We all know that we’ll see a million mock drafts between now and the actual draft. We also know that these mock drafts will change frequently throughout the draft process due to the NFL Scouting Combine, player interviews, and private workouts, but it’s always fun to project what could/should happen. I’m not going to focus in on the entire NFL, but I do want to focus in on the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s always tough to project what the team is going to do when they’re drafting so late in the round because other teams picks will pretty much dictate the direction in which the Eagles go.
The Eagles shocked much of the football world when they selected Marcus Smith in the first round last year. As we know, Smith struggled to get onto the field his rookie season and didn’t contribute at all. Was this a panic selection? Does Chip not know how to value players and picks? Was this part of a bigger plan by the mastermind Chip Kelly? Who knows. What I do know, is that I will look to update this three, or four times before the actual draft as we hear rumors and players rise and fall. But without further adieu, he’s my early Eagles mock draft.
1st Round (Pick #20)
Landon Collins, Safety (Alabama)
Nope, no Marcus Mariota in this draft. I’m not going to project any trades this early in the game and for the Eagles to get up into any real spot to land Mariota, it will take so many assets, I’m not sure the Eagles are ready to do that. However, Landon Collins is a very nice consolation prize. Collins provides great size and will lay vicious hits that can set the tone for a defense. He’s a very good tackler, has good size, and isn’t afraid to get involved in helping against the run. His biggest weakness comes from peaking into the backfield and getting beat over the top from time to time. Pairing him with someone as versatile as Malcolm Jenkins should help him develop, this would be a nice get for the birds at 20.
2nd Round (Pick #52)
Devin Smith, Receiver (Ohio State)
Now this is an interesting case because I’ve seen him listed as early as #15 overall to the 49ers, but I’ve also seen him rumored in the later parts of the second round to teams like the Ravens, Patriots, and Seahawks. I really don’t think I’ll have this pick on here by the time mock draft 2.0 comes out. Devin Smith will most likely clock his 40 yard dash time in around 4.35 seconds and jump up NFL draft boards all over. Smith would replace the void DeSean Jackson left when he was ousted by Chip Kelly last offseason. While he’s not a polished route runner, he’s got the blazing speed that you can’t teach.
3rd Round (Pick #84)
Ifo Ikpre-Olomu, Corner Back (Oregon)
I don’t know what’s stranger, the name, or the fact that it takes Kelly until the 3rd round for him to take an Oregon Duck. Ikpre-Olomu was widely considered a 1st rounder much of the year and suffered a knee injury before the College Football Playoffs began. Some places have Ikpre-Olomu as a late 1st rounder still, others have him going in the 4th, so the jury is out. Much of his draft stock will be how his knee responds to the injury and if he’s 100% and can show NFL organizations what made him an All-American at Oregon.
4th Round (Pick #110 from Buf/from SF)
Tony Lippett, Wide Receiver (Michigan State)
Let me start off by saying that I don’t think the Eagles will take him and put him at receiver. If the Eagles draft Lippett, I believe they’d strongly consider him at corner back. A lot of people don’t know that Richard Sherman started out as a receiver and made the transition to corner while playing at Stanford. I’m not saying Lippett is going to be the next Richard Sherman, but his length and body control make him an interesting prospect. Teams were eager to see him workout as a corner at the senior bowl, but he stayed at receiver all week. MSU coaches are on record saying that they think he could be an excellent corner and if they didn’t need him at receiver, he would have seen playing time in the defensive backfield.
4th Round (Pick #116)
Jake Ryan, Outside Linebacker (Michigan)
Ryan was a huge success in Michigan in 2012 as a Sophomore leading his team in tackles. However, his 2013 campaign was marred by a torn ACL in Spring practice and he didn’t seem like he was back to 100% until he was well into the 2014 season. Ryan is 6-3 and weighs around 240. He won’t blow you away with his measurables at the combine, but he’s a tough, intelligent football player that could provide solid depth for the Eagles at this position. Eagles fans won’t want to hear this, but I firmly believe this mid 4th round pick would beat out last year’s first round pick in camp.
5th Round (Pick #148)
Amarlo Herrera, Inside Linebacker (Georgia)
Herrera was a 4 year player for one of the SEC’s better defenses. While he doesn’t posses the ideal size for an ILB at the NFL level, he make up for with football intelligence and instincts. It’s easy to be the forgotten man on a UGA defense that has produced guys like Alec Ogletree, Jarvis Jones, John Jenkins, Brandon Boykin, and Bacarri Rambo. However, Herrera has been a solid contributor in the SEC since arriving to the Bulldogs. Herrera wouldn’t be a starter right away, but could play situational downs and also contribute on special teams, something Chip Kelly covets.
6th Round (Pick #180)
Blaine Clausell, Offensive Tackle (Mississippi St.)
Blaine Clausell is a big bodied offensive tackle that played in the SEC. He blocked for a very heavy run based offense with Dak Prescott this year. Chip Kelly likes to run the ball and with his measurables, Blaine Clausell makes for an intriguing prospect.
7th Round (Pick #212)
Shaquille Riddick, Defensive End (West Virginia)
Riddick is a tall and rangy OLB/DE coming out of WVU. His football IQ certainly isn’t great, but he’s shown flashes at times. WVU has never really gotten a ton out of their defense, but Shaq has a higher ceiling than most prospects that might be around in the 7th round. Remember, Chip says that big people beat up little people.
So this concludes our first mock draft of the offseason, I expect to do 3 or 4 of these after the combine, workouts, and free agent signings. Keep your eyes and ears open people, this is the biggest offseason for the Eagles in 10 years.
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