April 29, 2016
Brynn Anderson/AP
Louisiana Tech RB Kenneth Dixon will help some NFL team immediately as a rookie.
In case you missed our Eagles draft board, we listed 60 players we thought were logical draft targets and arranged them by the round where it would be appropriate to select them.
Here are 20 players who could make sense when the Eagles are on the clock in the third round at pick No. 79:
• Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech: Dixon was really impressive during the week of Senior Bowl practices, especially as a receiver out of the backfield. He'll enter the NFL a more polished receiver than most of the running backs already collecting paychecks in the NFL. Safeties and linebackers couldn't cover Dixon, and often looked silly trying. If Doug Pederson's offense is anything like Andy Reid's, he'll want his running back to be a weapon in the passing game. Dixon can be that for the new regime. As a runner, Dixon is tough and physical, as evidenced by his 72 career rushing touchdowns.
• C.J. Prosise, RB, Notre Dame: Prosise was moved to wide receiver from safety early in his career at Notre Dame, before eventually landing at running back. Over the last two seasons, he racked up 55 catches for 824 yards, a 15-yards per catch average. Prosise has receiver skills, but not a lot of experience in the backfield, as he had just 166 career carries in college. However, he made the most of his time at RB, gaining 1158 yards (7.0 yards per carry), and 12 TDs.
As a player new to the position, the biggest concern teams will have with him will be in pass protection, which is a must have skill in a west coast type of system. Prosise would make a ton of sense as a mid-round guy the Eagles could develop for 2017 and beyond.
• Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA: Perkins has a lot of LeSean McCoy in his game, as he is a very shifty runner who often makes defenders completely whiff on tackle attempts. Perkins is also effective as a receiver, as he had 80 receptions over his three-year college career, although those mainly came on simple short passes.
Perkins is probably not a three-down back, as he is not a runner who is going to consistently fall forward after contact. That is likely going to force him off the field in short yardage and goal line situations at the pro level. There will also be concerns about his ability to pass protect because of his small size, although he was a willing blocker at UCLA.
• Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech: Clark has extremely long arms, measuring in at 36 1/8" and with 11 7/8" hands. He also flashed impressive athletic ability at the Senior Bowl, but he will be a complete projection to the NFL as he played in Texas Tech's spread offense. I would not want Clark starting for me in 2016, but if you give him a year or two to learn the game at the NFL level, there are going to be coaches around the league who will think they can make him into a Pro Bowl player.
• John Theus, OT, Georgia: This guy has some Runyan in him. All week long at the Senior Bowl, Theus was getting in fights with his defensive line teammates. In the actual game, per my buddy Tommy Lawler if IgglesBlitz.com, he yanked Notre Dame's Sheldon Day to the ground by his dreads. Again, this was in an all-star game. Being feisty doesn't exactly make him good. However, Doug Pederson has in the past noted that he likes his offensive linemen to have "piss and vinegar in their neck." Theus was the 23rd highest rated player in the country coming out of high school, according to Rivals.com, and he has started at OT in the SEC since he was a freshman. That is some incredible experience.
• Cody Whitehair, OT/OG, Kansas State: Whitehair has positional versatility, which is something the Eagles highly value. He played RT, was moved to LG, then back to RT, and finally he found a home at LT. At just 6'4, he'll probably have to move back inside to guard at the pro level but will have experience on the edge in a pinch.
At one time, Whitehair was thought of as an option for the Eagles at pick No. 13, which was always absurd. If he falls far enough into the second round, however, maybe the Eagles could be aggressive and try to trade up.
• Christian Westerman, OG, Arizona State: Westerman is a former big-time high school recruit (27th in the country by Rivals.com), who is an athletic freak. Westerman reminds me a lot of Evan Mathis, in that he is a beast in the weight room, and wins on the football field with athleticism and technique.
• Joe Dahl, OG, Washington State: Dahl is an offensive lineman with positional versatility. At Washington State, Dahl played both at guard and tackle. He'll almost certainly move back to guard in the pros. While Dahl does not have great athleticism, he's the kind of "try hard" player head coaches love.
• Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State: Despite missing three games, Nassib led the nation with 16 sacks in 2015 and his draft status has skyrocketed as a result. At 6'7, 277, Nassib has excellent size. In the past, Jim Schwartz had good 6'6 pass rushers in Mario Williams and Kevin Carter. Curry (6'3), Graham (6'2), and Barwin (6'4) don't have that kind of height, so it will be interesting to see if Schwartz will prefer varied sizes and shapes along his defensive line. While Nassib had 16 sacks in 2015, he was a "one-year wonder" who had 1.5 sacks over the rest of his career.
• Bronson Kaufusi, DE, BYU: Kaufusi, like Nassib, is a big edge rusher at 6'6, 285. Kaufusi played both at OLB in the Cougars' 3-4 defense, as well as along their defensive line. In 2015, he played DL, where he racked up 11 sacks (seventh in the nation), 3 forced fumbles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and 5 blocked kicks/punts.
• Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State: In 2014, Ogbah had 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. He also batted down five passes. In 2015, he had 13 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, and four batted passes. At 6'4, 275, Ogbah has good size, and his production is undeniable. Recent reports suggest Ogbah could slide in the draft.
• Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State: Despite that lack of statistical production and occasion lack of effort, Jones is strong, and a very athletic player for his size, with the versatility to play anywhere along the defensive line. Because of his raw size, strength, and athleticism, Jones would normally not be available in the third round in any normal year. However, in a year in which the draft is absurdly stacked with defensive line talent, there could be a few interior defenders available this late who might have otherwise been second round picks.
• Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State: In the Eagles' former 3-4 scheme, Washington would not have been a consideration. However, as a one-gap penetrating DT, he makes sense in an aggressive, attacking 4-3 scheme under Jim Schwartz. Washington's interview process will be important as he was arrested for solicitation last December and suspended for the Buckeyes' bowl game. In a wide-nine scheme, Washington can use his lateral agility to beat interior offensive linemen.
• Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas: Ridgeway had six sacks from his interior defensive line spot in 2014, and has talent as a pass rusher. However, he had a variety of injuries in 2015 and had conditioning issues at Texas. If the Eagles think they can motivate Ridgeway and still believe in their sports science program with Chip Kelly gone, Ridgeway could be a good value in the third round if teams pass on him because of those concerns.
• Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State: The Eagles will draft a small school guy in North Dakota State's Carson Wentz in the first round. Another very intriguing small school prospect is Hargrave, who comes from FCS school South Carolina State. Hargrave destroyed his smaller school competition last season at his DT spot, racking up 13.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, 59 tackles, and two forced fumbles. That came a season after he had 16 sacks and 24 tackles for loss.
• Deion Jones, LB, LSU: Jones does not have good size, but he does have good speed, a little thump in his game, and excellent cover skills. In that sense, he can be a three-down linebacker in the NFL although you may have to use him creatively. He is also a guy who can contribute on special teams from Day 1.
• Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama: At 5'10, 197, here's another Jones who does not have good size, and his athletic measurables do not exactly make up for it. However, in 2015, Jones had four punt return touchdowns, which was one away from an NCAA single-season record. He also has had five interceptions and four forced fumbles over the last two years. He just makes big plays, and often in big spots.
• Jeremy Cash, S, Duke: Cash doesn't play a ton of deep safety, and is almost more like a linebacker. He has good size for a safety and plays with a physical demeanor. Cash's numbers are awesome. In 39 games over the last three seasons, Cash had 38 tackles for loss and nine forced fumbles. If Jim Schwartz is open to adding a linebacker/safety hybrid type, Cash could be a great fit.
• Darian Thompson, S, Boise State: Thompson is a more traditional safety than Jeremy Cash above (although still versatile), and a ball hawk. Throughout his college career, Thompson had 19 interceptions. He also has great size, at 6'2, 208, and can play in the box.
• Sean Davis, S, Maryland: Davis played CB at Maryland, and he reminds me a bit of Eagles CB Eric Rowe, in that he has great size and he lit up the Combine. The difference is that Rowe showed good coverage ability in college while Davis often struggled in man coverage. At the next level, he'll likely move to safety. Davis is a big hitter who is willing to throw his body around. Over the last three seasons, Davis has racked up an extraordinarily impressive 306 tackles, and in 2015, he forced five fumbles as a cornerback.
