5 Prospects Philadelphia Eagles Should Target in 2015 Draft

One of the few benefits, if there are any, of the Philadelphia Eagles missing the postseason is that head coach Chip Kelly has extra time to prepare for the NFL draft in a few months.

Then again, the Eagles still haven't had a general manager, and Chip Kelly hasn't exactly shown that he's very good at this scouting stuff, so maybe it doesn't matter too much.

Anyway, it's pretty clear which positions the Eagles need to improve this offseason. Their secondary was a complete disaster this past season, as cornerbacks Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher, and safety Nate Allen all need to be replaced this summer. 

The Eagles could also use an upgrade at inside linebacker, with veteran DeMeco Ryans possibly not returning next season due to age, declining ability, a major Achilles injury and a sizable cap hit. And on offense, they could use another guard, receiver and a long-term plan at the quarterback position. 

The following slides will highlight five players the Eagles should look at in this year's draft. All five are considered top draft picks this spring. 

Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Even though Chip Kelly will undoubtedly be enamored with his former quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, it's highly unlikely that the Eagles will be able to trade up for the No. 1 overall pick. 

Realistically, Nick Foles will be the starting quarterback in 2015. He gives this team the best chance to win now, even though he was a turnover machine in 2014 and he's struggled with injuries all three years of his career.

UCLA's Brett Hundley is a likely pick in one of the first three rounds. CBSSports's Rob Rang actually projects Hundley to go to the Eagles with the 20th overall pick. At that rate, he'd probably take over as the starter in 2016. 

"

Potential(and realistically, not Mariota) future Eagles QB UCLA's Brett Hundley playing right now! Could develop him for a year behind Nick.

— Ike Reese (@Ike58Reese) January 3, 2015"

Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan

Tony Ding/Associated Press

Chip Kelly's interest in Devin Funchess will likely depend on how much he feels the Eagles need to improve at the wide receiver position. Is the combination of Jeremy Maclin, Jordan Matthews, Riley Cooper and Josh Huff the future? Or do the Eagles need another physical presence on the outside of the field?

Funchess is the perfect receiver-tight end hybrid for the Eagles' offense. He only switched over to wide receiver in 2014, though, so he's pretty inexperienced at the position. And the Eagles are pretty stacked at tight end, with Zach Ertz, veteran Brent Celek and this year's undrafted rookie free agent Trey Burton.

Then again, Kelly is an offensive guy and a 6'5", 236-pound playmaker like Funchess could be hard to pass up.

Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA

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The younger brother of Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks, Eric won the 2014 Butkus award as the best linebacker in the NCAA. He will finish his career as the all-time leading tackler at UCLA, breaking the record set by Jerry Robinson in the late 1970s. Before Marcus Smith in 2014, Robinson was the last linebacker drafted by the Eagles in the first-round, so it would be ironic if the Eagles picked Kendricks too.

This isn't Casey Matthews, either, where the Eagles selected the younger brother of former All-Pro Clay Matthews but watched him fail to live up to expectations. 

Kendricks can flat-out play. A likely first-round talent, Kendricks makes sense for the Eagles because a) he plays inside linebacker; a position the Eagles desperately need, and b) it would be pretty cool to watch the Kendricks brothers side by side in the middle of the Eagles defense. 

Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

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After last season's debacle in the secondary, you have to think the Eagles will draft a first-round cornerback. Or a first-round safety. 

They simply cannot keep throwing out veteran free-agent signings like Cary Williams or Bradley Fletcher. Even though Malcolm Jenkins was a good signing, but he'll likely need to be replaced in two seasons. 

Michigan State's Trae Waynes is one of the most likely options for the Eagles. ESPN's Todd McShay (h/t NJ.com) mocked Waynes to the Eagles with the 20th overall pick, as did Bleacher Report's Matt Miller.

"

Just studied 3 games of Mich St CB Trae Waynes. I like him better than any of the CBs in last year's draft. Size, speed, tough, instinctive

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 9, 2015"

If the Eagles grabbed Waynes, they'd be in a position to start him immediately. It might be a risky move for a team expected to contend for a playoff berth in 2015, but it's better than Williams or Fletcher. 

Benardrick McKinney, Linebacker

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Mychal Kendricks is the future for the Eagles at inside linebacker. But veteran DeMeco Ryans could be done in Philly for four reasons: 1) age, 2) declining play, 3) a major Achilles injury and 4) a big cap hit in 2015.

Even if Ryans is brought back, the Eagles will need his replacement. Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney just declared for the draft, per Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports. He is a likely mid-first-round pick. Where Kendricks is more of a speed linebacker, McKinney is just going to overpower players. He's extremely physical, something the Eagles need more of in their defense. He's not great in coverage, like Ryans, but he's a great complement to Kendricks.

CBS Sports ranks McKinney as their top inside linebacker in the draft class. For an Eagles defense that needs playmakers, McKinney and Marcus Smith (if ever pans out) would go terrific with Connor Barwin and Mychal Kendricks.