yard shuttle, so there was no opportunity to measure his quickness and agility.

Without any real need at the position, it’s difficult to envision the Eagles going out of their way to draft Thomas now that they know he’s not a unique specimen. If he falls into the later rounds, then maybe they'll take a chance on him but certainly not as a mid-round pick.

He posted 1,146 yards from scrimmage and 16 total touchdowns on 118 touches as a sophomore under Kelly, but his numbers dipped across the board in his junior season. For his three-year college career, he totaled 3,186 yards—8.9 per touch—and a whopping 41 touchdowns on 356 touches.

He also averaged 25.8 yards per kick return and 17.1 per punt return with five touchdowns in three seasons.

However, he didn’t look special at the combine. The only compelling reason for the Birds to target Thomas is a reunion with Kelly, and that’s likely not reason enough.

Stock Up: RB Dri Archer, Kent State

If the Eagles are interested in adding a versatile weapon to their backfield, Dri Archer is the name to remember, not De’Anthony Thomas. The only problem is pinpointing where Archer should go in the draft.

The Kent State product put the NFL on notice with perhaps the best combine performance of any player at any position. He posted a blazing 4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash, the best time of the weekend, and he finished no lower than ninth among running backs in any drill.

He blew up as a junior, leading the NCAA with 9.0 yards per carry en route to 1,429 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. He added 561 yards receiving and four touchdowns, as well as three scores on kick returns, making him one of college football’s most explosive players.

His stock fell after a disappointing senior season, though. Archer went for just 854 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns in 10 games in 2013.

It’s safe to say he’s back on the radar now.

The Eagles don’t need a running back right now, but Archer could be so much more in Kelly’s offense. He could be a change-of-pace back or a slot receiver. He would go a long way toward solidifying the kick-return game as well.

Knowing when to grab him is the hardest part. It looked like Archer was going to be a late-round pick, but with that elite skill set, who knows—he could very easily climb into Day 2.

Stock Down: Pass-Rushers

It’s not that every pass-rusher at the combine performed poorly. On the contrary, Buffalo’s Khalil Mack separated himself from the rest of the pack with his workout, while UCLA’s Anthony Barr didn’t fare too badly, either.

Of course, we’re focusing on players who are still going to be available when Philadelphia is on the clock with the No. 22 selection—and specifically those pass-rushers who could fit at outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Once you narrow it down, there really wasn’t much to get excited about.

Possible Eagles targets such as BYU’s Kyle Van Noy and Stanford’s Trent Murphy weren’t exactly disappointments. Neither of them wowed, though, and there were some glaring deficiencies in isolated drills.

Intriguing names such as Dee Ford out of Auburn and Jeremiah Attaochu out of Georgia Tech didn’t even work out at the combine due to injuries.

Outside linebacker is one of the Eagles’ biggest needs with Trent Cole turning 32 this year, a huge rise in his cap figure in 2015 and little in the way of depth behind him. It’s all but assured the team will come away from this draft with at least one pass-rusher.

Unless Philly trades up for Barr though, there may not be anybody remaining who warrants a first-round pick by the time the Birds are on the clock. It’s a solid class, but the pass-rushers didn’t do a lot to distinguish themselves from one another at the combine.