Eagles check out more prospects
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Eagles check out more prospects
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
The Eagles continue to do their homework on this year's quarterback prospects. They worked out Arizona's Nick Foles earlier this week, according to Aaron Wilson of Scout.com.
Foles (6-5, 243) is not considered a top-five quarterback by NFL Network's Mike Mayock or ESPN's Mel Kiper. He projects as a second- or third-round pick. Here's what Greg Cosell of NFL Films had to say about Foles recently:
Arm speed slow at this point. Negative impact on velocity. Did not drive the ball on few intermediate throws or sideline throws.
Once in a while saw an NFL throw with anticipation + some snap. Major projection based on skill set evaluation + mental acumen.
As we know by now, the Eagles always do their homework on quarterbacks. They had been linked to Peyton Manning and Robert Griffin III earlier this offseason. And last year, they were linked in some capacity to prospects Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick, Jake Locker, Greg McElroy, Tyrod Taylor and T.J. Yates. Of course, they didn't end up drafting a quarterback.
Meanwhile, Georgia center Ben Jones is expected to visit the Eagles later this month, according to Adam Caplan of TheSidelineView.com.
Jones (6-2, 303) started 49 games for the Bulldogs in four seasons.
Projections for where he'll be drafted vary. Caplan pegs him as a second-round pick, while NFL.com has Jones as a sixth-rounder. The Eagles drafted Jason Kelce in the sixth round of last year's draft, and he started all 16 games as a rookie.
The Birds could take a flier on a backup center in the sixth or seventh round, but it doesn't make sense to pick one before then.
And finally, they've conducted a private workout with Iowa defensive back/return specialist Jordan Bernstine, according to Wilson. Bernstine (5-10, 211) was not invited to the combine, but Chad Reuter of NFL.com thinks he could be a late-round pick:
Bernstine made an impression with big hits in the secondary his first year as a starter last fall, and he turned heads with an excellent pro day: 4.45-4.48 40-yard dashes, 41-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-7 broad jump, 4.31 short shuttle, 6.98 three-cone drill and 18 bench-press reps.
SI.com's Tony Pauline seems to agree:
With all the star power at the Iowa pro day, it was easy to overlook Jordan Bernstine, the Hawkeyes' starting safety in 2011. But after his workout on Monday, scouts won't forget him anytime soon. Bernstine posted gaudy numbers, running his 40 as fast as 4.34 seconds, timing 6.75 seconds in the three-cone run as well as posting marks of 41 inches in the vertical jump and 18 reps on the bench. Still rough around the edges, teams feel Bernstine may finally be turning the corner in his football career.
Bernstine averaged 23.8 yards per kickoff return last season. He battled injuries through much of his career before finally getting healthy in 2011 and starting 11 games.
At this point, Bernstine looks like a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent. The Eagles need to find a kickoff returner after getting pretty much nothing from that aspect of special teams last season. One thing to keep in mind here: Juan Castillo's son, Greg, is a defensive back at Iowa, so the Birds' defensive coordinator is likely familiar with Bernstine's abilities.
Here is an article from The Gazette in Iowa about Bernstine's injury issues with the Hawkeyes.
And be sure to check out my master list of Eagles draft visits and workouts.
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They always work out the sixth and seventh round guys and they draft really well in the later rounds imagine if they worked out first round guys they might actually do well in that round too.— Sean s.- it's all relative to the facts, and the fact is we don't have a clue what the Birds will do in the draft, just sayin'...— DJ
Andy Reid will not rest until he finds the next Kevin Kolb.- LOL... I just read your post about having contacts and working in the NFL one day "If you want." Funny stuff. Would love to see your drafts. Once you realized you couldn't have ALL first rounders, you'd be screwed. — Cr0we
- kelce is overrated— psualum
- "IF" the Eagles select a DTackle with the 1st pick; that is, "IF" they do the obvious move to get a run-stopper as so many analysts have predicted, THEN I will buy into the idea they have turned the corner on all their drafting mistakes for thepast 3-years.
My belief is that ANDY has a tough time dealing with the obvious. It is not just in his draft selections, it also shows in his play calling. For example, over reliance on the pass whne he should be running for a balance attack; its obvious to the announcers, to fans to the other team and yet he could not bring himself to change.
Therefore, on draft day I think he will do something like a Brandon Graham move, a non-sensical move, and cost the Eagles the solution for improving the defensive against the run. He may move up or down, becasue he just can't wait until 1 of the 3 best Dtackles comes to him.
I am not a Philly cynic, rather the obvious is looking at Andy's track record and decision making. lets hope he goes after a run stoppper, especially since 1 of the 3 top DTackles will be available at 15, without having to move up or down. But I doublt it.— Lerze777 - Berstine might solve their problems at kick returner, but consider that he was not invited to the combine. That doesn't mean washout in my mind, but he is a little small to be a DB. If he's still on the board in the 5th round, then take him; but not before.— MidStaterUXB
- Lerze, not sure whether it's stubburnness that makes Reid ignore certain positions or that his attempts at fixing those positions in the draft have failed. More of the latter I think. When we needed a WR he got Fredex and failed. Weak LBs = Matt McCoy and Bradley among others and they failed. This year the obvious pick is DT mostly because he made no attempt at resigning Laws and Landri. No way he goes into next year with 3 known quantities at DT so it comes back to whether he or Howie or whoever actually pulls the trigger can get what they need without sacrificing other picks to do it. Maybe they see the draft depth at DT being a plus in that they may be able to get a good player in the 2nd and pick another position in the 1st where there is less to choose from? You can make a case for either option but I agree with you in that he doesn't have to move to be able to solve an obvious weakness. We'll see but so long as they don't reach I'm OK with it.— tpizza
- I like Nick Foles a lot. He is being down graded because he is not very athletic just like Tom Brady who ran a 5.3 40 and was selected in the 6th round. In my evaluation of QBs, Nick Foles is rated 3rd. He has the strongest most accurate arm in the draft. He is better than Tannehill! He is a pure pocket passer with a rife arm. Just look at his tape. In the NFL pocket passers stay healthy and are the 5000yd/season elite QBs. THEY ARE THE ONES WINNING SBs. Vick is good but he has not sniffed a SB. Check out more I had to say about Nick Foles in the Philly.com Eagles forum.— thegooddre
- Nick Foles will be a star in the NFL.— thegooddre
- Eagles probably take late round flyer on BJ Coleman Cattanooga or Free agent signing of Yale QB Witt, Andy won't hurt Vick's feelings after the McNabb - Kolb scenario.— bsmart
- What would make Bernstine a great draft pick is if he's a great kick returner. We could really use a backup db who puts fear into opposing kickoff teams. Sounds like he has the wheels, but 23.8 yards per return seems average.— armchairGM
- The beatings will continue until morale improves.— mccloudmj
- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz— brio
- i wonder why fans keep saying stupid stuff like brandon graham is a nonsensical move ..how can drafting a 4 year starter a all american who had no negatives in his personal life and had a good combine was rated as the top defensive end going into the draft be nonsensical ...we will find out this year if he is a bust but he was highly rated coming out of college ...the jpp comparisons are unfare since if any one thought he would be a all pro in his second season he would hv been a top five pick not drafted in the teens ..— positive eagle
- Most of these supposed to be eagles fans arent the sharpest knife in the drawer. They expect all pros at every position and to win a championship every year. Like jimmy rollins, lesean mccoy, and iggy said. they only jump on the bandwagon if ur winning and everything is going good with the team. bad times and losing all u see is negativity just like now .If a rookie has a bad first year they are a bust. a rookie gets injured o hes a bust..smh..how about letting them develop first. they're not very bright and know nothing about football. not to mention lack common sense..especially that dumb arse charlie garner..lmao — bigjay215
- O-line. Lock it up.— Lobo19722
- Devon Still is the best DT. Take Still or the LSU DT. They have faced tough competition, and excelled. Poe has faced nobody, and has been underwhelming. Sounds just like an Andy Reid first round pick. Reaching for a project or a guy with a high motor. Draft the local kid Still. He will kill it at the next level.
- I'm not so sure the Eagles need to go with a DT in the first round, although it definitely couldn't hurt. Mark Barron could have the same type of impact on the Eagles that Bob sanders did with the Colts. Drafting him wouldn't be a bad idea. Just bouncing an idea out there.— MrMiles1
- If you all were geniuses....you all could be working in the NFL....So in the mean time while you are drinking coffee and reading thsi article, let Andy do his job. I trust Andy i believe that he is the man that will bring the SB to this city, but is not easy.— tonygreeneagle5
- In that picture, Nick Foles looks like a refugee from the Lingerie Bowl.— fmMD
- No one has mentioned the BC Linebacker in weeks...which means that is who Fat Andy wants...or does he? HA...— BirdinParadise
- This Nick Foles kid fits what the Eagles have been looking for in a Quarterback. Don't be surprised to see this kid in Training Camp as I believe he'll be a pick of the Eagles sometime after their third pick should Foles be available in the forth rd.— Dexter
- Of course they are working out the WRONG. Q.B. from A.Z. It should be Brock Osweiler
- Eagles need to pick-up a big moose of a run stopper! not some undersized athletic guy! We already have 4 of those at DE. I'm talking between 320-330 pounder!— mayfair pride
- How about Dontari Poe?— mayfair pride
- No update on Landri? If we dont sign Landri we'll be forced to bring in another DT. Our defense was top 10 in the league due to linebacker and secondary issues. Our pass rush was good. Thats not why we didnt make it to the playoffs last year or why we still have not won a superbowl. Its funny how something so glaring and obvious can still be overlooked by the eagles. Like the linebacker position in the past. Our WRs are small and lack physicality. Michael Floyd would be a great slot receiver and has play making ability to stretch the field. A lot of eagles fans seem to be sold on Avant and Cooper. If we're placing our superbowl bets on those guys i expect another quick exit from the playoffs. The Giants/Packers/49ers seem to get it. Our offense needs another weapon down the field. If we cant get Floyd then a solid TE would be just as important. This way our defense can stay off the field. What good is having a top ranked defense but your offense cant score in crunch time CONSISTENTLY. Ravens ring a bell? Elite defense offense cant score. RD1 grab floyd if he is still on the board. If he's not, DT then RD2 please grab a TE or WR.— Yes_General
- YO Positive Eagle and big jay215 ... the reason fans keep bringing up B Graham isn't his profile viewed in a vacuum. Its his profile in the context of all the other DEends at the time. I agree fans can be clueless from a purely technical perpsective. That said, if you view what the NFL anaylsts and writers were saying before and after the darft, B Graham was 'at best' the 2nd rated DE and too undersized to paly that position, and more like a second or third round value.
Retrospectively the critics (from the "in-the-know" to clueless fans were absolutely correct, and the Eagles wasted picks to move up 13 slots. So yes, it was a terrible pick. Next time keep it real.— Lerze777 - @PE and bigjay: A lot of the scouts also said Graham was better suited to be a rush OLB in a 3-4 than a down 4-3 DE. Also, safety was (and still is) more of a need, and there was a can't miss safety there to be taken, but no...
BTW, every poster on this board has won as many Superbowls as Andy, Joe, and Howie (AKA the 3 stooges). When they have a couple rings, and they can be arrogant like The Hoodie in NE. Until then, every boneheaded move they make is up for scrutiny.— Only in Philly... - At 15 I think if wr Floyd or s Barron r there 1 of them shud b the pick. The Eagles need a more physical pressence on both sides of the ball. Then use their 2 second rd picks on the best DT & OLB available. I wud still bring n a vet OLB 4 depth. Then Andy & Howie can draft all the 5' 11 230 pound DE's that they want.— the tru 1
- Draft Floyd if still available when the Birds pick. As New England, Green Bay and New Orleans proved, you have to be able to score like you're in a video game to have a chance to win. Even the Giants had 4 very good wide recivers , and Cruz was really the only snmall one. They can address the defense in the 2 through 4th rounds. But that's just my opinion, which is like @$$holes, everybody has one.— antmry312
- jury is still out on graham, jeez. They were hoping he fit the Freeney mold and in the current system would thrive. Still may be a decent player, we just dont know yet.— peteike
- I really feel sorry for you haters— dwilly
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