Kelly Has Options

With Chip Kelly calling the shots, the Eagles will definitely need a make-over before the beginning of the new season and its Howie Roseman’s job to make that transition as smooth as possible while tending to Kelly’s personnel needs. So it’s only fitting that Roseman and Kelly’s first job together is getting the whole draft process going.

It may be unfair, but Kelly will draw comparisons to the greatest coach in Eagles history, who now coaches for the Kansas City Chiefs. Reid was known for missing top-of-the-line talent in the early rounds and finding serviceable play-makers in the later rounds. However, we may not see the same strategy from Kelly, who has never even attended a combine. During Reid’s years, the Eagles were spoiled to the point where they entered the draft annually with needs at one, or maybe even two, positions. Kelly does not seem to be so lucky as he and Roseman are in the midst of a scheme change and will need to overhaul some of the most key positions on the field in order to prevent another 4-12 season. Some of those positions contain high effort players who are known in this city to produce regularly, although this season was a dread on everyone’s stat sheet. Still, the need for quality players is the same and in order to re-build this team (yes, I said that hated word), several positions need attention. Here are his options…..

Isn’t it just a little obvious that we discuss this first? 4 of 5 starters went down last season and Mike Vick paid more visits to the turf of the field than he did….. Anywhere else. With quality depth in this draft, even if they pass on an O-lineman in the first round, they have a chance to pick out a developmental player that could contribute early and often. I can’t see the Eagles missing the chance to pick a winner here in the first round though.

Best Players: Luke Joeckel, Chance Warmack, Eric Fisher

In this year’s draft, its pretty hit-or-miss in terms of drafting a franchise quarterback. There is no clear cut favorite to be the top two runners like last year. However, everyone in America knows that if a quarterback is going to be taken, if at all, in the top 10 picks, Geno Smith will be the guy. Its as close to consensus as its ever going to be. If the Eagles feel the need to grab Smith, then we know how Kelly really feels about his current quarterback situation.

Best Players: Geno Smith, Matt Barkley, Tyler Wilson, Zac Dysert

I know what your thinking, but that whole scheme change thing is real. Demeco Ryans was traded to the Eagles because of his inability to play in the 3-4 scheme and the Eagles lack the players who have the athletic ability and experience to rush the passer and play in space from an OLB standpoint. Is this where the Eagles look to draft someone useful? Maybe not a first round pick, but this position is deep. The Eagles have had a history of drafting fast and undersized linebackers but that may not hold effective when your taking a defensive linemen off the field. Don’t expect anything drastic to be done here. A late round pick may suffice. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Eagles change someone’s position that is already currently on the roster. Another surprise could come in the form of the controversial Notre Dame MLB.

Best Players: Manti Te’o, Arthur Brown, Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree

Games are indeed won and lost at the line of scrimmage and the Eagles definitely lost last year here. With a 3-4 scheme in the works, a space eating Nose Tackle may need to be addressed. Many Mock Drafts have Star Lotulelei landing in the Eagles nest and, I must say, I wouldn’t be upset if this is the guy Kelly wanted. D-line is deep in this draft though, so passing on Star won’t be the end of the world.

Best Players: Star Lotuleli, Sheldon Richardson, Sharrif Floyd, Dion Jordan

The Eagles back 4 were so bad this past season that I decided to lump them altogether as a unit. Improvement will have to occur across the board in order for the Eagles fortunes to turn around. Cornerback will need to live up to their salary cap numbers and the Safety group will need actual talent to take over the reins. No offense to the Eagles, but Kurt Coleman belongs on an up-and-coming practice squad and in the special teams meetings. The Eagles will not take a safety in this year’s early rounds but the idea that the Eagles could take a corner in the first round could prove interesting but, it is unlikely. Oddly enough, the need is just not great enough to pick a corner in the first round and by the time the second round begins, the best player(s) who could dream of making an impact on the field will have been long gone. A lot of drop-off between the first and second ranked corner.

Best Players: Dee Milliner, Xavier Rhodes, Johnathon Banks, Kenny Vaccaro, Eric Reid