April 11, 2016
Bradley Leeb/AP
Zeke leads the mock draft pack this time around with three mockers sending him to the Eagles.
There are only 17 days left until the 2016 NFL Draft, which means that between now and April 28th, there should only be another 1.7 million NFL mock drafts published. Let's round up the latest bunch, which has more variety than usual.
Elliott is the best player on the board at this point, and that really can be the end of the discussion should Philadelphia add him to its Ryan Mathews/Darren Sproles backfield. Any of the next three selections about to come off the board would work for the Eagles, too, meaning this is a juicy spot for them.
- Chris Burke, Sports Illustrated
Few players offer more immediate impact potential than Elliott, the consensus top back in the draft. After working previously with LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia and Jamaal Charles in Kansas City, new Eagles coach Doug Pederson is used to operating an offense around a star back. Elliott has the well-rounded game to be a star in Pederson's offense.
With Demarco Murray now in Tennessee and Ryan Matthews also on the trade block, the Eagles are looking for a new identity at running back. Elliott has the talent to be the featured piece of Doug Pederson's offense.- Dane Brugler, CBS
Jimmy says: A month ago we published a long analytical piece saying that drafting Ezekiel Elliott with the eighth overall pick would be a bad use of resources, for the following reasons:
Also, just to be clear, while it would not surprise me if Ryan Mathews is traded should the Eagles draft Elliott in the first round, the Eagles do not currently have him on the trading block.
The Eagles, meanwhile, get Wentz, considered in some circles the top player on their board. Yes, they paid Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel a bunch of money, but Bradford's contract does not have a big guarantee beyond this season and they can always let Wentz sit for a year or two behind both of them before giving him the reins to the team.
Things take a turn for the real interesting when Wentz falls out of the top five courtesy of the changes up top and the Browns' decision. And it makes things difficult for the Eagles, with Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel under contract for pretty good money. But that's part of having Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel under contract.
Jimmy says: Wentz won't be here at pick No. 8, but if the draft were to unfold this way, sign me up.
Despite having a pair of veteran quarterbacks on the roster, the Eagles could target Goff as the franchise quarterback of the future.
"This is too high for Goff but betting on Sam Bradford is a fool's errand."
- Hub Arkush, Pro Football Weekly
Jimmy says: Again, like Wentz, I don't think Goff is going to make it to pick No. 8, but if he does, by all means sprint to the podium with the card.
Projected trade from Dolphins (No. 8). Missed out on Stanley. Eagles get the second-round pick they lost in the Sam Bradford trade back and solidify their OL.
We'll take the more physical of the tackles between Conklin and Ronnie Stanley.
Jimmy says: Wait, so the Eagles are going to trade up from 13 to 8 with the Dolphins in March, and then they're going to trade from 8 back to 13 with the Dolphins on draft day? Is that what I'm reading in Casserly's mock? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this is an unlikely scenario.
As for a scenario in which Conklin is taken eighth overall, I just don't see that, which we explained in detail of few weeks ago.
Some scouts like him more than Wentz and Goff. He is a big, athletic kid, and the Eagles need a quarterback for the long run.
Jimmy says: Some feel that Lynch has as many as two years to go before he'll be ready. That's fine from the Eagles' perspective, who have the luxury of being able to be patient with a young quarterback. However, if indeed Lynch is that far behind, it would be hard to take that kind of project with the eighth overall pick. I wouldn't hate it though.
A steal at this point, Buckner would look pretty good on a defensive line with Fletcher Cox. Buckner has the ability to really control an offensive lineman and disrupt offenses, and his versatility makes him useful pretty much anywhere.- Mel Kiper, ESPN
Jimmy says: This feels like the oddball pick among the group, but I actually like it. Buckner has a perfect frame to be a 3-4 DE, but he's so good that it would be foolish to put too much stock into marrying up his body type with a specific scheme. Buckner is extremely athletic at 6'7, 291, and could be a guy who plays both at DE and DT in Jim Schwartz's defensive front. While Ohio State's Joey Bosa, for example, may be a more prototypical 4-3 DE on paper than Buckner, I would take Buckner over him in a heartbeat. Buckner is unlikely to fall to this spot, but this would be an acceptable occasion when you eschew team needs and just say, "Screw it, I'm taking this guy."
There’s been obvious quarterback interest from the Eagles, but it’s unlikely that they’ll trade up or even stay put for a quarterback unless Carson Wentz falls to No. 8.
Taking the best defender on the board here seems likely, with Hargreaves, Eli Apple and linebacker Darron Lee being the most likely targets. Hargreaves is a plug-and-play starter that can give this defense a quick turnaround under coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Jimmy says: Boring but reasonable, which tend to be good picks.
Building through the defensive line is never a bad idea, and Rankins adds more depth up front for the Eagles to pair with Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan. Rankins can play head up on blockers or penetrate gaps while his two-year grading is as good as any defensive lineman in the class (second overall in the nation in 2014, 16th in 2015).
- Steve Palazzolo, ProFootballFocus
Jimmy says: Rankins was actually the first player we listed among the players who impressed at the Senior Bowl week of practices back in January. But is he worth the eighth overall pick? In my opinion, no freaking way, especially in a draft class loaded with DT talent. You can get far better value at DT later in the draft.
Explosive enough to be a No. 2 for now, until he gets the playbook down. Then can be a No. 1 with Ryan Mathews.
Jimmy says: Lol.
In case you've never seen this, you can simulate your own mock draft at Fanspeak's "On the Clock" feature. I just did mine:
Just sign me up for GM of the Year now.
