February 20, 2017
The NFL Combine will begin about a week from today (we'll be there), so we'll soon have a lot more data on the college prospects entering the draft this April. Until then, a number of the national guys have put out new mock drafts. Let's take a look at who they see the Eagles picking:
The Eagles are desperate for cornerback help; Jones is very polished and consistent on tape.
#JimmySays: Shockingly, this is only one of two corners you'll find in this mock draft roundup.
Carson Wentz needs more reliable targets, and Davis is more than just reliable.
#JimmySays: We'll probably see a pair of receivers show up quite a bit though.
The Eagles realize they need to get more help for Carson Wentz.
#JimmySays: Yeah, there's the other one.
The Eagles don’t need a running back as badly as they need a receiver, but Cook would be a steal in mid-Round 1. He does not require much room to be able to take on the distance.
#JimmySays: I'm out on Cook as good value for the Eagles in the first round, as noted last week.
I love Dalvin Cook’s game. The Eagles offense can shift with any “type” of running back. They showed that in 2016. Cook is a big play threat who also wins after contact.
#JimmySays: To repeat, I'm out on Cook as good value for the Eagles in the first round, as noted last week. Also, go read that column why, readers. Thanks.
Despite plenty of draft picks invested in the position, the Eagles lack a go-to target in the passing game to aid the development of Carson Wentz. Starring in the MAC rather than a Power 5 conference, Davis does not earn the attention he deserves but he's a polished route-runner with an ideal combination of size (6-3, 213) with 4.4 speed.
#JimmySays: Huh? Davis has gotten plenty of attention despite missing both the Senior Bowl and the Combine.
The Eagles are desperate for help at cornerback and there should be several options for the franchise in the mid-first round. Humphrey has given up several big plays this season, but NFL coaches will be salivating at his size and skill-set.
#JimmySays: I had Humphrey as the Eagles' pick my "Eagles-only mock draft 2.0," and got plenty of heat for it. In addition to the size-athleticism combo Brugler notes, Humphrey is also super-confident and only 20 years old, which is often an overlooked thing.
You know, a lot of people may say that the Eagles' starting outside receiver duo of Nelson Agholor (36 REC, 365 YDS) and Dorial Green-Beckham (36 REC, 392 YDS) were the biggest pair of underachieving, unproductive, uncompetitive, mentally fragile, baby-oil-fingered doofuses in the NFL last year...
Anyway, on to this week's picks. I have been preaching relentlessly that the Eagles should use Free Agency to acquire a #1 WR, and use their high draft picks on CBs, edge rushers, or even an O-Tackle --important positions that great teams are built upon. However, this week we go with popular opinion and nab WR Corey Davis. Davis is an intriguing (and trendy) prospect with prototypical build, elite acceleration in the open field, and top-end playmaking ability once the ball is in his hands.
#JimmySays: "Underachieving, unproductive, uncompetitive, mentally fragile, baby-oil-fingered doofuses," huh? I don't disagree, but I believe the plural of doofus is doofi.
The Eagles need a cornerback and they need wide receivers. This is the best wide receiver in the class. They can snag a strong CB later.
#JimmySays: I happen to believe that Williams is the best WR in the class as well, but I wouldn't say so as definitively. I can certainly see the argument for Davis as well.
To note, this was a three-round mock. Dieter had the Eagles taking Desmond King in Round 2 (no way), and Wayne Gallman in the Round 3 (yep, that one makes sense).
Wide receiver has been a position of frustration for the Eagles, and it's imperative they add at least one more reliable pass-catcher next year, or they risk slowing the development of QB Carson Wentz. This is a spot where the Eagles could be considering another position (tackle comes to mind), but the value isn't there in some cases, and with Williams it definitely is. He's a big, quality target for Wentz to work with.
#JimmySays: Tackle comes to mind as the position other than receiver that the Eagles could be considering? Really?
The Eagles have managed to stockpile a bunch of average wide receivers who have suspect hands. They can finally get a No. 1 receiver in this draft by taking Williams.
#JimmySays: There's suddenly a run on Williams.
A coin toss held at the 2017 NFL Combine will determine who will pick first between the Eagles and Colts. Jeremiah, Reuter, Casserly, Burke, Norris, Rang, Brugler, and Drafttek all think the coin toss will go the Colts' way, while only Kiper, Kurtenbach and Kadar see it going the Eagles' way. So it was 8-3 in favor of Indy. To note, Norris had the Colts and Eagles both listed as picking 14th, but since he listed the Colts' pick first, we're disregarding his attempts to weasel out of picking the coin toss winner.
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