Redrafting the 2014 Draft Class for the Philadelphia Eagles

One of the biggest reasons why the Philadelphia Eagles collapsed in December and missed the postseason in 2014 was their lack of contribution from the rookie class. On paper, the 2014 draft for the Philadelphia Eagles has not been one to write home about. Not so far, at least. 

The Eagles had seven picks in the NFL draft last year, which they used for the following players: outside linebacker Marcus Smith, wide receivers Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff, cornerback Jaylen Watkins, defensive end Taylor Hart, safety Ed Reynolds and defensive tackle Beau Allen.

Of those seven, only Matthews made a significant impact as a rookie. Questions exist with the others, mainly Smith, the team's first-round pick who finished the season with zero tackles and doubts about what position he will try to play in the National Football League. 

There's still hope for every player in the draft class, even Smith, and it'll be at least two more years before the Eagles can declare any of the players a bust.

But what if the Eagles could do a redraft based on what they already know about each player taken in the 2014 class, as well as their rest of their team? Obviously it's a dream scenario, but for sake of this article, that's what we're going to do. The Eagles will still be picking at the same spot where they originally picked, and they can choose any player still on the draft board.

Spoiler: Not one player drafted by the Eagles in 2014 will be picked by the team in this redraft, unlike the 2013 season, when the Eagles' redraft had the team still selecting offensive tackle Lane Johnson in the first round. 

1 (26). Teddy Bridgewater, QB

If the Eagles could re-do their first-round pick in 2014, they obviously wouldn't select outside linebacker Marcus Smith, who was nothing short of a complete disaster as a rookie. Smith played just 74 snaps as a rookie, recording no tackles. Even worse, the Eagles' coaching staff has no clue if Smith is an inside or an outside linebacker moving forward. That's as bad as it gets, and that's why the Eagles would select quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, Smith's college teammate, if they could do a redraft. 

A year ago, this pick would have looked foolish, as Nick Foles threw for 27 touchdowns against just two interceptions with the third-highest passer rating in NFL history. But Foles regressed badly in 2014, throwing for 13 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions while missing the final eight games of the season with a broken clavicle. More importantly, Foles raised serious doubts about his ability to lead Chip Kelly's offense in the future. 

Bridgewater, considered the consensus top quarterback by some last spring, started 12 games for the Minnesota Vikings, throwing for 14 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. He closed the season strong, posting a passer rating of at least 76.2 in each of his final nine starts, which made him the most impressive rookie quarterback. On a weak team without their star running back, his 6-6 record looks respectable too. Add in a modest ability as a runner, with just three fumbles, and Bridgewater would be an ideal fit to run Kelly's offense in the future. 

Also considered: Kelvin Benjamin, WR; Derek Carr, QB; Joel Bitonio, OG

2 (10). Chris Borland, LB

Jordan Matthews was a fine second-round pick for the Eagles in 2014. The former Vanderbilt rookie caught 67 passes for 872 yards and eight touchdowns, developing excellent chemistry with Mark Sanchez in the second half of the season. Heading into his second year, he should be able to top 1,000 yards, especially if he's given a chance to play on the outside. 

But in a redraft, the Eagles would choose to focus on the defensive side of the ball, particularly at inside linebacker, where a torn Achilles by 30-year-old DeMeco Ryans means the Eagles likely need a new starter at the position in 2015.

Borland, a second-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, emerged as one of the most dominant rookies in the second half of the season. Although he played in just 487 snaps all season, a little more than 30 per game, he rated as the fourth-best inside linebacker in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. He collected 107 tackles, including a ridiculous 70 during the month of November. His rate of one solo tackle every 5.93 plays, per Pro Football Focus, was the best mark in the game, easily. By comparison, Luke Kuechly, the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year and a tackling machine for the Carolina Panthers, recorded a tackle every 8.32 plays. 

Borland's emergence would have come at the perfect time, considering Ryans' injury, and it would allow the Eagles to plug him in as a starter in 2015 next to Mychal Kendricks. 

Also considered: Davante Adams, WR; Preston Brown, LB; Jeremy Hill, RB

3 (22). Brandon Linder, G

Third-round pick Josh Huff didn't have the impact the Eagles hoped for in 2014, as Chip Kelly's former college receiver caught just eight passes during the season. He also dropped four balls and fumbled twice, and his performance on the field left many question marks heading into the 2015 season. Huff did display signs of explosiveness, returning a kick 107 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game against the Tennessee Titans, and his 44-yard catch-and-run against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15 was a thing of beauty. 

But if the Eagles could re-do this pick, they'd obviously want a player who could make an immediate impact. Jacksonville guard Brandon Linder would have fit in perfectly on an Eagles' offensive line that was completely decimated by injuries this season. Both Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans missed at least seven games in 2014. In fact, the two only played together once all year, and that was the season opener against Jacksonville. 

Linder would have started the final 15 games for the season, bouncing between left and right guard. For Jacksonville, he made 15 starts at right guard, rating as the 10th-best guard in the National Football League, per Pro Football Focus, and he surrendered just eight quarterback hurries all season. He would have been a major upgrade over both Mathis and Herremans, and starting in 2015, he'd be able to take over permanently at right guard. This would allow the Eagles to move on from Herremans, whose $5.2 million salary is too much for a 32-year-old who has suffered two major injuries in the last three seasons. 

Also considered: John Brown, WR; Trai Turner, G; Jerick McKinnon, RB

4 (1). Martavis Bryant, WR

The Eagles' fourth-round pick in 2014, Jaylen Watkins, is still completely an unknown. He played in just 31 snaps as a rookie, per Pro Football Focus, all in the season's final game, and he allowed 143 passing yards and a touchdown. That's hardly inspiring, and the Eagles don't know anything about Watkins heading into the 2015 season. 

Since Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff were not selected in the re-draft, the Eagles still have a need at wide receiver. I'd pick Martavis Bryant with the Eagles' fourth-round pick. With the Steelers, Bryant emerged in the second half of the season. He scored six touchdowns in his first four games and finished the year with 26 grabs for 549 yards and eight scores. In a 16-game season, those numbers project to 42 catches, 878 yards and 13 touchdowns. Bryant stands 6'4" and would be the perfect deep threat and red-zone threat for an Eagles offense that desperately needs an improvement at both. 

Also considered: Bashaud Breeland, CB; Anthony Hitchens, LB; De'Anthony Thomas, OW

5 (1). Bene Benwikere, CB

There wasn't anything to write home about regarding the Eagles' first of two fifth-round picks in 2014. Defensive end Taylor Hart was inactive for all 16 games and remains a complete unknown heading into his second season. You can understand Hart not playing a lot because of the Eagles' depth behind Fletcher Cox, Cedric Thornton, Vinny Curry and Brandon Bair, but Hart's zero snaps played all season is a major concern considering Chip Kelly wanted to draft him in the third round. 

In a redraft, Jaguars inside linebacker Telvin Smith would be the best player, but he doesn't make any sense with the Eagles having Mychal Kendricks and Chris Borland as starters. Green Bay center Corey Linsley would have really helped during Jason Kelce's absence, but he'd be right back on the bench with Kelce, 27, the locked-in starter for the next half-decade. 

Carolina Panthers cornerback Bene Benwikere impressed as a rookie, surrendering a 74.5 passer rating and rating as a top-20 corner in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. It's difficult to find a rookie who can come in and play well immediately, and Benwikere played well both as a starter and in the nickel formation. He would either be able to start for the Eagles on the outside in 2015 or at nickel in 2016, assuming Brandon Boykin leaves in free agency. 

Also considered: Telvin Smith, ILB; Corey Linsley, C; Avery Williamson, ILB

5 (22). E.J. Gaines, CB

The Eagles' second fifth-round pick in 2014, Ed Reynolds, couldn't even make the team as a rookie. The team's first fifth-round pick since defensive back C.J. Gaddis in 2007 to be cut during training camp, Reynolds' future with the Eagles is obviously extremely murky. He'll be locked in a battle during preseason in 2015 with Earl Wolff and possibly a few others for the team's final roster spot at safety. 

In a redraft, the Eagles would focus again on the cornerback position, selecting E.J. Gaines, who went to the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round. Gaines surrendered a 79.0 passer rating and just one touchdown with 15 passes defensed, per Pro Football Focus. His size (just 5'10" and 190 pounds) and tackling (14 missed tackles) raise some flags but for a fifth-round pick, but Gaines will get the job done. 

Also considered: Devon Kennard, OLB; Zach Mettenberger, QB; T.J. Carrie, CB

7 (9). Jeff Janis, WR

The Eagles' seventh-round pick in 2014, Beau Allen, actually played better than all but one of the team's seven drafted rookies. He made the team as the backup nose tackle to Bennie Logan, finishing the season with 201 snaps played, a sack and 10 tackles, per Pro Football Focus. There's nothing wrong with Allen and he has a decent future as Logan's backup, but in a redraft, I'd look to the wide receiver position. 

Green Bay receiver Jeff Janis barely played as a rookie, finishing the season with two catches for 16 yards in three games. He's been mentioned as a breakout candidate with the Packers in 2015, and even if he doesn't turn into an NFL-caliber receiver, you can't blame the Eagles for adding insurance to a position where its best player, Jeremy Maclin, still hasn't been signed.

Also considered: Seantrel Henderson, OT; Ahmad Dixon, S; Beau Allen, DT