Philadelphia Eagles Initial 2015 Round-by-Round Draft Big Board

The Philadelphia Eagles are staring at a laundry list of needs entering the 2015 NFL draft, but it’s rarely as simple as going down the checklist. The team must also consider who the best players available are once it's on the clock.

With that in mind, we’re taking an early peak at the Eagles’ potential board in each round of the draft. Sure, we haven’t even made it to free agency yet, let alone heard the results from college all-star games, the combine or pro days. We have a good idea of what the Birds’ needs are, though, and can guess at when they might try to address them.

This is all preliminary, of course, but based on various rankings from the so-called “experts,” we take an educated guess at some of the Eagles’ potential targets in the upcoming selection process.

Round 1

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Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

The consensus top cornerback in the draft, Waynes would go a long way toward filling the Eagles’ biggest need. He has the ideal size (6’1”) and pedigree to contribute right away. He's an easy and obvious choice, if you ask me.

Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

If Waynes is already gone, Peters would be a decent consolation prize. However, character concerns may turn off the Eagles following his dismissal from Washington’s football program in November.

Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

Philadelphia’s need at interior linebacker is underrated in comparison to the secondary, but it’s high on the list. If McKinney lasts to No. 20, he would be on the short list of prospects.

A.J. Cann, OG, South Carolina

Starting offensive guards Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans are both in their 30s. Cann is the consensus top interior lineman in the draft. He may not play right away but would help solidify an aging offensive line down the road.

Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

This is if and only if Mariota slides outside the top 10, which some analysts such as ESPN’s Trent Dilfer are predicting. Mariota is a pipe dream any earlier than that, but if he dips far enough, the Heisman Trophy winner could be within reach for the Eagles after all. He's regarded as the perfect quarterback for head coach Chip Kelly’s offense.

Round 2

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Anthony Harris, S, Virginia

The Eagles need an instinctive safety with ball skills to replace Nate Allen. Harris led the nation with eight interceptions as a junior in 2013, finishing with 11 total as a three-year collegiate starter. He could challenge for a starting job right away.

Cody Prewitt, S, Mississippi

If the Eagles want somebody with similar ability to intercept passers, only in a bigger package, there’s Prewitt. The Ole Miss product recorded six picks in 2013 and 12 total over four seasons while also measuring in at an impressive 6’2”, 220 pounds. He could be a game-changer over the middle.

P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

If the Eagles didn’t already select a cornerback in the first round, they seriously need to here. Williams has decent size at 6’0” and was a key member of Florida State’s 2013 national championship run.

Jalen Mills, CB, LSU

A three-year starter at LSU, Mills would also be worth considering within this range. He possesses requisite 6’0” size and is battle-tested from his time playing in the SEC.

Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA

He is the brother of Mychal, who is already making a name for himself on the Eagles. The Kendrickses would make one heck of a dynamic interior linebacker combo in the middle of any 3-4 defense. The only apparent issue is size, as neither player is listed above 6’0”.

Round 3

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Josue Matias, OG, Florida State

The 2014 draft saw a number of guards go in the third round, so assuming the Eagles don’t land on Cann, now might be the time to strike. Matias is massive at 6’5”, 330 pounds and helped pave the way for a Florida State national championship in ’13.

Arie Kouandjio, OG, Alabama

Experts will differ on where a lot of these interior linemen should be ranked, but in Kouandjio’s case, the Eagles have the inside scoop. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland was previously employed by Alabama.

Kurtis Drummond, S, Michigan State

If the Eagles haven’t addressed safety by now, they will want to consider doing so before Day 2 is out. Drummond has good size at 6’1”, 200 pounds and ball skills. He comes from a vaunted Michigan State defense.

Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia

An experienced 3-4 outside linebacker, Jenkins isn’t the most accomplished pass-rusher with 15.0 sacks over the past three seasons, but he wouldn’t have to undergo a position change from 4-3 defensive end like most college prospects. This could be a major need depending on what happens with Trent Cole and Brandon Graham’s contract situations during the offseason.

Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

Hundley will almost certainly be gone by this point, but this is where I would be comfortable with the Eagles taking him. The signal-caller has a ton of upside, but he will enter the NFL as a project and far from a sure thing.

Round 4

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Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor

Like Mariota and Hundley, Petty may well be long gone by this time. That doesn’t mean the Eagles should reach for any of these guys. The Baylor product is probably the last quarterback on the board worth selecting, and early in Day 3 would be the time to strike, should he last.

Ramik Wilson, ILB, Georgia

It’s about time the Eagles start getting serious about their hunt for an interior linebacker if they haven’t landed on one already. Wilson has decent size (6’2”, 234 lbs) and athleticism for the position, plus experience playing the 3-4.

Stephone Anthony, ILB, Clemson

Anthony is another bigger body to patrol the middle of the field at 6’2”, 238 pounds. The pickings at the position start to get pretty slim from here on out.

Za’Darius Smith, OLB, Kentucky

Smith played defensive end for Kentucky, but prior to his football career, he was a basketball player. This kid is just scratching the surface of his ability, and being early in his development, it’s not too late for him to learn how to play in space.

Tony Lippett, WR, Michigan State

The Eagles don’t necessarily need a wide receiver to come in and help out immediately, but they need depth, plus the situation gets murky a year or two down the road, especially if Josh Huff doesn’t pan out. Lippett’s combination of size (6’3”) and athleticism would make him an intriguing selection at this stage in the draft.

Round 5

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Josh Shaw, CB, USC

Whereas the Eagles may be turned off by Marcus Peters’ character issues in Round 1, Shaw’s legal troubles were resolved without charges, so while they cost the USC product most of his senior season, they could make him a steal at this point in the draft.

Eric Rowe, CB, Utah

The Eagles, by the way, likely need to get more than one cornerback from this draft. Rowe could be worth a flier at this point if for no other reason that he has preferred size at 6’1”.

Miles Dieffenbach, OG, Penn State

You would hope the Eagles have already addressed the guard position before now, but as an early entrant out of PSU, Dieffenbach could be a good value here as a developmental prospect. Again, both Mathis and Herremans require replacing in the near future.

Terry Poole, OT, San Diego State

By the same token, it might not be a bad idea to start looking at some offensive tackle prospects as well. Jason Peters isn’t getting any younger, and his play slipped a tad this year.

Tony Washington, OLB, Oregon

As the old saying goes, you can never have too many pass-rushers. Assuming the Birds work something out with Graham and/or Cole, they may not need to spend a high pick on outside linebacker, so getting a player later on like Washington, whom Coach Kelly is familiar with, makes sense.

Round 6

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Austin Shepherd, OT, Alabama

Again, Coach Stoutland should have the inside scoop on the Alabama lineman. Obviously, Shepherd is a project, as is any player at this point in the draft, but with a good recommendation, he has an inside track to Philadelphia.

Mickey Baucus, OT, Arizona

What might be most appealing about Baucus is at 6’7”, 300 pounds, he’s one of the biggest offensive tackles in the draft. Just imagine what he could develop into.

A.J. Johnson, ILB, Tennessee

Hopefully, the Eagles have addressed interior linebacker by now, but these players have a way of falling down the draft board. A.J. Johnson has the size (6’2”, 244 lbs) and SEC background that might make him appealing.

Clayton Geathers, S, UCF

Even if the Eagles have already taken a safety, it might be worth taking a late-round flier on another one. Geathers is one of the bigger safeties (6’1”, 206 lbs) remaining at this point in the process.

Devante Davis, WR, UNLV

The Eagles need a fifth receiver. Davis has the build to be an NFL wideout and could be an interesting developmental prospect for a year or two.

Round 7

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Bryan Bennett, QB, Southeastern Louisiana

Many people might not realize Chip Kelly actually recruited Bennett to Oregon, but he wound up transferring when that Mariota fella turned out OK. He's probably not an NFL passer, but if anybody can get the most out of him at the next level, it’s probably Kelly.

Marcus Murphy, RB, Missouri

LeSean McCoy’s contract might need restructuring. Chris Polk is a restricted free agent, and Darren Sproles isn’t an every-down back. A little competition couldn’t hurt.

Christian Lombard, OG, Notre Dame

The depth at this position is just scary. We're looking at potential prospects at almost every round of the draft.

Terrell Hartsfield, OLB, Cincinnati

He doesn't have much of a body of work, with just 9.5 sacks in college (eight came last season). He played defensive end but would need to transition to outside linebacker. He's worth a look.