April 21, 2016
A couple of weeks ago, post free agency, we listed offensive tackle as the Eagles' second biggest team need. With the Eagles having traded up to the No. 2-overall pick where they'll select a quarterback, it is now the biggest need.
The Eagles did nothing to address the offensive tackle position in free agency, which makes sense, seeing as both starting OT spots are filled. However, Jason Peters turned 34 in January and is currently the third-oldest offensive lineman in the NFL. While Peters has had a tremendous career and is a borderline Hall of Fame talent, his career is clearly in decline and he experienced multiple injuries of the "nagging" variety a season ago. This could very well be his last season in the NFL.
Howie Roseman has stated that this draft class has very good offensive line depth, so expect the Eagles to fortify the trenches in bulk from rounds three to seven.
Here are five offensive tackles who could make sense for the Eagles in the 2016 NFL Draft:
Clark had 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. If Clark fell into the third round, he would make a lot of sense for the Eagles.
Draft projection: Second round
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.
While @FakeWIPCaller would like this kind of guy, 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.
Here's Theus working against stud pass rusher Vic Beasley last season:
Draft projection: Third round
Murphy is yet another intriguing OL prospect coming out of Stanford, where there has been a slew of them in recent years:
| Year | Player | Team | Round | Overall |
| 2015 | Andrus Peat | Saints | 1 | 13 |
| 2014 | Cameron Fleming | Patriots | 4 | 140 |
| 2014 | David Yankey | Vikings | 5 | 145 |
| 2012 | David DeCastro | Steelers | 1 | 24 |
| 2012 | Jonathan Martin | Dolphins | 2 | 42 |
Murphy played RT for Stanford as a junior and moved to LT this season. With Peters' career winding down, Murphy could follow in the footsteps of Lane Johnson, who played both RT and LT at Oklahoma.
Draft projection: Fourth round
Obviously, attending school at Harvard isn't exactly like going to an SEC school. There is a heavy focus on academics, which means that players have to balance their time between studies and football. At other schools, the focus is more heavily slanted on football.
When asked what he needs to improve most as he enters the NFL, Toner said that he needs to get stronger. "Strength," he said. "That’s something I need to improve on. Everybody needs to get stronger to get into the league, but me especially. It’s not for a lack of effort. I work hard in the weight room. We all do at Harvard, but it’s just a lot of sleepless nights with homework. And nutrition wise, we don’t have a training table, so we eat at the regular dorms."
If the Eagles still believe in their sports science program post-Chip Kelly, Toner could be a player they begin to develop in the weight room. At Harvard, Toner played LT and RT, and he said that he has begun working on snapping in case NFL teams see him as a potential fit center. Doug Pederson has already stated that the Eagles will prioritize versatility in their offensive linemen, and Toner could be a late-round developmental player who can pay multiple positions.
Draft projection: Fifth round
Shell is a relative of Art Shell, the former OT and head coach of the Raiders. He played both LT and RT at South Carolina -- Are you noticing a pattern here yet? He was also a four-year starter in the SEC, so he has extensive experience facing off against now-NFL pass rushers. In the NFL, Shell is probably best suited at RT.
With the Eagles' OTs set for 2016, Shell can sit for a year or two, and if he develops, he could be an option to take over Lane Johnson's old RT spot when Johnson eventually replaces Jason Peters at LT.
Draft projection: Fifth round
