April 04, 2017
There are no more events that will occur between now and the NFL Draft, so in this down time, how about 8,000 more mock drafts! A week ago, we published our Eagles-only mock draft, version 4.0.
Here's who some of the national guys see the Eagles taking in round one:
Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State (Mel Kiper, ESPN)The Eagles are in a good spot to get their pick of one of the best cornerbacks in a deep class. Several will be on the board at No. 14 with a potential run on pass-rushers at the top of the first round. Conley, the third member of the Ohio State secondary to be picked so far, is rising after the combine, where he ran a 4.44 40 with a 37.5-inch vertical at 6-0, 195. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz needs a new No. 1 corner, and this is a great fit.
#JimmySays: Conley is a good player, but this would just be selecting a corner to select a corner. There will be better players available at 14. For example, in Kiper's version, Reuben Foster was still on the board, as was Corey Davis, John Ross, Derek Barnett, etc. They're better players.
Cornerback was a major problem for the Eagles last season.
#JimmySays: Indeed it was, and White is a good player, but this would just be selecting a corner to select a corner, like with Conley above.
The Eagles need a cornerback, and Conley has good size and the ability to press and cover all over the field. His strong combine performance helped his stock.
#JimmySays: Again, drafting a corner just to take a corner.
The Eagles need a long, rangy corner to thrive as a CB1 in Jim Schwartz's system.
#JimmySays: Tabor ran a 4.62 at the Combine and a 4.77 at his Pro Day. There's no way in hell any sane team will take him in the first round.
Philly desperately needs help in the secondary.
#JimmySays: So it would appear that nobody buys the notion that the Eagles will take the best player available.
Reuter's mock was actually a 5-round mock draft. Here were the rest of his Eagles selections:
Round 2: Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
Round 3: Josh Malone, WR, Tennessee
Round 4: Elijah Qualls, DT, Washington
Round 4: Hunter Dimick, DE, Utah
Round 5: Dan Skipper, T, Arkansas
#JimmySays: The positions make sense, but that's bad value for Malone, Dimick, and Skipper.
The Eagles signed Chris Long, but they can't stop there — defensive lines win games and there are plenty of cornerbacks (the Eagles' No. 1 need) in this draft.#JimmySays: Finally, a player who would be decent value.
Dieter did a 3-round mock. Here were his other picks:
Round 2: Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
Round 3: Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma
#JimmySays: I can't imagine White will be there at the Eagles' pick in the second round, but that would certainly give them reason to take him there, and then settle for the "other" Oklahoma running back in the third.
The Eagles just signed Chris Long and have a pretty good rotation, but you throw Barnett into Jim Schwartz’s system and he’s going to put up some numbers like he did in college, without the pressure of producing right away.
#JimmySays: Yep.
Their corner situation isn’t good right now. They have to get a starter in this draft.
#JimmySays: Conley Shmonley.
(Mock trade with Tennessee. Titans get: No. 14, No. 43, No. 118. Eagles get: No. 5, No. 164.)
The Eagles have hosted both Fournette and Dalvin Cook on official visits in recent days. If they want the former LSU star as a focal point of their offense next season, they’ll have to go get him. This would drop the Titans nine spots in Round 1, but it would add a second-rounder (which they currently don’t have). Three picks in the top 43 would make for a nice weekend in Tennessee.
#JimmySays: Chris, I love you man, but no.
The Eagles upgraded at wide receiver by signing Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith. Now they need to bolster the secondary - the unit gave up 12.1 yards per completion last year, and that was before the team cut Leodis McKelvin and let Nolan Carroll sign with the Cowboys in free agency. Marlon Humphrey is a dual-sport athlete who anchored Alabama's 4x400-meter relay team as a freshman and won the 110 meter hurdles (13.67) and the 400 meter hurdles (50.75) at the 2013 World Youth Track & Field Championships as a high school junior. He has good size at 6-0 1/4, 197 pounds and the physicality to match up with bigger receivers on the outside. He could stand to improve his technique, but the physical traits are there for him to become an impact NFL cornerback.
#JimmySays: There's that word "need," although I do like Humphrey more than White or Conley.
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