Eagles Draft Stock Watch: 5 Players Rising and Falling on Philadelphia's Board

With free-agency movement slowing to a crawl, it’s time the Philadelphia Eagles start turning their attention to the draft. Chip Kelly seems to agree, as Geoff Mosher for CSNPhilly.com reports from the NFL owners meetings that the head coach is likely finished making “wow” moves until then.

It’s safe to say that Philadelphia’s roster is not what everybody expected after the blockbuster trades and shocking developments of the past few weeks, but as we shift our focus back to the draft, it’s time we look at some prospects who might be rising or falling on Kelly’s board based on the results of free agency. 

In particular, with the Eagles starting to hold visits for prospects, we’ll keep a close eye on some of the young talents they've already met. And based on comments from Kelly at the owners meetings, we’ll look at another who likely won’t be landing in Philly.

Rising: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

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Not too long ago, it seemed certain Jeremy Maclin would be back in midnight green. Unfortunately, events didn’t transpire that way, and the Eagles must now search for help at wide receiver.

They've already looked at a number of players here, and no doubt they’ll talk to several others in the coming weeks, but let’s talk about Jaelen Strong, a potential first-round target out of Arizona State. Per Rotoworld, Strong posted a photo of himself at the NovaCare Complex in Philly on social media earlier this week.

Strong has good size and speed for the position, measuring in at 6’2”, 217 pounds and clocking a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. He was very productive in two seasons of college ball, racking up 157 receptions for 2,287 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Strong is just one possibility to replace Maclin, but he could be the top receiver available when the Eagles are on the clock at 20th overall. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks Strong the 26th-best prospect in the draft. CBSSports.com rank him 20th.

Rising: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest

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There’s a feeling among some observers that the Eagles have fixed an ugly mess at cornerback. However, expensive free agent Byron Maxwell and 2014 fourth-round pick Jaylen Watkins remain the only corners on the roster signed beyond this coming season, so the team still needs help here.

Unfortunately, Trae Waynes is unlikely to last until the 20th pick after his combine performance, so Philly is forced to search for the next best prospect. According to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, the team has a visit lined up with Wake Forest’s Kevin Johnson, indicating some interest.

Johnson didn’t run a blazing 40 time at the combine, but he ranked among the top of the cornerback class in just about every drill there. He also measured in at 6’0”, 188 pounds with 31-inch arms, possessing the size and length Kelly prefers in his defensive backs.

Johnson wasn’t super productive in college, recording seven interceptions and 38 pass breakups over four seasons. However, he was reliable three-year starter with the physical attributes to perform at the next level. He could definitely be worth a look toward the end of the first round.

Rising: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

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With Kiko Alonso, Mychal Kendricks and DeMeco Ryans all on the roster, you wouldn’t think the Eagles need any more interior linebackers.

Then again, Ryans will be 31, entering the final year of his contract and coming off his second Achilles injury, and according to a report from Jeff McLane for The Philadelphia Inquirer, the team has yet to talk extension with Kendricks, who is also heading into the final year of his deal.

The fact that Ryans is still on the team coupled with no news on the extension front has led to speculation Kendricks could be trade bait. The news that McKinney will have an official visit with the Eagles, per Draft Insider's Tony Pauline, won’t do anything to quiet the rumors.

McKinney’s numbers won’t blow anybody away. In three seasons at Mississippi State, he registered 122 tackles, 19.5 for loss, 7.5 sacks, eight pass breakups, zero interceptions and one forced fumble. However, his size and athleticism make him a huge disruptive presence in the middle of the field, standing 6’4”, 246 pounds with impressive 4.66 speed and a 40.5-inch vertical.

McKinney was once thought to be an early first-round prospect, but updated rankings from Scouts Inc. and CBSSports.com list him as a second-rounder. Why the Eagles would feel the need to go in this direction isn’t entirely clear, but we know they are kicking the tires on interior linebackers regardless.

Rising: Damarious Randall, S, Arizona State

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It’s a rough year to be hunting for a safety in the draft, but that’s the predicament the Eagles find themselves in right now. The club was unable to lure Devin McCourty away from the New England Patriots, while Nate Allen left the team for the Oakland Raiders.

While there are some potential in-house options to replace Allen, there's no one Kelly can truly rely on. The draft isn’t very deep, but a mid-round prospect such as a Damarious Randall would definitely have a chance to come in and compete with the likes of Earl Wolff for a starting job right off the bat.

Randall is slightly undersized at 5’11”, 196 pounds, making him somewhat of a surprise candidate for the Birds, but Dane Brugler for CBSSports.com reports the team will have him in for a visit.

What no doubt appeals to Kelly is Randall’s ability to make plays in coverage. In two seasons at Arizona State, Randall posted six interceptions and 12 pass breakups to go with 135 tackles, 15 for loss, a sack and four forced fumbles.

Randall also displayed impressive athleticism at the combine, including a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash, so there’s a lot of raw talent to work with. If he’s still available in the second round, don’t be surprised if Philadelphia swoops in.

Falling: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

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Marcus Mariota fans will hold on to the dream until the Heisman Trophy winner is officially off the market, but Kelly has said on no fewer than three occasions that he does not plan to trade up for his former recruit. Here’s the latest, via Conor Orr for NFL.com:

"Philosophically, I want to keep all of our draft picks," he said. "I think you build your team through the draft. So if you gut yourself for one year and for one guy, philosophically, I don't think that's the right thing to do."

Kelly sounds convinced Mariota will not fall in a range where he becomes a possibility for the Eagles, and it’s hard to argue against that. Mariota has been considered one of the top prospects in the draft from the beginning and plays a position that’s always in demand, plus a recent report from Jason La Canfora for CBSSports.com suggests the Oregon product won’t drop past the second overall selection in the draft.

So it’s not necessarily that Mariota is falling on Philly’s draft board as much as he simply may not be a realistic option for the team. Of course, that’s the way it always appeared, but the Mariota-Kelly reunion hype just won’t seem to die.

All combine results via NFL.com.