Safest, Riskiest Choices Philadelphia Eagles Might Consider in 2015 NFL Draft

Drafting an NFL player is one of the more difficult decisions a head coach can make, especially considering the alarming percentage of players selected that never amount to what they’re supposed to be.

Chip Kelly has never been a conservative, play-it-safe head coach, and expect him to take as many risks in the 2015 NFL draft as he’s taken this offseason. A risky draft pick can be seen as one who probably could have been selected in the later rounds, or it’s a player that has terrific athletic skills without the on-the-field success to back it up.

Meanwhile, a safe draft pick would be one with a low bust percentage, one that nearly all scouts can agree will translate successfully to the National Football League. It’s a player with NFL size, college success and the right attitude to succeed.

Here are a handful of players that should be on the Eagles’ radar, broken down into whether they’re safe or risky prospects.

All scouting combine numbers are per NFL.com.

Safe: Marcus Mariota

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

When you trade draft picks to acquire a franchise quarterback—as the Philadelphia Eagles would likely have to do to obtain Oregon's Marcus Mariota—there's always risk involved. The Washington Redskins have seen the effects of ransoming a handful of quality draft picks for a quarterback, especially when he doesn't turn out to be what the team expected.

But no quarterback in the league is a safer fit for a new team than Mariota would be to the Eagles. Chip Kelly recruited him to Oregon and helped mold him into a terrific talent, one that won the Heisman Trophy in 2014.

Mariota has the arm, size, speed and smarts to run Kelly's offense. Sam Bradford may be a fine fit if he can stay healthy, but Mariota would take this team to new heights.

Risky: Eric Rowe

Rick Bowmer/Associated Press

Eric Rowe fits what the Philadelphia Eagles want to do on defense. He’s that tall, long defensive back that can play both corner and safety. Chip Kelly has shown he’s not shy in doing whatever it takes to grab that kind of player, even if it means paying $63 million to a largely league-average cornerback in Byron Maxwell.

So don’t be surprised to see him take Rowe in the first round, which would be a stretch considering he’s likely to be available in Round 2.

Rowe was among the most athletic cornerbacks in nearly every single event at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.45 40-yard dash, leading his position group with 19 bench press reps and posting tremendous times in the broad jump and vertical leap. Rowe was a three-year starter at safety in college before moving to cornerback as a senior; that versatility means he’s a similar player to Malcolm Jenkins.

The problem is there’s a lot of potential with Rowe, but the results weren’t always there. He had just three interceptions in four years at Utah. The Eagles haven’t exactly hit with their drafted defensive backs recently, and getting Rowe in one of the top rounds would put significant pressure on him to succeed.

Safe: Nelson Agholor

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

There's a lot to like about USC's Nelson Agholor, and that's why his draft stock is quietly rising to the point that he may sneak into the first round.

Agholor's measurables compare favorably to those of Jeremy Maclin, and he would be a logical replacement for the recently-departed Pro Bowler. Agholor won't blow away NFL cornerbacks with his size or speed, but he should display the consistency as a route-runner to get open and still make plays.

Risky: Breshad Perriman

John Raoux/Associated Press

Until his pro day, Breshad Perriman was a definite Day 2 prospect. Then he went out and shocked the football world with a 4.25 40-yard dash, which could easily vault him into the top 20-25 picks.

There’s a lot to like about Perriman, who is 6’2”, 215 pounds and has otherworldly speed. He’s already visited with the Philadelphia Eagles, which means Chip Kelly is interested in him. After all, every single player the team drafted last year either visited with the Eagles or attended the University of Oregon.

What makes Perriman risky, though, is that he didn’t post terrific numbers in college in 2014, he dropped too many passes and he was seen as a much lower draft pick until he wowed scouts with his 40 time.

Safe: Jake Fisher

Nick Ut/Associated Press

Like Marcus Mariota, Jake Fisher played under Chip Kelly at the University of Oregon. Fisher is an extremely talented offensive lineman, one who could likely play tackle or guard at the NFL level.

Fisher started his collegiate career at guard, but transitioned to tackle as a full-time player. Fisher has exceptional quickness and would be an asset to DeMarco Murray in the running game.

That overall athleticism should help him translate easier to the National Football League, much like Lane Johnson did when the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him out of the University of Oklahoma.

Risky: Ali Marpet

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Ali Marpet is attempting to become the first Division-III prospect in 25 years to go in the top 100 picks of the NFL draft, per MMQB. If you’re the team that thinks Marpet is worthy of that kind of a draft pick, how can you not think you’re taking an enormous risk?

Marpet played a level of football against former 1- or 2-star high school prospects, guys that weren’t even good enough to get into the hundreds of Division-I schools. That’s not to knock those players, but more to say that Marpet is making an unbelievable leap to try to go from Hobart to the NFL.

What Marpet has on his side is athleticism that would make him elite for even an NFL guard. He ran a 4.98 40-yard dash. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 30 times and led his position group in the short shuttle time.

Safe: Jaelen Strong

Matt York/Associated Press

Jaelen Strong has similar measurables to Jordan Matthews, and Matthews was a huge success as an NFL rookie.

Strong is 6’2”, 217 pounds and runs a 4.44 40-yard dash. Matthews is 6’3”, 212 pounds and ran a 4.46 40-yard dash. Strong also led his positional group in the vertical leap, which means he’s athletic enough to win contested balls and become a serious red-zone threat.

Strong also went to a Pac-12 school, which is the fastest non-Oregon way to becoming a Philadelphia Eagle.

Risky: Shaq Thompson

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Shaq Thompson is an unbelievable athlete without really a natural position. Is he a linebacker or a safety? Don’t forget that he even played running back in college last year.

The biggest risk for the team that picks Thompson is that he may be the defensive version of Pat White. White was the highly athletic quarterback the Miami Dolphins picked in the second round in 2009, but his skills never translated to the NFL.

For what it’s worth, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and defensive coordinator Billy Davis will love Thompson’s versatility. He can line up at outside linebacker and blitz the quarterback, he can cover tight ends, he can play safety and he can likely even match up one-on-one with slot receivers. The trick will be finding Thompson’s best NFL position.