Philadelphia Eagles' NFL Draft Big Board: Position-by-Position Rankings
The NFL draft is less than two days away, and the talk in Philadelphia continues to center around whether Chip Kelly will find a way to trade up in the draft for Heisman Trophy quarterback Marcus Mariota, a player he once said will win multiple Super Bowls.
If Kelly can find a way to trade up to the No. 2 overall pick, assuming Tampa Bay selects Jameis Winston with the No. 1 pick, he'll be a hero in Philadelphia. This is assuming, of course, that he doesn't give up too much in the draft.
But if Kelly doesn't grab Mariota in the draft, he has eight picks—one in each round, plus an extra fifth-rounder—to improve a team that just missed the postseason during his second year at the helm.
You could actually make the case that the Eagles have their biggest hole at quarterback, especially when you factor in the importance of the position to the team as a whole. Sam Bradford is currently recovering from consecutive ACL tears, and he's been a big disappointment as the former No. 1 overall draft pick.
Wide receiver, right guard, cornerback and safety are also big needs for the Eagles. Each of the positions needs an upgrade at starter in 2015.
The following slides will take a look at the Eagles' big board at the aforementioned positions. The positional breakdowns will mostly include top overall prospects, but some may include lower-round prospects whom the Eagles could select, too.
What they have in common, though, is their fit with the Eagles. For example, I may have left off a potential first-round talent if he wasn't a good system fit, such as Alabama safety Landon Collins.
Quarterback
1 of 5
Heading into the 2015 season, the quarterback position is still a major question mark for the Eagles. That's because many, including myself, refuse to believe that Kelly wants former Heisman winner Sam Bradford to be his starting quarterback this season.
No, the guess here isn't that the other former Heisman winner on the roster, Tim Tebow, will have any chance of competing for a starting spot this year. Tebow, who is in competition for the third quarterback spot, will back up Mark Sanchez—as he did in New York in 2012.
The following list excludes the consensus No. 1 overall draft pick, Jameis Winston. That's because Winston's character directly contradicts what Kelly believes in for his locker room. For a man who preaches that "culture beats scheme," I truly believe Kelly would pass on Winston even if he somehow fell to pick No. 20 in the draft.
1. Marcus Mariota, Oregon
There is no player whom Kelly wants more in the draft than Mariota. There will probably never be a player throughout his coaching history that Kelly will want more than Mariota. The former Heisman winner was a dominant college player, as he threw for 105 touchdowns against just 14 interceptions during his three seasons as Oregon's starting quarterback.
He also rushed for 29 touchdowns, including 15 during his senior season. His high character, explosive skill set and incredible success running Kelly's offense at Oregon a few years ago is exactly why many speculate that the current Eagles head coach will elect to trade the farm for a player he likely deems a once-in-a-lifetime prospect.
This may not be Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning, but to Kelly, that's exactly what this is. And that's why it's hard to see him passing on Mariota during the draft, regardless of how much he has to surrender.
2. Brett Hundley, UCLA
If Kelly wanted to draft a quarterback who could compete for a starting job without offering multiple first-round picks and multiple players, he could land UCLA's Brett Hundley. Hundley, a projected late first- or early second-round candidate, compares to Randall Cunningham, according to CBSSports.com.
Hundley has a strong arm and impressive wheels, and he's superior at running plays out of a shotgun-style offense. He doesn't turn the ball over, and he's aggressive in making throws downfield. It's easy to see him succeeding while running Kelly's fast-paced pro-style offense, although he'd probably need a year to sit and learn behind a veteran like Sam Bradford or even Mark Sanchez.
3. Bryce Petty, Baylor
Focus primarily on his college numbers, and you'd think that Bryce Petty was every bit the player of Mariota. During his career at Baylor, where he succeeded former No. 2 draft pick Robert Griffin III, Petty tossed 62 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions.
In 2013, Petty threw for 32 touchdowns and just three interceptions, while adding 14 rushing touchdowns. Like Mariota and Hundley, he's experienced in a shotgun-style offense. He possesses a strong arm, although he struggles to make second reads, and a lot of deep balls are floaters that could easily be intercepted.
He's also finished in the top 10 of the Heisman voting in each of the last two seasons. If the Eagles don't grab Mariota, Petty makes sense as an option in the second or third round. He could compete for a starting job by the 2016 season.
4. Garrett Grayson, Colorado State
An intriguing option in the draft if the Eagles don't land Mariota is Colorado State's Garrett Grayson, who projects as a third- or fourth-round selection. Grayson gets rid of the ball quickly and throws crisp, accurate passes—both requirements for running Kelly's offense.
In Grayson's senior year, he tossed 32 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. He could compete for a starting job by 2016 if drafted by the Eagles.
5. Bryan Bennett, Southeastern Louisiana
Another intriguing option in the draft for Kelly is Bryan Bennett, a player who actually transferred out of Oregon after Mariota beat him out for the starting job. Bennett, who played the remainder of his career down south at Southeastern Louisiana, experienced tremendous success running an offense extremely similar to Kelly's Oregon pro-style offense.
Bennett is projected by most to be selected around the fifth or sixth round, if he's selected at all. He collected 85 total touchdowns throughout his career (48 passing, 37 rushing). If Bennett goes undrafted, Kelly would be foolish to not sign him as an undrafted free agent, where he could compete for the third quarterback spot behind Tebow, Matt Barkley and G.J. Kinne.
Wide Receiver
2 of 5
The Eagles have allowed Pro Bowl wide receivers to leave the team in consecutive offseasons, an unheard-of move in today's NFL. After releasing DeSean Jackson following the 2013 season, Kelly chose not to overpay for Jeremy Maclin last month, and the former first-round pick was reunited with the head coach who drafted him.
Jordan Matthews, Riley Cooper, Josh Huff, Miles Austin and Seyi Ajirotutu are currently the receivers on the roster, but only Matthews has shown to be a viable weapon in Kelly's offense. Cooper regressed badly in 2014 on the first year of a five-year contract extension, while Huff's rookie season was extremely disappointing.
Austin, a 30-year-old veteran who has been a non-factor over the last few seasons, is a fourth receiver at best, while Ajirotutu is a great signing for special teams purposes only.
1. Kevin White, West Virginia
Although Kevin White is really just a one-year wonder as a college football star, the Eagles' head coach has never been afraid to draft players based on how much success they did or didn't achieve during their college career.
White, who stands 6'3" and weighs 210 pounds, ran a blazing 4.35 in the 40-yard dash. He's a tremendous athlete, and even though Amari Cooper is the far more polished receiver, it's easy to see Kelly preferring the better athlete—the player he thinks will likely have the higher ceiling.
It's similar to the 2014 draft, where the guess was that Kelly would have preferred Mike Evans to Sammy Watkins, even though Watkins was clearly the better receiver. If White somehow falls past the Browns at pick No. 12, don't be surprised if Kelly makes a move up the draft to grab him.
2. Amari Cooper, Alabama
A better all-around receiver than White, Cooper ranks below him on the Eagles' draft board because he's not as big or quite as good of an athlete as White. Regardless, Cooper was a dominant college football player for his entire career. He's a legitimate No. 1 receiver in the NFL in a few seasons, and if he somehow had a draft-day slide, he would be an enticing target for Kelly.
3. DeVante Parker, Louisville
The consensus third-best receiver in the draft behind White and Cooper, Louisville's DeVante Parker is a player the Eagles would likely be all over if he somehow fell to the 20th pick. It's unlikely, but it's not inconceivable.
Parker has the size and ball-catching radius to take the lead as the go-to option in Kelly's offense. CBSSports.com's player comparison for Parker is A.J. Green, which really tells you all you need to know about his talent.
4. Nelson Agholor, USC
The most likely receiver for the Eagles to draft is USC's Nelson Agholor, whom the team hosted at their facility for a workout.
Agholor, whose measureables are virtually identical to Jeremy Maclin's, is a little bit undersized for a typical Kelly wide receiver, but he's quick with solid hands, and he's had a lot of success in a pro-style offense. It's easy to see him manning the slot for the Eagles with Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff on the outside part of the field. He's a likely second-round pick.
5. Chris Conley, Georgia
Expected to be selected in the third or fourth round, Chris Conley is an intriguing option for the Eagles because of his incredible athletic ability. According to the SPARQ charts, he's easily the best overall athlete among all receivers, as he tested in the 99th percentile.
His great size and ridiculous athleticism make up for the fact that he recorded just 657 receiving yards during his senior season of college. Again, for Kelly, as with most coaches, it's about potential at the next level, not just sheer numbers in college.
6. R.J. Harris, New Hampshire
There's a lot to like about New Hampshire wide receiver R.J. Harris, whom the Eagles have shown a lot of interest to over the years. Harris, who is used to being the No. 1 wide receiver for an offense, caught 100 passes for more than 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2014 season.
He lined up all over the field, as the X, Y and Z receiver. He even carried the ball out of the backfield on occasion. If Harris was available in the sixth or seventh round, he makes sense as a low-risk, medium-reward option for an Eagles squad that runs a similar type of offense to the one Harris played in during college.
Offensive Line
3 of 5
The offensive line for the Eagles is easily the strength of the team, as four of the team's five starters are among the best in the game at their positions: left tackle Jason Peters, left guard Evan Mathis, center Jason Kelce and right tackle Lane Johnson.
Injuries to Mathis and Kelce, as well as the four-game suspension to Johnson, are directly related to Nick Foles' early-season struggles in 2014.
With Todd Herremans gone, the Eagles have an opening at right guard, as the longest-tenured member of the team was released following the worst season of his career.
The Eagles could look to fill the hole at right guard with one of the players currently on their roster, but don't be surprised if Kelly looks for an upgrade through the draft. The Eagles also need to improve the overall depth of their offensive line.
1. Brandon Scherff, OG, Iowa
There's virtually no scenario in which the Eagles would be able to draft Iowa's versatile offensive lineman Brandon Scherff. He plays both offensive tackle and guard, and he would be a tremendous fit on the Eagles line. But the fact that the team didn't even work him out at its facility likely suggests that Philadelphia knows there's no chance it'll be able to draft him.
If Scherff somehow slipped to No. 14 or 15, Kelly should pull the trigger and trade up for one of the safest players in the draft. Scherff could hold down the fort at right guard for the next decade.
2. La'el Collins, OT/G, LSU
LSU's La'el Collins, also a projected first-round pick, is a prospect the Eagles did work out at their facility. Collins can play any of the four offensive line positions, and if drafted by the Eagles, would likely begin his career as Herremans' replacement at right guard.
However, Collins is currently under investigation for the shooting of a pregnant girl last week, and that's negative publicity that could cause the Eagles to look the other way if he fell to the 20th overall pick in the draft.
3. Jake Fisher, OT/G, Oregon
I've written about why Jake Fisher is such an ideal fit for the Eagles, but it really boils down to his experience playing for Kelly in a very similar offense to the one the head coach runs in the NFL.
Fisher, like the rest of the offensive linemen the Eagles are interested in, possesses the ability to play anywhere on the O-line, and his experience and athleticism in a power running attack make him a legitimate fit for the Eagles.
He'd be a bit of a stretch at pick 20, but since he would almost certainly be gone by the 52nd pick, don't be surprised if he's the team's first-round selection.
4. Sean Hickey, OT/G, Syracuse
One of my favorite prospects in the draft, versatile offensive lineman Sean Hickey is a player the Eagles could grab in one of the later rounds, but he's talented enough to compete for a starting job as a rookie.
The Eagles have a number of options at right guard, including Allen Barbre, Andrew Gardner and Matt Tobin, but if Kelly could hand-pick Herremans' replacement, Hickey makes too much sense in one of the later rounds.
5. Jeremiah Poutasi, OT/G, Utah
Like Hickey, Utah's Jeremiah Poutasi is a formidable choice in the fourth or fifth round as a potential starter at right guard. Poutasi can also play either tackle or guard, although he translates best to guard in the NFL. Plus, guard is where the Eagles currently have a major need. The Eagles worked Poutasi out at their facility, confirming their interest in him.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Cornerback
4 of 5
The combination of Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher managed to hold down the fort during the 2013 season, but in 2014, the two combined to allow more than 1,700 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes, according to Pro Football Focus.
Williams was released and signed with the Seattle Seahawks, while Fletcher left in free agency to sign with the defending champion New England Patriots.
In free agency, Kelly signed former Legion of Boom member Byron Maxwell to a massive six-year, $63 million deal, a risky move for a 27-year-old former sixth-round pick with just 17 career starts. Although Maxwell has never been a No. 1 cornerback on any level, he's an upgrade over Williams.
But on the opposite side of the field, the Eagles don't know if their other starter will be Nolan Carroll, Brandon Boykin or Walter Thurmond. Last year's rookie Jaylen Watkins is also in the mix for playing time. It's not out of the question for the Eagles to draft a cornerback in the first round and start him as a rookie.
1. Byron Jones, UConn
If the Eagles stay at pick 20, Byron Jones is most likely the Eagles's selection. The former UConn star turned in a combine showing for the ages, as he set a world record in the broad jump. He tests in the 99.9 percentile for his position, according to his SPARQ charts, which would make him the second-most athletic player in the NFL.
Jones fits everything Kelly looks for in a defensive back, as he's extremely athletic, tough, physical and able to play both cornerback and safety. In fact, Jones made the transition over to cornerback in 2013 after starting as a safety for the previous two seasons. His experience in press-man defenses and his high character only increase the chances of the Eagles selecting him with their first-round pick.
2. Trae Waynes, Michigan State
The consensus No. 1 cornerback in the draft, Trae Waynes is almost certain to be off the board by the time the Eagles pick at No. 20. If Waynes was still on the board, it would be very interesting to see whether Kelly elected to pick Jones or Waynes. While Waynes clearly had a better college career and looks to be more pro-ready, the guess here is that Kelly looks at Jones' upside as significantly higher.
3. Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest
Kelly once said that durability is the best ability, and in Kevin Johnson, he'd have a player who started all 41 games over his college career despite possessing average size, at best. Johnson is a long corner who has natural coverage skills and is athletic enough to keep up with the game's top receivers. He'd be a dark-horse first-round pick for the Eagles if players like Jones and Waynes were off the board.
4. Quinten Rollins, Miami (OH)
When Quinten Rollins fell to the Eagles in the third round of the Bleacher Report community mock draft, I snatched him up without even hesitating. Rollins, a standout basketball player, switched to football before his senior year, where he collected seven interceptions and earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
With only one year of experience under his belt, Rollins projects as a solid Day 2 option as a project cornerback who could contribute sparingly as a rookie before competing for a starting job in 2016.
5. Marcus Peters, Washington
The wild-card selection of the defensive backs, Marcus Peters was rated as the best cornerback since at least 2012 by Bleacher Report's draft expert Matt Miller. Peters, however, has character issues in his past, as he was booted off his team at the University of Washington before 2014 for disputes with the coaching staff.
His natural talent speaks volumes, and it'll be a fascinating decision to see how Kelly, as well as other coaches, views a player who missed most of his final season right before he was eligible for the draft.
Safety
5 of 5
For the seventh straight season, ever since the team foolishly allowed veteran Brian Dawkins to leave in free agency, the Eagles are looking for a safety. They've tried and failed in recent drafts, which has included picks like Jaiquawn Jarrett, Earl Wolff and Ed Reynolds.
Veteran Malcolm Jenkins is a solid starting safety, as he possesses the coverage skills the Eagles value in their defensive backs, but there's currently no one slated to start next to Jenkins.
Nate Allen, who had a subpar season despite four interceptions and three fumble recoveries, signed a four-year deal with the Oakland Raiders in free agency. At the moment, the Eagles have Wolff, Reynolds and Jerome Couplin to compete for the starting job in 2015.
1. Damarious Randall, Arizona State
Draft expert Mike Mayock rates Arizona State's Damarious Randall as his top overall safety in the draft, and he's a player who has been flying up draft boards in recent weeks.
Likely a late first- or early second-round selection, Randall has tremendous coverage skills and also has returned kicks with a career 29.6 yards per return. If drafted, Randall would undoubtedly have the edge to a starting position in 2015.
2. Eric Rowe, Utah
One of the more versatile defensive backs in the draft, Utah's Eric Rowe could play either cornerback or safety, but the guess here is that the Eagles would use him at safety, where they lack anything resembling a decent No. 2 starter next to Jenkins.
Rowe passes the test for the Eagles in coverage, and he's also a very physical player who is one of the best tacklers in the draft class. He's a viable option as a second-round pick if he's still available at pick 52.
3. Adrian Amos, Penn State
A relatively local player, Adrian Amos is exceptional in coverage. He ran a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash and tested as one of the top athletes at his position during the combine. But he's a poor tackler, and it's easy to see some nightmare scenarios when Amos is the last defensive player standing between the ball-carrier and a touchdown.
Regardless, Amos makes sense for the Eagles as a mid-round pick, and he'd have a solid chance at earning a starting position during 2015.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
