Philadelphia Eagles Mock Draft Roundup

With the NFL draft now just days away, it's time to make one last check-in on the "experts" to see whom the Philadelphia Eagles are predicted to select with the 20th overall pick in the first round.

Of course, after the wild offseason head coach Chip Kelly has had reshaping the roster in his image, there's no way there's going to be a consensus. Sure, most mocks have the Eagles looking for a cornerback or safety. Some may see a wide receiver or an offensive lineman. A few bold souls even have the Birds making the unlikely blockbuster trade for Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Time will tell, but one thing is for sure: It's just about time for everybody to get their final picks in. We catch up with some of the prominent draft writers around the NFL and get their thoughts on Philly's plan of attack in 2015.

Mel Kiper, Todd McShay, ESPN.com

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Mel Kiper and Todd McShay post numerous mocks during the lead-up to the draft, frequently changing their minds along the way, but they've both been fairly consistent about this. ESPN's draft experts tend to believe the Eagles will select Alabama safety Landon Collins if he's there at No. 20. Here's what Kiper has to say:

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Collins is a safety who does his best work when he's near the line of scrimmage. He has great instincts and tackling ability as an extra defender against the run, and he's the kind of player who can fit seamlessly into this scheme and should be on the field right away.

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McShay shares similar sentiments, but both writers seem to be missing the point. Philadelphia doesn't need or want a safety whose strength is playing near the line of scrimmage and run support.

The Eagles most often deploy their safeties in coverage, either man-to-man, often against a slot receiver, or single-high zone as the last line of defense. Therefore, it stands to reason that they should target a safety whose strength lies in these areas, not in something the defense doesn't do much of schematically.

True, safety seems like the most glaring need on Philly's roster heading into the draft, but finding the right fit is important. Remember, the Eagles signed Malcolm Jenkins over All-Pro Jairus Byrd last offseason, in part for these very reasons. Based on that experience, expect them to select a safety other than Collins in the draft.

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

While most mocks have Philadelphia going defense in the first round, particularly cornerback or defensive back, a case could be made for the right offensive contributor. For instance, if Central Florida wide receiver Breshad Perriman were to fall to No. 20, he may be too talented to pass up.

Daniel Jeremiah for NFL.com believes the Eagles might be willing to take a chance on Perriman if he's available, although the club might catch some grief for the selection. As Jeremiah notes, Perriman "is one of the most polarizing players in the draft."

At 6'2", 212 pounds with a reported sub-4.3-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, per his NFL.com scouting report, Perriman has the pure ability to become one of the most dominant receivers in the league. However, he's raw as a route-runner and struggles mightily to consistently catch the football, so he has a lot of work to do to reach his full potential.

If anybody could get it out of him, though, it's probably Kelly and his wide-open offense. There aren't often players with Perriman's measureables available in the latter half of the first round, so when one is sitting there for the taking, it certainly merits consideration at least.

Pete Prisco, Rob Rang, CBSSports.com

ELI LUCERO/Associated Press

Despite Philadelphia investing heavily in cornerback with the free-agent signings of Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond III, the position is still an area of need. Maxwell is the only cover man on the roster signed beyond 2015, and Thurmond is far from a lock to start on the opposite side.

Needless to say, a lot of mocks have the Eagles looking corner, though the selection may vary. CBSSports.com colleagues Pete Prisco and Rob Rang wound up agreeing on Kevin Johnson out of Wake Forest, who some analysts believe is the second-best cornerback in the draft. Here are Rang's thoughts on the selection:

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Even after inking Byron Maxwell to a massive deal in free agency, the Eagles have shown a great deal of interest in this year's top cornerbacks. Whereas Maxwell is long and physical, Johnson possesses exceptional quickness and fluidity, which could potentially give Philadelphia quite the duo to combat the dynamic receivers of the NFC East.

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There certainly isn't much to say against the choice of Johnson, unless you simply prefer a different cornerback. As we're about to find out, there are a number of others that could be available with the 20th overall pick.

Doug Farrar, Sports Illustrated

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Another name that was linked to Philadelphia in a lot of mock drafts, especially earlier during the offseason, was Marcus Peters. However, he seemed to fall off the radar for awhile after a bit of a disappointing showing at the combine.

Well, Peters is back again, this time with Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar tabbing the Washington cornerback as the Eagles' selection at No. 20. And while many would be quick to point out that the character issues which led to Peters being kicked off the football team in his senior year wouldn't seem to mesh with Kelly's views on locker room culture, Farrar explains why that's no longer an issue.

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Peters may very well be the best cornerback in this draft class, and he'd most likely be a top-15 pick were it not for the issues with Washington's coaching staff that got him kicked off the team in 2014. Peters then went back to Oakland, thought it all through, apologized to his former coaches and was invited to participate in Washington's pro day. That put a lot of concerns to rest and pushed the focus back to Peters's game tape—which, for any team looking to add an aggressive press cornerback to its roster, should be sufficiently impressive.

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As Farrar details, in spite of his combine performance, Peters is one of the best cornerbacks in the draft on tape, racking up 11 interceptions and 27 pass breakups in three seasons of college ball. Yet despite Peters' apparent growth, it's noteworthy that the Eagles did not hold a private workout or have Peters in for an official visit during the pre-draft process. My guess is they'll pass.

Jeff McLane, Philadelphia Inquirer

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to expert opinions on whom your team will draft, nothing beats the local media. The guys who cover the team day in and day out know which prospects the club has been high on during the pre-draft process and better understand which players fit specific needs.

Which is why Sam Farmer's beat writers' mock draft for the Los Angeles Times may be the best mock of them all. In it, Farmer tabs Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer to make the Eagles' selection at No. 20, and McLane absolutely nails it with one of the likeliest choices for the Birds in Connecticut defensive back Byron Jones. Here's the short version:

"Jones is an athletic press corner who should start from Day 1. He could be a fit to play opposite the newly acquired Byron Maxwell."

The long version is that the Eagles have shown very strong interest in Jones ever since the combine, where he is believed to have set a world record in the long jump. Since then, Gil Brandt for NFL.com writes that the organization sent a large contingent to Connecticut's pro day, including Kelly, while Geoff Mosher for CSNPhilly.com reports that Jones was in Philly for an official visit.

Not only does Jones have ideal size (6'1", 199 lbs) and skills for the position, but he also has experience playing safety, showing a versatility that Kelly loves. Jones fits the head coach's view of team culture as well, and if the Eagles believe he's the best player available at No. 20, this pick seems like a slam dunk.

All combine results courtesy NFL.com.