Mayock on Eagles' First-Round Options
If Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly is there when the Eagles make the 15th overall selection in the 2012 entry draft, “that might be a slam-dunk for me” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said on a conference call with reporters today. If Kuechly, Mayock’s top-ranked linebacker in the draft, isn’t still around at 15, he thinks the Eagles’ picture gets more complicated.
Mayock on Eagles' First-Round Options
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
If Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly is there when the Eagles make the 15th overall selection in the 2012 entry draft, “that might be a slam-dunk for me” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said on a conference call with reporters today. If Kuechly, Mayock’s top-ranked linebacker in the draft, isn’t still around at 15, he thinks the Eagles’ picture gets more complicated.
Mayock said he doesn’t see another inside linebacker he would take in the first round. (Middle linebacker seems to be the Birds’ biggest need.) He particularly doesn’t like Arizona State’s Vontaze Burfict, a legendary hitter whose consistency, anger management and work ethic have been questioned. Mayock said even putting aside the issue of costly penalties, Burfict “gets enveloped,” by bigger bodies, shows poor instincts. Eagles fans, who have been known to like big hitters, seem fixated on Burfict; maybe their team can get him after the first round. “I’m not a fan at all,” Mayock said. “For a big, strong guy, he’s nowhere near as strong at the point of attack as I thought he would be.”
“(Kuechly’s) playmaking and instincts are so good, think about Sean Lee. I think that’s the best comparison for him. Sean Lee went in the second round to Dallas (from Penn State, two years ago), but has become a Pro Bowl inside linebacker, and I think this kid is very similar. He doesn’t have the knee issues Sean had, and I think he’s a slightly better athlete,” Mayock said.
“If he’s not there, I think you’ve got a little bit of a problem inside,” Mayock said. “I don’t think Don’ta Hightower, from Alabama, is worthy of the 15th pick in the draft, and I don’t think there’s any other inside linebackers worthy of that pick.”
So what do the Eagles do? Well, if they’ve gone through free agency, which starts March 13, without really addressing inside linebacking, then maybe they have to trade up several spots to ensure they get Kuechly. Remember, they do have an extra second-round pick to play with. Or, if they get linebacking in free agency, maybe they’re looking somewhere else at 15. Mayock sees defensive tackle as the deepest talent group in the first round, with five to seven players to whom he’d assign first-round grades, including Devon Still, from Wilmington and Penn State. Still sat out the Senior Bowl with an ankle problem, but his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said today that Still will participate fully in next week’s NFL Scouting Combine.
Mayock said he had Still at the top of the draft class before he started evaluating junior talent declaring for the draft at DT, and now he thinks maybe there are as many as three better options – Michael Brockers of LSU, Jerel Worthy of Michigan State, and Dontari Poe of Memphis, a raw talent with upside.
The Eagles have to decide by next month whether they are going to pay Cullen Jenkins a $7.5 million roster bonus; seeing how much the Giants’ d-line keyed New York’s Super Bowl drive might convince them they need more difference-makers up front, particularly inside.
“If both players are equally ranked, then you’d probably want to go defensive tackle first,” Mayock said, when asked if the Eagles couldn’t get better value at DT than at LB with the 15th pick. “You and I both know the Eagles have struggled with that inside linebacker position for a long time now. I think Kuechly’s a special player and I think Kuechly can help solidify what’s happening on that defense. He’s going to get everybody lined up in the right place, he’s going to play well. I think he starts Day 1.”
So, linebacker and defensive tackle are the mostly likely positions for the Eagles to target? Maybe not. Let’s say that after the expected franchising of DeSean Jackson next week, the Birds end up trading their get-out-of-jail-free card to a team willing to meet his longterm demands. Then you have to be thinking wideout at 15. Mayock said “you’d have to take a look at (Baylor’s) Kendall Wright” there, if Jackson is gone by the April 26 start of the draft. Wright, 5-10, 190, has that over-the-top speed that Jackson uses to open up the field for other pass-catchers.
Please, Keuchly is big enough to play MLB as a pro. He's 6'3", 240 lbs. If there's any doubts about whether these measurements are inflated, we'll find out from the combine next week. But don't just make up stuff like "he's too small by 20 pounds".— p-diddy- Just draft Samoan.— p-diddy
- Sign Tulloch to play Mike LB, draft Dontari Poe DT-330 lbs out of Memphis in the first round. If you can do that AND keep Cullen Jenkins you've got a home run. To clear up cap room, trade Assante Samuel. Of course if Ryan Tannehill for some ridiculous reason slides all the way to pick 15, I'd draft him in a heart beat. But I don't think he's going to get by Miami who is pick 8th or 9th.— cletisvandam
- Hey bbohannon, Urlacher went to New Mexico, not Oklahoma. Not busting on you, drafting a NM safety for your MLB makes it even more of a stretch, and he turned out amazing. We need Vick out as QB and grab free agent Flacco— Blue Hens Rule
- I can see it now. Since everyone is saying Luke Kuechly is the perfect guy for the Eagles to pick in this years draft and he can start day-one. It's pretty much a guarantee Howie and Andy will pick someone that's not even projected to go in the mid-first round and it won't even be a linebacker. According to Andy (who knows nothing about defense) linebackers aren't that important, you can plug in anyone at that position and it'll work.— rich0376
- If Birds draft Kuechly, he will blow out his knee in training camp. Burfict is another Sims with a bi-polar disorder (Andrews?). Birds should let Jenkins go and draft another faceless DT (yawn)and get LB help from freee agency
Here is the equation:(1st round DT) $2M + (FA LB)$5M + (2nd round LB) $0.5M = $7.5M (jenkins)— LA Mike - The draft is a crapshoot. All these pundits and experts and half the teams still get it wrong every year. I like Kuechly at 15 because he's proven he can play and he's played the position we need most. I don't like Burflict because head cases generally stay head cases. If he couldn't stay grounded and disciplined in college imagine when he gets some money and freedom. He could be a mess. Remember Desean was a head case we see his mental approach is hurting us more than its helping.— ericthered1
- Kuechly's been compared to Zac Thomas and Sean Lee, and people are still questioning his size? Sam Mills was undersized. Mike Singletary wasn't very big. Not saying he can be either, but when you have his college pedigree, along with a slew of football pundits all saying the same thing, why would you still question him at 15 because of his size?— beegal99
- Sean Lee 6'2" 245 lbs and Luke Kuechly 6'3" 237 lbs— HisWhiteness
- If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The DT's performed well last season and that's without Antonio Dixon. You just don't get much pass rush from DT's. Even the Giants DT's were led by Canty with only 4 sacks. Cullen Jenkins did better with 5.5. I say pass on drafting a DT.
This Kuechly dude would have to be one mature MLB for the team to draft him and plug him into the starting lineup. I prefer going after a veteran like Kirk Morrison or Steven Tullock (if he's affordable).
— MrMiles1 - I believe as I noted a few weeks back they need to draft the best available kid there at 15 if they don't plkay fantasy football and trade move back up down what-ever. Not sold on the kid from Boston College talent played against wasn't as strong however I guess tackling is tackling no matter what level div 1,2,or 3 with that said I can almost assure us they will do something or draft someone ridiculous which they could have gotten in round 3 but his scores where off the chart during the combine AKA Mike Malmula so I have plenty of tums ready— william20
- Howie will take a long snapper in the first round. He's seen all of Jon Dornbuss's tricks, time to cut him and draft a replacement.— jimmymack
- NM Eagles fan, yeah, I really have angst over this draft like no other I can remember and it goes back to my lack of faith in Howie. Looking at the drek he has mined really reflects on his ability and taking "their" guys way ahead of where they should be taken just leaves better players on the board for other teams to take [see Navarro on the 9ers, JPP on the Giants]. To do what they do says to me they are SURE that these players will succeed yet the result is far from that. I don't worry about the occasional miss, all teams do that. Since it is somewhat of a guessing game you even have to expect it. Sometimes it's just timing [Indy walks away from PManning right into Andrew Luck?, c'mon, really?] But to get so little impact from the last two drafts is downright scary. I'm sure there are tons of Eagle fans who think that way and I think it has a lot to do with the low morale seen on this site. Another failure like those, with the number of quality picks they have will mean years of futility.
Banned, they may have BEEN the best there were last year. Not exactly HOFers but he has to rank the best there are, even if all 5 stink. What round did he have them supposedly valued at. That means more.— tpizza - tpizza, I share your queasiness over Andy and Howie. Although we fans think otherwise, Andy's job is actually secure (why on earth would Lurie get rid of a guy who brought him from millionaire to billionaire status?) so that means we could see another third-round, high-motor midget taken in the first. Roseman has admitted that the Eagles like to take "their guys" in an earlier round because they are afraid that some other team may take them in a later round. It's a myopic, failed and ultimately insane strategy that no other NFL team would ever dream of using, but then Howie is one of the brightest guys in the league, and Andy has intangibles, right?— NM Eagle fan
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Mayock's report on the best inside LBs in last year's draft:
1. Martez Wilson, Illinois
2. Casey Matthews, Oregon
3. Colin McCarthy, Miami (FL)
4. Kelvin Sheppard, LSU
5. Akeem Dent, Georgia
WINCE!
— banned - I think all of this is a mistake, there's a defensive tackle at Memphis who comes at 6'5" 350 lbs, that runs a 40 in 4.8 that's in my opinion a can't miss tackle with size that's sure to keep any linebacker clean to make plays down hill. Alabama has two prospects at linebacker who are likely to be there in the second and third round who have size and speed and experience in the SEC.
Taking any of those picks and one of the many receivers available would be a good draft for Phila, being they can still take one of the free agent linebackers with experience in the scheme they are playing to be more than servicable at MLB
But that still leaves a hole at the safety position for the Eagles. Coleman or Allen aren't the answer.
— Dexter - Yeah, of all the "draft gurus" I like Mayock the best and in the end it is just an educated guess by everybody. Definitely don't like the "putting all the eggs in one basket" approach. If you trade down to get more picks sifting through the also-rans why wouldn't you take that approach at the top of the draft too where it is much more likely to actually work out? Could definitely see the Eagles going FA at MLB since their drafting of LBs leaves a lot to be desired. In the end after the dust settles there should be 3 new LBs on the roster but that's where Howie Boody scares me. This draft will make or break the team for years and with them lunging for the T'eo's and Curtis Marsh's of the world,...well, let's say I have my doubts.— tpizza
- The BC kid has great instincts and he's a tackling machine, but he's not the biggest guy for a position that takes a lot of pounding. I think Mayock is a great talent evaluator, but Kuechly scares me a little bit.
I'd trade the pick, move down, draft a mess of defensive players and hope a few of them stick. It seems like the "trade up to get that one special guy" strategy hasn't fared very well.— dlivesay - Always a possibility but since Kuech is listed as the top LB on just about everybodies mock drafts...and I doubt Mayock would risk his credibility to do that...AND he listed pros AND cons for him...AND Kuech still won every college award you can win, take Mayock OUT of the equation if you want to and he still would be a good, safe pick vs. Burfict. All that being said I think the Es go DT anyway or trade back for another 2. Since FA will change all that it's moot anyway.— tpizza
- Free agency for the mike position if they aren't franchised. Mike Mayock is usually right on target when it comes to his assessments but I'm scared of a linebacker weighs as much as a safety. But that being said, Brian Urlacher was a safety coming out of Oklahoma and you know where that ended up.— bbohannon
- Actually Mayock played safety for the Giants while Parcells NEVER played in the pros. Your point? And what does any of that have to do with being able to judge college talent which is a crapshoot anyway? Kiper and McShay were college and pro greats? There is no correlation between playing, coaching and/or ability to be a judge.— tpizza
- Mayock also went to BC so he is just supporting his alumni. Who know the kid could be good or he just might stink, can see into the future:( — urbnasty
Comment removed.- And yet Kuech is the same size as Stephen Tulloch who by all accounts has excelled in the Wide 9 defense? I know college isn't the same as the pros but Kuech won the Bronco Nagurski award as the best D player in college football, the Lombardi award as the best D lineman or linebacker, the Butkus award [self explanatory] and was ACC player of the year. That's a much better pedigree than having a family name that has/had great players. Mayock likes him for the Eagles and I believe he also liked Earl Thomas for them 2 years ago [but nobody would still prefer him over Graham, right?] and the guy is a tackling machine which is woefully lacking on the Eagles D. He is also a SAFE pick so rather than taking a flyer on Burfict who may have attitude but also has question marks I would have no problem with the Eagles taking Kuech who will get bigger anyway.— tpizza
- If the past is any indication of what's to come, a linebacker in round 1 is unlikely. Kuechly would be a good fit - better than anyone on the depth chart - but defensive line is where Reid likes to waste his early picks. Will he ever recognize his past mistakes in going for speed over all-around talent? Maybe, just maybe, with a fast and undersized linebacking corps, his greatest need up front is a few tall and beefy aggressors who are better at gaining leverage and occupying blockers, than his current lightweights are at gaining penetration and making behind-the-line tackles. Six years ago, the Eagles picked Bunkley in the 1st, 2 picks after Baltimore took Haloti Ngata with the 12th pick overall. Ozzie Newsome does not waste his early picks. Ngata has been voted all-pro 4 times, and has been to 3 pro bowls, while Bunkley was let go last season after a lackluster stint as an Eagle. Reid, apparently cannot help himself. He appears compelled to go with guys who won't fail to disappoint.
— gnarlyscuzz - I bet they draft a cornerback.— bc3030
- Mayock says think Sean Lee but more athletic and no injuries.. We can use some of that instinct and tackling. Give him a year or 2 to bulk up if needed but he's starting day1. This guy is not making it to pick 15. We're getting a DT hope we pick a good one. Hope they bring back Jenkins and Landri— Yes_General
- Watch this, and then you'll see the Eagles will draft him. He's exactly the run stopper they need:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0JNVsimiwk
If that doesn't work go to youtube and look for "luke kuechly highlights". 3rd one down.— fmMD - The Eagles need to start looking and why the SEC has won the last 6 BCS championships..... DEFENSE!! Start drafting whatever Alabama and LSU is sending out. PERIOD.— Southern Eagle
- The NFL network reported that Luke Kuechly would be in the Eagle's 1st round range, but that he is undersized for the position.
I thought "ah ha... slam dunk he's an Eagle"— fmMD - Get real! You do not need a rookie at linebacker now you need experience and someone who can stop the run!— losteagle
- I have figured out Andy Reid , I know why he draft all these little tiny DE's and LB's. He likes speed,quickness, agility, and finesse in a Defensive players. I don't know how he draft his CB's. But Andy likes speed. He must want his little speed demons to run or 360 around those BiG HuGe Lineman and get to the QB. He must be trying to find a Julius Peppers but in a baby size. I understand Andy Reid. He must like speed and quickness over those Big and strong that'll be a whole minute engaged with a defender or blocker when he can have a Speedy Gonzalez(speed demon) run around those Big dudes and and shut down and stop a big play from being made. But I don't see why he don't use Casey Matthews.— Titanic
- Matthews sucks. He has absolutely no business cashing an NFL paycheck. — coloradoeagle
- "But I don't see why he don't use Casey Matthews."
Because Matthews simply isn't that good. He's nothing like his older brother.— fmMD - Yeah, draft him
— Willysoup - I don't think the Eagles will draft Kuechly at 15. However, trading UP to get a small, slow LB sounds just like the type of move the Eagles will do!— banned
- So why, after people here have been tagging Kuechly as the likely first-round pick, are the Philly media all of a sudden warming up to him? What are they seeing that we don't? Has someone at NovaCare leaked that Kuechly's gonna be the pick?
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The Eagles front office has led me to believe nothing that is said or done until Draft Day; only after they make their picks can we get an idea. Wonder what Mel Kiper, Jr. thinks of the Eagles drafts in recent years; everyone's heard what he thinks of the Jets' methods.
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Kuechly might be a keen athlete, and a good linebacker, but is he big enough to play LB in the NFL? It seems he's doing all he can to make weight from his workouts, but can he keep it on? Are we going to have another high-motor, fast LB who'll get knocked off the line immediately, or can he hold his own? Too many questions for my liking.— MidStaterUXB - You're right, he's too small by 20 pounds to play MLB in the NFL.
He'll get pancaked at the point of attack every play.
He's a 2nd rounder at best.— fmMD - By Eagles logic, Kuechly has played on defense and has seen offenses, so he should be the new center.— burholme
- The draft is always a guessing game. I like Kuechly or Barron. But you never really know until they're on the field for a while. Maybe the surest thing in this draft is Trent Richardson, but a runner can be done in four years.— armchairGM
- Eagles trade up, lose Kuechly, snag a "can't miss" 240 lb defensive end. End of story.— billtfla
- MLB is certainly a concern that needs to be addressed but this team’s future is all about getting the most out of the players we already have – if the coaches don’t do a better job of coaching/play calling and the players don’t take full advantage of this offseason to get better and play to their full potential, we have no chance of getting to the SB!— low1016
- "Hire Mike Mayock. Fire Howie Roseman. Howie's not long for this job.
— guyguy4"
Let's get that done!— Jp85 - Ratboy is Stills' agent? Man, talk about a snake bit team...— tpizza
- Go PSU Devon Still (DT) first round if there, Zach Brown/Ronnell Lewis (OLB) 45th, and Alshon Jeffery (WR), 48th.— Romus
- If you look around enough, you can find a decent amount of tape on Burfict outside his highlight reel. When you do, you will understand why he is suspect in Maycock's eyes. It is not just that he is a bad character but he is a wild football player, out of position often, running around without purpose and taking unwarranted risks. I think he doesn't get drafted until mid-2nd round. The Eagles should trade down to the late 1st round and try to pick up another second rounder. Then they can either take Burfict or a safety without it being a reach and giving them (3) 2nd rd. picks to fill.(OLB, DT, and Safety) If they stay at 15 and Kuechly is gone, they should absolutely choose a DT because they are so deep in this draft. I would think about letting jenkins walk and make sure that I am able to sign Maclin, DJax and mcCoy. The Eagles should target: Kuechly, Still, Barron, or Hightower.— UncleStosh
- He'll be there to my chagrin!!!— Eaglehaslanded
- I'd love to see the eagles get this guy but i really doubt he will still be there at 15.— dta
- Hire Mike Mayock. Fire Howie Roseman. Howie's not long for this job.— guyguy4
