The Philadelphia Eagles' Round 1 Big Board Before Combine

For the past several weeks, head coach Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles front office have been buried in game tape, dissecting what players can do on a football field. It will be the single biggest determining factor into how the team composes its draft board.

This week, more than 300 NFL prospects will descend upon Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, where teams will evaluate them through a series of interviews and drills. And while it’s often said that 40-yard dashes and bench presses shouldn’t change perceptions about prospects, the combine will inevitably shape the thought process in some way leading up to the draft.

It will be interesting to see how much the next week alters our feelings about these athletes and how it might change what the Eagles plan to do with their first-round pick.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at what we think the club’s board looks like right now with the 20th overall selection in the draft. Then, after the combine, we’ll come back, revisit the big board and see how different it looks already.

5. Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

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No, the Eagles should not “do whatever it takes” and attempt to trade into the top five of the draft to select Marcus Mariota. Such a maneuver could cripple the franchise for the next decade.

However, if the Heisman Trophy quarterback somehow slips to Philadelphia’s No. 20 pick, or thereabouts, you can't blame Chip Kelly for taking “his” guy.

In any other offense, Mariota is a project. With the Eagles, he has a chance to make an immediate impact, as he already has a head start in the system after playing for Coach Kelly at Oregon. Mariota probably still doesn’t turn the team into an instant Super Bowl contender, but if the front office put the right pieces around him, the Birds could be a legitimate threat within one or two years.

Of course, there’s some debate as to whether Philly needs a quarterback; despite Nick Foles’ struggles in 2014, he did lead the club to a 6-2 record before suffering an injury and is 14-4 under Kelly overall. Also, Mariota plummeting down draft boards seems unlikely, so Kelly probably should not get his hopes up.

That being said, there’s no reason the Eagles shouldn’t take a hard look at Mariota if he’s around later. Just don’t do anything drastic.

4. Landon Collins, S, Alabama

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For all the discussion about the Eagles’ glaring hole at cornerback, safety isn’t exactly a picture of stability, either. That’s why it’s so intriguing any time there’s a mock draft that has Alabama safety Landon Collins last to Philadelphia’s No. 20 selection.

A unanimous All-American and the consensus best safety in the draft, Collins would fill an immediate need in the back end of the secondary. As of now, Nate Allen is an impending free agent, and even if Philly retains him, he could wind up playing for his starting job if there’s any semblance of competition.

Collins would provide just that. The two-year starter racked up 12 pass breakups, five interceptions and three forced fumbles over the past two seasons.

The reason he isn’t higher on the draft board is twofold. First, it’s difficult to envision him lasting this long, particularly in a weak safety class. Second, he may not be quite the ideal fit for Philadelphia.

The Eagles use their safeties in man-to-man coverage against slot receivers quite a bit, which would be relatively new for Collins. And if he’s taking over Allen’s role, that means playing a lot of center field instead of run support, which Collins’ NFL.com scouting report indicates is his biggest strength.

So as much as Philly needs a safety, Kelly and the folks in that war room are going to have to ask themselves if Collins is the right player for them—if he’s even available when the Eagles are on the clock, which seems unlikely.

3. Shaq Thompson, LB/S, Washington

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If there’s one thing Chip Kelly loves, it’s versatility, and few players in this draft can boast that quality quite like Shaq Thompson can.

He primarily played outside linebacker for the University of Washington. However, he also took snaps at safety, which some observers believe he is better suited to play in the NFL. Heck, Thompson even played running back, carrying the ball 61 times for 456 yards—an impressive average of 7.5 yards per carry—and two touchdowns in 2014.

It’s unclear what position he would play in Philadelphia, but the Birds could use help at both safety and linebacker.

Thompson was a big-time playmaker on defense throughout his collegiate career. Over three seasons, he racked up 223 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 14 pass breakups, five interceptions—two returned for touchdown—and two forced fumbles.

It’s all a question of how a team like the Eagles can harness that ability, but NFL.com’s Mike Mayock sees a fit. He compared Thompson to Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowler Kam Chancellor, telling reporters such as Les Bowen for the Philadelphia Daily News that Thompson can play safety in a base look and then drop down to linebacker in a dime package.

If he’s still around when the Eagles are on the clock at No. 20, you know Kelly is going to take a long, hard look at the combination of versatility and production. With natural ability like that, you would think they can find a home for him on defense somewhere.

2. Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

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Some teams might remove Marcus Peters from their draft boards altogether. One would think the Eagles might be one of those teams. However, their need at cornerback is so dire that they can’t afford to pass on such a talented prospect without so much as a second thought.

The issue with Peters has never been his ability. With 27 pass breakups and 11 interceptions in three seasons at Washington, he’s one of the best playmakers in the entire draft. He also has an ideal 6’0”, 190-pound frame to play on the perimeter and the potential to become a shutdown corner at the next level.

Of course, getting kicked off the football team midway through 2014 raises a lot of questions. Peters’ constant clashes with the Huskies coaching staff finally led to his dismissal from the program in November and no doubt will be a major red flag for NFL decision-makers.

That may go double in Philadelphia, where Kelly has already jettisoned one Pro Bowl player in his two-year stint as head coach. The reasons for DeSean Jackson’s release last offseason were many, but his attitude toward the coaching staff and not falling in step with the culture Kelly wants to instill played a role.

For what it’s worth, Peters admits he was at fault for what happened, so maybe he can win the Eagles over during his interview at the combine. Still, the organization would be wise to remain leery.

1. Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

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As the draft closes in, we may see an increasing amount of debate over who is the top cornerback prospect—without off-field issues, that is. LSU’s Jalen Collins, Florida State’s P.J. Williams, Miami Ohio’s Quinten Rollins and Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson are just a few of the players who could climb into the first round.

For the time being, though, Trae Waynes is still the top dog in most rankings. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. lists Waynes as the 19th-best prospect overall, one spot behind Peters. CBSSports.com also has Waynes 19th, still their No. 1 corner in the draft.

Obviously, Waynes would fill a huge hole for the Eagles, who have major issues at cornerback and lack quality starters. Only 2014 fourth-round pick Jaylen Watkins is currently signed beyond the coming season, so the unit needs help across the board.

At 6’1”, 180 pounds, Waynes has the tall, long build the Eagles prefer in their corners these days. The two-year starter registered 11 pass breakups and six interceptions at Michigan State.

Of course, there’s a chance Waynes won’t be around when Philadelphia is on the clock at No. 20, but if he is, he’ll be difficult to pass up as he would fill the team's biggest need. Peters may be the more purely talented player, but Waynes doesn’t carry any off-field concerns, so there should be far less risk involved.