Posted: Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 12:59 PM | 7 comments |
 

Draft buzz: Eagles check out LBs, WR
options
 

Earlier this offseason, the Eagles checked out Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews, brother of Packers standout Clay Matthews.

And now, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, they've worked out Old Dominion linebacker Deron Mayo, brother of Patriots LB Jerod Mayo, who was an All-Pro last season and led the NFL with 175 tackles.

Deron Mayo (5-10 1/2, 220) is projected as a late-round prospect or undrafted free agent, according to Wilson.

"I think I've got some really good special-teams film," Deron Mayo told Doug Doughty of The Virginia Pilot. "I'll do anything to get on a football team. I think I could be an inside linebacker. I've been working on safety, too."

The Birds were also expected to work out another linebacker, Marshall's Mario Harvey, according to Adam Caplan of FoxSports.com.

Harvey (5-11, 250) has received a fifth- or sixth-round grade, per Caplan.

Moving over to the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles have hosted North Carolina wide receiver Greg Little, according to Wilson.

Little (6-3, 220) had 62 catches for 724 yards and five touchdowns as a junior in 2009. He also averaged 5.7 yards per carry on 29 attempts. Little was ineligible in 2010 for an NCAA violation that reportedly involved dealings with an agent.

MORE DRAFT NOTES

* The draft format changed last year, and I know some are a little confused about which rounds take place on which days, so here's the rundown. The first round is Thursday, April 28, beginning at 8 p.m. The second and third rounds take place on Friday, starting at 6 p.m. And rounds 4-7 are Saturday, starting at noon.

The NFL estimates that the first round will go until about 11:30 p.m.; the Friday session until about 10:15 p.m.; and the Saturday session until about 7:15 p.m.

* SI.com's Peter King reports that Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith is rising up draft boards. He's been one of the more intriguing first-round prospects for some time now. It wouldn't be surprising if he got selected way before anyone's predicting, or even way after.

* One thing to keep an eye on in the first round, even before the Eagles pick, is which teams take quarterbacks. As I've mentioned before, there are about 14 QB-needy teams, including nine of the teams that pick in the top 10. Those that select quarterbacks early are unlikely to make a move for Kevin Kolb after the draft.

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Posted by Sheil Kapadia @ 12:59 PM  Permalink | 7 comments
7
Comments   
  • 1 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:46 PM, 04/19/2011
    Well, Jimmy Smith made me nervous with his attitude issues anyway. Maybe another good prospect will fall to the Eagles since it looks like Smith may be gone.
    — quentin1978
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:30 PM, 04/19/2011
    If Smith or Pouncey aren't available, I think Sherrod is the Eagles last chance to land a player of value that can actually fill a need. The other OT's (Carimi, Castanzo) are not first round caliber. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if the team goes after another DE like Clayborn or even Bowers.
    — MrMiles1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:16 AM, 04/20/2011
    I wouldn't mind at all if Bowers came to town. Even if his injury only lets him play 5-6 years before he has to retire, thats still 5-6 years of a great pass rusher.
    If I were the Eagles I would be looking to grab Pouncy. If he's not there for them, then i would try to trade back out of the first round into the early second and draft which ever texas CB is still on the board then with my other 2nd take the center out of Penn state. And then with the 3-5 I would be taking a SS (the kid from clemson) and about 4 linebackers andthrow them out there and see who sticks.

    Really i think the DL problem will be solved this year because when he comes back i think Graham will be good and I still believe Sapp will be a great pass rush DE in the future.

    Although this all changes if the NFL comes back before the draft. Then the Eagles find out if they can sign Nnamdi and trade Kolb. That could change everything. In fact if there were able to do both of those things, they with a few smart picks they could be the favorite.
    — andyreidisfat
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:16 PM, 04/20/2011
    If I'm the Eagles, with 9 picks, I move to get Patrick Peterson. With a CBA, they could've traded Kolb and made it happen without mortgaging the draft. If they don't get a starting CB, they won't make the playoffs. PERIOD!
    — montgomeryhopkins
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:07 PM, 04/20/2011
    I think Peterson will eventually be a safety. This sounds a little funny, but I think Jimmy Smith is the best pure corner in the draft. I'm not sold on Amukamura. I actually like Aaron Williams better than him. If the team trades out of the first, gets a high second rounder and lands Williams, I'd be satisfied.
    — MrMiles1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:56 PM, 04/20/2011
    We need to sabatoge the draft and somehow keep QB-hungry teams from going high and not waiting for Kolb in a post-draft, new CBA trade. Any ideas? I'm sick at the prospect of not getting value for Kolb, and seeing him fly as a FA in '12.
    — wordsword
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:10 PM, 04/20/2011
    Need more LB's in the 6th round
    — Ssteve115


7 comments
About Sheil Kapadia
Sheil Kapadia is in his fourth season writing about the Eagles and the NFL for philly.com. His earliest memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with his Dad. He's not a beat writer or an Insider, but is here to discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or by clicking here

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