10 NFL Combine Participants Philadelphia Eagles Fans Should Know
The 2017 NFL combine begins Feb. 28, and the Philadelphia Eagles will likely have their eyes on as wide an array of prospects as any team in the league.
There are a few substantial needs like cornerback, wide receiver and defensive end as well as less pressing needs on the offensive line and backfield. The severity of those needs will be judged largely on what happens with some key roster decisions in the weeks and months leading up to April.
Even so, the Eagles have a good idea of what they need in the draft and who to keep an eye on. Let's dive right in.
RB Dalvin Cook, Florida State
1 of 10
Any remote follower of college football knows about the dynamic Florida State running back, and he figures to be an immediate game-changer for whatever offense he joins come April.
Dalvin Cook more than proved his case as a workhorse back throughout an illustrious three-year career with the Seminoles, where he racked up nearly 4,500 rushing yards and almost 1,000 yards receiving. He's properly built to shoulder the load at 5'11" and 213 pounds, and he is about as shifty and speedy as you can be at that size.
Simply put, the Eagles don't have anything near a home-run hitter who can single-handedly make opposing fronts think twice. The offensive line in front of Carson Wentz is more than capable of carving out holes, but they don't have an explosive back capable of exploiting holes when they aren't all that gaping.
Cook is the most explosive back in a class that is chock-full of top-caliber rushers. Fans will want to keep an eye on the 40-yard dash numbers he puts up to further solidify just how much he can separate from defenders.
The case can (and perhaps should) be made that the Eagles desperately need to address receiver or cornerback instead in Round 1. But with a need at running back, you can bet the Eagles front office will be looking hard at Cook.
WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan
2 of 10
The Eagles hit a home run early in last year's draft with a small-school prospect for their offense to invest in, and they could do the same this year with Corey Davis.
The Western Michigan product put up crazy numbers in 2016 (97 receptions, 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns) for a WMU team that went undefeated up until a Cotton Bowl loss to Wisconsin. He would immediately give the Eagles a big-bodied deep threat who could also get work done in the red zone, a dynamic pass-catcher Wentz lacks with the current setup of young receivers.
Davis won't be in full force at the combine due to an ankle injury that will hold him out of running drills, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, but he'll still be able to catch some passes and showcase his athletic frame.
That could be a silver lining for the Eagles. If Mike Williams from Clemson shows out at the combine and that causes Davis' stock to fall a little bit, he could land right in the Eagles' lap midway through the first round.
CB Tre'Davious White, LSU
3 of 10
The Eagles might have to put off their skill-position needs or look to free agency for this scenario. But drafting Tre'Davious White early in the draft would immediately answer half of their conundrum at corner.
White has the size and speed combination to be not just an effective corner, but a shut-down guy on the outside. He broke up 14 passes throughout a standout 2016 season, and that's with opposing quarterbacks knowing to avoid him when possible.
He's a capable run supporter, which is crucial in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's physical, edge-setting defense, and that will help him to get plenty of attention from the Eagles front office as he showcases his skills at the combine. White won't require a high first-round draft pick like fellow LSU products Morris Claiborne and Patrick Peterson, but he may end up being just as good.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
OL Dion Dawkins, Temple
4 of 10
The Eagles don't quite know what they want up front on offense, but they know they need some serious talent to develop, and Dion Dawkins is the type of prospect to fill that type of gap.
It wouldn't be hard for Eagles scouts to be keeping an eye on the local Temple lineman who staked his claim as one of college football's best tackles throughout 2016. Dawkins has shown a great ability to excel in zone-running schemes and is more than burly enough to hold the edge pass rush.
The 6'4", 317-pound prospect may or may not be athletic enough to become a full-time tackle at the NFL level, but he translates well to the interior in the event that lining up on the outside doesn't benefit him. The Eagles have long-term needs at both positions and could use a high-quality prospect whom they can work at both spots to see where he's best suited.
The Eagles may be fine for now with Jason Peters, Lane Johnson and Co., but they need an influx of young talent up front and Dawkins could help out.
CB Adoree' Jackson, USC
5 of 10
Skill-position help may be the Eagles' most obvious need, but right behind that is cornerback, and that should have the team looking at the value they could get in Round 2 from Adoree' Jackson.
There are a couple of more polished first-round prospects like Marlon Humphrey and Marshon Lattimore, but Jackson could be had with the Eagles' second pick and still comes with loads of potential. His blistering speed and instincts allow him to fly around the defense and still make his impact as he fine-tunes his cover skills.
It's Jackson's ability in the return game (and even in offensive packages) that should push him further up the board than his cornerback skills warrant. Having Jackson as a return man would allow the Eagles to move on from Darren Sproles and potentially add some explosiveness to the offense if they wanted.
With all that said, Jackson translates well with size (5'11", 185 pounds) and speed to become a high-caliber starting cornerback. And everyone associated with the Eagles knows how serious that need is.
DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, Villanova
6 of 10
Philadelphia may look for more local flavor in the middle rounds with another lesser-known product in Villanova's Tanoh Kpassagnon.
Kpassagnon's college career came on slow with some early injuries, but his game exploded as an upperclassman and flourished as a senior with 21.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. While going up against inferior talent with the Wildcats, he also got frequent double-teams and still put up those gaudy numbers.
At 6'7" and 280 pounds, Kpassagnon has serious size for an edge rusher but is capable of becoming even stronger and more durable. He's still pretty raw, but he has great athleticism for his size and that will come to fruition at the combine, where it's all about numbers and measurables.
Kpassagnon is sure to start turning some heads at the combine, but he's probably already on the Eagles' radar.
LB Duke Riley, LSU
7 of 10
LSU's defense is known for producing speedy, physical attackers of the line of scrimmage, but outside linebacker Duke Riley took some time to come along before showcasing his talent as a senior.
Riley's senior season was his first as a starter, and he excelled once injected into the lineup with 93 tackles (nine for loss) and winning the team's Defensive Player of the Year award. The 6'0", 235-pound backer is a tad undersized, but he's blisteringly quick and more than physical enough to take the responsibility of weak-side linebacker in the NFL.
Given his lack of playing time and size, Riley is figuring to fly under the radar at the combine and into the draft. That will be to the Eagles' advantage. They'll need another potential starter at Will linebacker if and when Mychal Kendricks is traded, and they could nab a steal in Riley.
CB Cameron Sutton, Tennessee
8 of 10
Help is needed so drastically at corner that the Eagles need at least two picks to be made at the position, which means they need to look at a mid-round prospect like Tennessee's Cameron Sutton.
Sutton staked his claim as a premiere SEC shut-down corner before an early-season injury plagued most of his 2016 campaign with the Vols. When healthy, opposing quarterbacks had little success throwing his way while he covered the best wideouts in the sport's best conference.
His size and speed stand out, but what will impress the Eagles the most is what he's been able to put on tape as a dependable cover corner. Philadelphia needs guys it can depend on to line up out wide down after down and handle top receivers, and Sutton looks like he will develop into that at the pro level.
Without an ankle injury in his final collegiate season, Sutton would easily be a Day 1 prospect, and the Eagles could take advantage by snagging him in the fourth or fifth round.
WR Jehu Chesson, Michigan
9 of 10
The Eagles are probably going to take some fliers on high-potential wideouts late in the draft, and Jehu Chesson is an easy name to watch.
The 6'3", 200-pound prospect from Michigan has the measurables to be an effective NFL receiver, but he's struggled to separate at times from skilled corners. Critics will point at his modest 35 catches and 500 yards as a senior, but that was more a product of a disappointing Michigan passing attack than an indictment on Chesson.
Despite small numbers in 2016, Chesson showcased what he can do with a viable passing attack even in big games. His draft stock is a little low, but his invite to the combine is a sign that NFL scouts see his potential, and the Eagles could get him late in the draft to see if he can crack the 53-man roster.
WR Keon Hatcher, Arkansas
10 of 10
Much like Chesson, Keon Hatcher didn't get the benefit of playing in a pass-happy offense but still has a skill set that the NFL will come to love throughout the combine and draft process.
At 6'2" and 207 pounds, Hatcher will be able to body tough cornerbacks and get separation with decent speed. Hatcher put up four strong seasons at Arkansas while developing into a No. 1 target as a senior, but never had the passing game around him to truly showcase what he could do.
Hatcher will be a Day 3 draft selection, but he'll begin to climb up draft boards at the combine, and the Eagles should be one of the teams looking to get him late in the April draft to give some competition to their underachieving receiving corps.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
