The Eagles' complete list of 30 pre-draft prospect visits, with analysis

Over the last few months, we've been tracking the Eagles' 30 allotted pre-draft visits. As information of those visits has trickled in, we've given analysis of each player.

These pre-draft visits are very good indicators of who the Eagles might draft. In Chip Kelly's first two seasons as the head coach, almost all of the players the Eagles drafted received some sort of special attention from them leading up to the draft.

For example, last offseason:

As you can see from the above chart, six of the seven Eagles draft picks a year ago had a pre-draft visit at the NovaCare Complex. The only one who didn't, Josh Huff, played for Kelly at Oregon, so there wasn't much of a mystery as to who Huff was as a person.

Assuming the info we've collected is correct, all of the Eagles' 30 pre-draft visits are accounted for. Here's a quick list, with each prospects' ranking on CBS Sports. After the list, we'll show the analysis we previously did of each player, in order of their CBS ranking:

Analysis:

Shane Ray, OLB, Missouri, 6'3, 245 (via Terez Paylor, KC Star)

There are mixed reviews on Ray in this draft. For example, here's the extreme positive side, via Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

STRENGTHS Explosive athlete in every sense. Has elite power for his size and explodes off the line like a coiled spring. Rushes passer with extreme passion and purpose. Has fast, violent hands with advanced understanding of how to use them. Tough and plays with bad intentions on each snap. Uses rip to get under linemen and out-leverage them. Played 4-3 defensive right end in base but rushed from three-technique in some sub-packages. Once he gets to blocker's edge, they struggle to recover and redirect. Rare ability to post inside leg and get his body turned sharply and quickly around it toward quarterback. Excellent change-of-direction talent. Has natural coordination of head fakes, footwork and hand usage in pass rush. Works hard to stand his ground against power. Has power in upper body and hips to punch and dispatch with tight ends against run. Rarely runs past the arc as a rusher and will fight to come back underneath if he gets on the high side. Was able to drop into space with no issues when asked.

Does that review get anyone fired up?

And then there are the negatives, via a round-up of scouts' opinions compiled by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Bob McGinn:

Shane Ray*, DE, Missouri: 6-3, 245. Declared a year early after being named Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year. "Tough, fast," one scout said. "He's better than the guy (Kony Ealy) from there last year. Little straight-line." Posted a school-record 14½ sacks in 2014 to go with 22½ tackles for loss. "I don't like him," said another scout. "People see who he is, they're going to fall off him quick. The body structure. No way in hell he can be an outside backer. Competitive, smart and reliable. Wins with effort, urgency and great first step. He has a degree of stiffness. He's got to win with quickness because of his lack of size and strength." Tiny hands (9).

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"No way in hell he can be an outside backer?" Hmmm...

Personally, I lean more toward the positive side. For me, the question is... Can he get to the quarterback? The answer is a resounding "Hell yes he can."

Look at the 1:08 mark below against Florida. That's Ray going against potential first round pick D.J. Humphries, and Humphries has no chance against Ray's insanely fast first step. Also note the two consecutive sacks against Kentucky beginning at the 1:34 mark. Again, try stopping that first step when Ray times out the snap just right. No chance.

I don't know who the scout is that said there's "no chance in hell" Ray can play OLB, but he's wrong and I hate him. If Ray falls to 20, the Eagles should sprint the card to the podium. 

CBS Rank: 11

Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest, 6'0, 188 (via Matt Miller, b/r)

Johnson has good enough height at 6'0, and is thought of as a well-rounded NFL-ready corner. He tested all over the map at the Combine:

If you'll note above, he tested well in the explosive drills (vertical jump, broad jump, 20 yard shuttle), but poorly in the drills that measure long speed (4.52 40 yard dash, 60 yard shuttle). Johnson is beginning to be thought of as a potential first round pick, but his long speed and dearth of big plays (7 INTs and 3 FFs in his four year career) should give teams pause. 

To note, one of the reasons the Eagles may be bringing Johnson into their building is because they couldn't talk to him at the Senior Bowl, which Johnson skipped out on.

CBS Rank: 19

Byron Jones, CB, UConn, 6'1, 199 (via Geoff Mosher, CSN)

We profiled Byron Jones before the Combine, where he shattered the broad jump record. And later he was one of the picks in my Eagles mock draft 2.0, although waaaaay lower than where he'll realistically end up. As you can see in the following gif, Jones has incredible raw explosiveness. This is nuts, and watch the other Combine participants' reaction in the background:

Personally, when we initially previewed Jones, I had no idea he had that kind of explosion. What stood out to me was his impressive size, at 6'1, 199, and his reputation for having good character, via NFL.com:

STRENGTHS: Extremely smart and instinctive on the field. Shows above-average anticipation of routes. Is able to sniff out rub routes and works to avoid them. Flashes recovery speed downfield and gets head around to find ball and make a play on it. Uses instincts and adequate closing burst to disrupt the catch. Generally reliable tackler. Team captain and leader on the field and in the locker room. Scouts say he's willing to play hurt and inspires his teammates.

Chip Kelly previously skipped Florida State's pro day to check out Jones at UConn's pro day, and now he's having him in for a visit. That is a whole hell of a lot of attention being paid to one prospect.

CBS Rank: 21

La'El Collins, OT, LSU, 6'4, 305 (via Aaron Wilson, NFP)

According to Collins himself at the Combine, a lot of teams told him that he is their favorite offensive lineman in this draft, according to Tony Drovetto of Seahawks.com. If that is true, then logic would suggest that Collins will not be available when the Eagles are picking at 20.

Collins is the least thought of Collins of the Collins trio (Landon, Jalen, La'El), but he may very well be the most likely to be picked by the Eagles at 20, if that is where they stay. The overwhelming consensus on Collins is that he is a mean and nasty run blocker who could come in on day one and be productive in a run-heavy offense (cough, Eagles, cough). However, most feel that he does not have the athleticism to be a left tackle in the NFL, so he'll have to move either inside or over to right tackle. For the Eagles' purposes, they don't a left tackle anyway, seeing as they have Jason Peters in the short term, and a capable left tackle currently playing right tackle in Lane Johnson.

Here are some draft guys talking about Collins at the Combine:

The Eagles currently have very athletic interior offensive linemen who do a great job sealing off holes with technique, getting to the second level, and getting out into open space out in front of receivers and backs in the screen game. What the Eagles don't have is a guy who can physically move defensive linemen against their own will. Collins can be that type of guy.

CBS Rank: 23

Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF, 6'2, 212 (via ProFootballTalk)

Perriman created a buzz when he ran a 4.2-something at his pro day. Scouts rarely react to a 40 time, but check out the Lions scouts at the beginning of this video:

As a result, almost 20 teams are having him in for one of their 30 allotted pre-draft visits. The Eagles have volume catchers in Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz. They have a potential YAC receiver in Josh Huff. The have a stable of running backs who all catch the ball well out of the backfield. They one thing they don't have is a guy who take the top off a defense with elite speed. Perriman fits the bill. Check out his yards per catch the last two years:

Perriman also has good size at 6'2, 212. Riley Cooper is going to be an Eagle for at least 2015, as it will cost more to cut him than keep him. Perriman can be a player they bring along slowly with the intention of him taking over Cooper's spot in 2016.

CBS Rank: 26

Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State, 6'2, 217 (via Brandon Gowton, BGN): 

Strong is a Philly kid who was very productive in his two seasons at Arizona State:

2013: 75 catches, 1122 yards, 15.0 yards per catch, 7 TD.

2014: 82 catches, 1165 yards, 14.2 yards per catch, 10 TD.

He is big, strong, and wins contested catches. His highlight reel:

CBS Rank: 35

Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Edge rusher, UCLA, 6'3, 267 (via Tim McManus, Birds 24/7)

Odighizuwa was a heavily recruited player out of high school, as Rivals.com had him as the #8 overall high school recruit in the nation in 2009. He also of course played in the Pac-12 at UCLA, so Chip Kelly will undoubtedly have familiarity with him. However, Odighizuwa's production never lived up to the hype. In his five years at UCLA (he missed the 2013 season with a hip injury), he only had 12.5 sacks.

Still, check out who his measuarbles compare to, via mockdraftable.com: 

The Eagles have their starters in place at OLB in Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham. However, you never have enough good edge rushers, and Odighizuwa seemingly fits the athletic profile they've targeted there.

CBS Rank: 36

Nelson Agholor, WR, USC, 6'0, 198 (via Alex Marvez, FOX Sports)

Agholor started slowly in 2014, but look at how he finished:

First six games, on average: 7 catches, 67.5 yards, 9.6 YPC 4 TD. Unimpressive.

Last seven games, on average: 8.9 catches, 129.7 yards, 14.6 YPC, 8 TD. Very impressive.

CBS Rank: 37

Eric Rowe, CB/S, Utah, 6'1, 205 (via Tony Pauline)

Rowe is a player who has been on my radar since September, for fairly obvious reasons. He's big (6'1, 205), physical, and he played both corner and safety at Utah. That's pretty much everything the Eagles seemingly value in their defensive backs these days. In watching him during the season, I though Rowe was solid but unspectacular. At the Senior Bowl, I came away somewhat disappointed. At the Combine, he put up tremendous numbers.

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There are varying opinions on Rowe. Some think he's a first round pick. I had him as the Eagles' fourth round selection in my mock draft 2.0. After having re-thought it, Rowe is probably closer to a first round pick than a fourth, but I don't think he'll be either.

If the Eagles see Rowe as a CB at the next level, he has the long frame at 6’1, 205 and physical nature against the run that they have prioritized. If they view him as a safety in the NFL, he has versatility to cover receivers, which enables them to stay in their base defense against three WR sets. Initially, I thought Rowe would be a better fit for the Eagles at safety, but after an impressive showing at the Combine, he proved he has the athleticism to be a CB in the NFL, which makes him more valuable:

CBS Rank: 38

Damarious Randall, S, Arizona State, 5'11, 196 (via Dane Brugler, CBS Sports)

Randall was the 4th round selection in my Eagles only mock draft, version 3.0: 

Randall makes sense for the Eagles, who like their safeties to be able drop down and cover slot receivers when opposing offenses go with three-WR sets.

Randall led the Sun Devils in 2014 with 106 tackles, and he also had 9.5 tackles for loss, which is impressive for a safety, although there are times where he looks bad in run support. In his two-year career at Arizona State, Randall filled up the stat sheet, with 177 tackles, 6 INTs (2 returned for TDs), 4 forced fumbles, 12 pass breakups, 15 tackles for loss, and a sack.

However, the big knock on Randall will be his size, at 5'11, 196. Is he just a slot corner, or can he be a safety in the NFL? If NFL teams think he's a safety, his value goes up.

CBS Rank: 41

Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami, 5'11, 185 (via Aaron Wilson, NFP)

Earlier this offseason, we noted that a falloff in big plays offensively was a part of why the Eagles' 2014 season went wrong.

In 2013, the Eagles set a new all-time NFL record with 99 plays of 20+ yards. It's a statistic the NFL has been tracking since 1991, and when you think about the number of prolific offenses that have been around since then, what the Eagles accomplished offensively in 2013 seems all the more impressive. The "Run and Shoot" Oilers of the early 90's, the "K-Gun" Bills under Jim Kelly, the Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf," Peyton Manning's teams both in Indianapolis and Denver, the undefeated Patriots, the Randy Moss / Cris Carter Vikings, and the Packers and Saints offenses under Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees all come to mind.

In 2014, however, the Eagles were less explosive. On the season, the they had 75 plays of 20+ yards, which is still a high number compared to other NFL teams, but not near what they were able to do in Chip Kelly's first year with the team.

There was some dude named DeSean Jackson, who the Eagles cut last offseason, who had more than a quarter of the Eagles' 99 plays of 20+ yards in 2013, with 25. In fact, on drives in which Jackson had a 20+ yard reception, the Eagles eventually scored 17 TDs, seven FGs, and missed two FG attempts, for a total of 141 points. The Eagles scored 30.3% of their total points last season on drives in which Jackson made an explosive play.

In 2014, Jackson led the NFL with 13 receptions of 40+ yards, the same number as the Eagles' entire team.

Dorsett could be a similar type player as Jackson who can take the top off the defense. Check out his speed and willingness to catch balls over the middle in traffic: 

Dorsett's numbers on the season:

Note the yards per catch above. The Eagles have a pair of targets in their passing game who can pick up the slack for recently departed Jeremy Maclin as "volume catchers" in Jordan Matthews and Zach Ertz. Dorsett can potentially be the home run threat who keeps defenses honest and allows Matthews, Ertz and Josh Huff to work underneath.

CBS Rank: 42

Shaq Thompson, LB/RB/S/football player, Washington, 6'0, 228 (via Jeff McLane, Inquirer)

Thompson was the first round pick for the Eagles in my first mock draft of the offseason a few months ago.

At the pro level, because of his smaller size, there will be debate about whether Shaq Thompson is a 4-3 WILL, or if he's a safety, or if he can play ILB in a 3-4. What is not up for debate is that he's a ridiculous athlete who makes plays. He's fast, he's agile, he's a sure wrap-up tackler, and is thought of as a high character player with good instincts. He was even a very intriguing running back at Washington. Some teams value "tweeners" like Thompson. Other will struggle to figure out where he fits in their scheme. But just look at what this guy can do:

Could the Eagles find a way to use Thompson creatively if he were to be available at 20? On the one hand, this will be the Eagles' third year in Billy Davis' scheme, so they'll be much further along than they were two years ago. On the other hand, we're talking about a defense here that didn't even have a dime package until last offseason. Still, the way I see it, Thompson may be too athletic to pass on even if he may not have perfect measurables for any specific position in the Eagles' scheme. Maybe you just go get him and watch him make plays.

CBS Rank: 46

Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State, 6'4, 246 (via Tony Pauline)

Unlike some other talented undersized inside linebackers in the 2015 draft (Shaq Thompson, Denzel Perryman, Eric Kendricks), McKinney is a big athletic freak of nature who Mississippi State lined up all over the field. There is concern that McKinney may struggle in coverage against NFL passing attacks, but as a run defender and pass rusher, he is a very intriguing prospect at ILB in a 3-4 defense. 

Most importantly, he's Tebow-approved:

The Eagles could also potentially view McKinney as an edge rusher.

CBS Rank: 51

Danielle Hunter, OLB, LSU, 6'5, 252 (via Sirius XM Radio)

Hunter was my second round selection for the Eagles in my Eagles only mock draft 3.0. I covered him fairly thoroughly there, and don't really have much to add, so here's what I wrote then...

Normally I wouldn't expect an athletic freak of nature like Hunter to last to 52nd overall, where the Eagles will be selecting in the second round. However, the top of the draft is loaded with quality edge rushers. Here are the consensus top 9, sort by sack total (not any sort of ranking):

Are nine edge rushers going to be taken in the first 51 picks? Considering pass rushers are a valuable commodity in the NFL, it's certainly possible, but it would mean that an edge rusher was taken every 5.7 picks.

The Eagles re-signed Brandon Graham to a long term deal to pair with Connor Barwin, so they have their starters in place, but have almost no depth behind them. And it's not the worst idea to load up on players who can get to the QB.

Hunter is drawing comparisons for his size, athleticism, and lack of college production (in terms of sacks) to the Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul. Hunter is 6'5, and he ran a freaking 4.57 40:

He also has added length because of his 34 inch arms and huge 10 1/2 inch hands. Seeing how Marcus Smith produced (or didn't produce) his rookie season, Eagles fans may not be in the mood to draft another edge rusher "project" early, but can you pass on specimen like Hunter if he's still there in the second round?

CBS Rank: 55

Rashad Greene, WR, Florida State, 5'11, 182 (via Matt Baker, Tampa Bay Times)

Greene has quietly had one of the best careers of any wide receiver in Florida State history, a school that has churned out a number of high draft picks at that position. He has been a contributor in every one of his seasons at FSU since his freshman year, improving his production with each new season:

Florida State lined Greene up all over the place. He has good speed and is able to juke defenders in small areas, which makes him a threat to gobble up yards after the catch. He's also a polished route runner, he's happy to go over the middle to make catches in traffic, he is a willing (although less than awesome) blocker, and he also has value as a punt returner. Basically, he does a lot of the dirty work that Chip Kelly likes from his receivers, although at 5'11, 182, he does not have good size.

Here's his highlight reel. The word "smooth" comes to mind:

CBS Rank: 57

Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State, 6'6, 338 (via Aaron Wilson, Baltimore Sun)

If you'll note, Smith is obviously huge, at 6'6, 338 with long arms and big hands, but look at the broad jump, vertical jump, and 40 yard dash comps in the spider chart below. He has some explosion.

As an added bonus, Smith earned his degree a year early, and Chip loves him some college graduates.

CBS Rank: 62

Jalen Collins, CB, LSU, 6'1, 203 (via Geoff Mosher, CSN Philly)

Collins has excellent combination of size and speed, but only had 10 career starts at LSU. He is thought of as a raw player who could be a bust in the NFL if he doesn't improve the finer points of the position, but could be a star if he does. Here's a video that highlights Collins' technique deficiencies:

Collins has appeared as the Eagles' first round pick in some mock drafts this offseason, which makes some sense, but in my opinion there will be better players available when the Eagles are picking at 20. If the Eagles are overwhelmingly enamored with Collins' high ceiling, they could just go ahead and pull the trigger, but personally, I think the more appropriate value for Collins would be if the Eagles traded back a bit.

CBS Rank: 64

Adrian Amos, S, Penn State, 6'0, 218 (via Aaron Wilson, Baltimore Sun)

Whenever Alabama's Landon Collins' name comes up in a mock draft to the Eagles, Philly reporters are quick to shoot it down, as Collins isn't a great fit for Bill Davis' scheme. The Eagles seem to target versatile safeties, valuing cover skills over in-the-box skills. Does Amos' scouting report strengths on NFL.com sound like a fit?

STRENGTHS Athletic with good range. Fluid in space with easy backpedal and smooth hips. Has ability to turn, run and recover when ball is in the air. Good route recognition. Trustworthy in coverage and is rarely out of position. Can line up defense. Offered versatility in coverage. Played some slot corner in sub packages. Outstanding in zone coverage at Penn State. Can crowd receivers and closes throwing windows. Allowed just 3.9 yards per target in 2014. Has twitch to trigger and close on throws.

The downside is that Amos isn't noted for his in-the-box prowess, but I'm not sure the Eagles care all that much.

CBS Rank: 109

Chris Conley, WR, Georgia, 6'2, 213 (via Alex Marvez, FOX Sports)

Conley lit up the 2015 NFL Combine. In addition to running a 4.35 40 at 6'2, 213, he tied for the third highest vertical leap at the Combine (any position) since 1999, and the second best broad jump. Oh, and his arms (just under 34 inches) give him even more length to add onto that 6'2 frame, and his hands are huge at just under 10 inches. Conley's measurables in spider chart form:

Here's Mike Mayock and Rich Eisen talking about Conley's Combine:

Here's a sick catch by Conley on an end zone fade route in 2013:

Conley's production (or lack thereof) at Georgia is unimpressive, but understandable. His senior season, Conley had 36 catches for 657 yards (18.3 yards per catch) and 8 TDs. However, when you have Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb in your backfield, you're going to run the ball a lot, which is exactly when Georgia did. In fact, Georgia ran the ball 555 times. They had 322 pass attempts. As a result, Conley's numbers suffered.

Some have identified Miami's Phillip Dorsett and Ohio State's Devin Smith as potential Eagles targets because of their ability to stretch the field, which is something the Eagles don't currently have at wide receiver. Conley could be in that same mold, and could be off the board as high as the second day of the draft.

CBS Rank: 122

Obum Gwachum, OLB, Oregon State, 6'5, 246 (via Gina Mizell, The Oregonian)

We've been on Gwachum for a while now:

Gwachum played WR at Oregon State, but moved to DE his senior year. At 6'5, 246, with 34 1/2 arms, Gwachum has the size and athleticism that Chip Kelly loves. Gwachum is also thought of as a high character guy, via NFL.com: 

SOURCES TELL US "This guy is going to blow some people away with his explosion numbers and teams will love him in interviews because he's a genuinely good guy. As a player, he still needs a lot of time to develop and you better set aside time for that and have a plan for him." -- NFC South area scout.

This is a player the Eagles would have to develop. When you're drafting in the later rounds, you can either go after players who can contribute quickly on special teams, or you can target guys who have a lot of upside, but need a lot of work. Since the Eagles already have more than their share of quality special teamers, why not take a long term chance on a size-athleticism freak?

CBS Rank: 144

Alani Fua, ILB/Edge, BYU, 6'5, 238 (via Aaron Wilson, Baltimore Sun)

Fua has great length at 6'5, 238, who could be a versatile piec in the Eagles' defense. Here's Fua's overall evaluation, via Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

BOTTOM LINE Angular outside linebacker prospect with impressive burst off the snap. He's in need of more bulk before he can be counted on to take on NFL run blockers. Fua could post impressive numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he is a wild card who can be moved around the field by a creative defensive coordinator, but he still needs time to grow into his tall frame and become a more polished pass rusher.

CBS Rank: 151

Darryl Roberts, CB, Marshall, 6'0, 182 (via Aaron Wilson, NFP)

Roberts caught the eye of NFL.com's Gil Brandt and a number of teams around the league with a very impressive workout at Marshall's pro day:

Running indoors on Field Turf, cornerback Darryl Roberts clocked times of 4.39 and 4.36 in the 40-yard dash, including a 1.48 10-yard split. He also had a 39-inch vertical and 11-1 broad jump. He ran a 4.08 short shuttle and 6.66 3-cone drill, and had 23 bench-press reps. He had an excellent workout, and a number of teams will be bringing him in for interviews after his pro day. He could be a sixth- or seventh-round pick.

Roberts' scouting summary, via Zierlein:

BOTTOM LINE Will get crossed up in coverage and needs to play with better discipline and overall awareness, but his length and recovery speed allow him to challenge more throws than some of the cornerbacks who will be drafted ahead of him. He could use more time in the weight room, but has the overall size and speed to project as an eventual starting cornerback if his game develops and he takes coaching over the next couple of seasons.

At 6'0, Roberts has the prerequisite size the Eagles are looking for at CB, and impressive athleticism to go with it. He could be a late round flier they look to develop over time.

CBS Rank: 175

Jeremiah Poutasi, OG/OT, Utah, 6'5, 335 (via Chris MacPherson, PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

Poutasi is big-bodied tackle who will likely move to guard at the next level. That's a theme in this draft with a lot of the offensive tackles, by the way, which is good for the Eagles, as it fits their needs. Poutasi's pass protection skills are a big concern. Note this blurb about Poutasi on NFL.com, which is actually listed under his strengths:

STRENGTHS Improved from 27 quarterback hits/sacks allowed in 2013 to just 9.5 in 2014. Footwork and poise in pass protection improved as season progressed. Works to stay square in his pass sets for as long as he can. Beefy frame that takes up space. Flashes power when he's allowed to fire out. Uses wide base, choppy feet and good body control for his climb to second level. Decent feet for a man his size and is able to slide laterally to block on an angle. Has enough upper body strength to eventually anchor up even when he gets upright.

It's great that he improved and all from 2013 to 2014, but 27 sacks/hits allowed in 2013? Gross. Poutasi feels like a massive bodied developmental player that OL coach Jeff Stoutland can try to patiently bring along, like the Eagles tried to do with 340 lb. Michael Bamiro a couple years back. 

CBS Rank: 185

Randall Evans, CB, Kansas State, 6'0, 195 (via Mike Kaye, BGN)

Over the last three years at Kansas State, Evans had seven interceptions, 28 pass breakups, and an impressive five forced fumbles. At 6'0, 195, he has the prerequisite size the Eagles like in their corners.

CBS Rank: 214

Terry Poole, OG, San Diego State, 6'5, 307 (via Bo Marchionte, FootballInsiders.com)

Even before the Eagles released Todd Herremans they were sorely in need of help along their offensive line. With Herremans gone and Evan Mathis rumored to be following behind, the Eagles may be in rather desperate need to add youth and depth along their OL, particularly at guard.

I came up empty after a quick search for San Diego State games, so I haven't watched Poole play at all, but his athletic measurables at the Combine are good:

Here's a scouting report on Poole. He looks like a late-round pick or UDFA target.

CBS Rank: 323

Joe Cardona, LS, Navy, 6'2, 242 (via Aaron Wilson, Baltimore Sun)

Cardona was the only long snapper invited to the Combine, and he also competed at the Senior Bowl, where he spent quite some time talking to Chip Kelly during one of the practices.

"I try to keep my punt snaps between 0.65 and 0.7 seconds," said Cardona at the Combine. "That's considered pretty fast." Cardona noted that his snaps were clocked at the Kohl's kicking camp at 41 miles per hour.

I also asked him if there is a long snapper he models himself after, the same way a running back might model their game after Barry Sanders, and impressively, he had an answer ready to go. "David Binns, 15 year long snapper for the San Diego Chargers," said Cardona. "He had consistency, a little-known player, but I think he's the longest tenured player in the Charger organization... He was someone I emulated, and hope to one day attain the same level of career that he had and the level of success he had."

Eagles long snapper Jon Dorenbos is coming off a season in which Jason Garrett named him to the Pro Bowl. Every offseason, during the dead times, I'll take a look at every one of Dorenbos' punt snaps. In 2012 he simply wasn't very good, and the punting game suffered. In 2013, he was very good. I haven't had a chance to look for myself how he performed in 2014.

Kelly's admiration for the United States military has to be in play here some. Last offseason, he brought former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva to training camp, and let him compete for a job. He has also visited the Naval academy several times in the past.

Because of his commitment to Navy, Cardona may or may not be able to play in the NFL in 2015, via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

Cardona has a pending service commitment. He is required to serve five years in the Navy as an officer and will be commissioned in May.

There have been exceptions granted in the past, though, including special clearance given to former Navy fullback Eric Kettani, which allowed him to play in the NFL.

“Ultimately, it’s whatever the Navy wants to do with me and I'm ready and willing to do whatever they ask,” Cardona said during the NFL scouting combine.“It's something that I'm definitely looking into applying for. All that comes down to the needs of the Navy and what they foresee me doing and how they want me to serve, what they see serving the country.”

Spending a draft pick on a long snapper seems like a terrible use of resources for a team with holes galore and a good long snapper already in place. However, if the Eagles can bring Cardona in as an undrafted free agent and he can at least come close to beating out Dorenbos for the job, he could be a younger, cheaper alternative. Dorenbos will turn 35 in July and count for $1,070,000 against the cap in 2015.

Magician vs. Marine would be a fun training camp battle.

CBS Rank: 391

Travis Raciti, Edge rusher, San Jose State, 6'5, 285 (via Matt Barrows, Sacramento Bee)

Game action of Raciti on the internet is scarce, so I haven't been able to dig in on him just yet, but here's what Lance Zierlein sees from Raciti, via NFL.com:

BOTTOM LINE Raciti had a big sophomore season but struggled when he was shifted to a 3-4 defense as a junior. In 2014, Raciti moved back to a 4-3 and attacked upfield again. Raciti has to go up or down in weight because he's not big enough to survive at the point of attack on the inside. Some evaluators see value in Raciti slimming down and bouncing outside to a 3-4 strong-side linebacker spot.

From the Eagles' perspective, having Raciti slim down to play 3-4 OLB makes the most sense, based on recent history. In the past they have shown interest in bigger edge rushers like Mike Neal of the Packers (6'3, 284) and last year prior to the draft in former West Virginia edge rusher Will Clarke (6'6, 271). Raciti is a project the Eagles could draft late or bring in as undrafted free agent.

CBS Rank: 396

Adrian Coxson, WR, Stony Brook 6'1, 209 (via Mike Kaye, BGN)

Coxson didn't put up big numbers at Stony Brook, but you can see the YAC ability below, which the Eagles prioritize:

CBS Rank: 479

Randall Telfer, TE, USC, 6'4, 250 (Jacob Klinger, PennLive.com)

As noted by Brandon Gowton of BleedingGreenNation.com, Telfer's strengths sound exactly like Brent Celek's strengths. Via Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

STRENGTHS Aggressive and determined run­ blocker who says he learned his aggressiveness from former Trojan tight end Rhett Ellison. Uses outstanding hand placement to strike and sustain in run game. Able to base block or work in zone scheme. Plays with football intelligence. Shows willingness to do whatever it takes to get his guy blocked. Willing to play and practice through pain. Gets all the meat off the bone in catch-and-run situations, looking to put his shoulder down and finish rather than juke.

While Telfer may be a good blocker, he never had much in the way of production as a pass catcher at USC:

Here are highlights of Telfer from his freshman year, which was his best as a receiver at USC. You can see what Zierlein is referring to when he says he gets all the mat on the bone once he has the ball in his hands:

Brent Celek's receptions, yards, and first down catches have declined (or stayed the same) in each of the last four years.

Celek is the best blocking tight end on the team, but his blocking ability doesn't warrant the $4.8 million he'll count against the cap in 2015, and it certainly won't warrant the $5 million he'll count against the cap in 2016 if he continues to be less and less productive as a receiver. Telfer could be a far cheaper option.

CBS Rank: 499

Jimmie Hunt, WR, Missouri, 6'0, 208 (via Mike Kaye)

In his senior season, Hunt had 40 catches for 698 yards and seven TDs. Here's a highlight reel, where you can see Hunt flash some big play ability:

CBS Rank: 608

Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @JimmyKempski