Eagles draft buzz
With only three weeks and three days left until the draft, we have quite a few Eagles-related nuggets to get to.
Eagles draft buzz
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
With only three weeks and three days left until the draft, we have quite a few Eagles-related nuggets to get to.
If you missed it over the weekend, I put up a post about the Birds hosting McNeese State/Tennessee safety Janzen Jackson. And I also unveiled this year's list of Eagles draft visits and workouts.
There are a couple new names I just added to the list Monday morning (thanks to Twitter follower @EaglesNut for the links): Florida running back Chris Rainey and Georgia tight end Orson Charles.
Rainey (5-8, 180) told The Palm Beach Post a few weeks ago that he had a private workout scheduled with the Birds. In the interview, he compared himself to a smaller Percy Harvin. Rainey likely won't have a traditional position in the NFL, but he averaged 6.2 yards per carry in college and also had 69 receptions. He has experience as a return man too.
At the combine, Rainey ran a 4.45 40. According to NFL.com's scouting report, he could struggle in pass protection when used out of the backfield. Off the field, in September 2010, Rainey was arrested and charged with aggravated stalking for allegedly sending an ex-girlfriend a threatening text.
Rainey could fill a Chad Hall-type role in the Eagles' offense, and if Bobby April and the coaching staff like him as a returner, he could have added value. He projects as a mid-round pick.
Meanwhile, at his Pro Day, Charles told the Atlanta Journal Constitution he had a private workout scheduled with the Birds. Charles (6-2, 251) had 94 catches for 1,370 yards in three seasons with the Bulldogs, averaging a healthy 14.6 yards per reception. He chose not to run the 40 at the combine, telling the AJC he got a late start in training. At his Pro Day, Charles ran a 4.90 against the wind and a 4.75 with the wind.
The Eagles obviously have a starting tight in Brent Celek, who really played well in the final 10 games last season. Clay Harbor has improved and saw the field more in 2011, but the Eagles could definitely bring in a player or two to compete with him. Charles projects as a mid-round pick.
Earlier this offseason, the Eagles reportedly worked out rugby star Hayden Smith (6-6, 265). The National Football Post has Smith's story, but basically, he's 26 and trying to break into the league.
On Friday, before the Jason Peters news broke, I wrote about Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill and the possibility of the Eagles trading up in the first round. Tannehill told reporters last week at his Pro Day that the Birds were one of the teams holding a private workout with him.
This morning, SI.com's Peter King reports that the workout will take place today.
"I don't really know why,'' Tannehill told King. "I'll just get ready to throw for them and do my best."
As I wrote on Friday, it's highly unlikely that the Eagles would trade up to be in position to land Tannehill, but with reports having linked them to Robert Griffin III and Peyton Manning this offseason, I'm not ready to rule anything out.
Greg Cosell of NFL Films has been doing an outstanding job delivering draft nuggets on Twitter. He had some interesting things to say about several prospects who could interest the Eagles. Cosell compared defensive tackles Dontari Poe (Memphis) and Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State):
Asked about Cox v. Poe. Cox a much better prospect than Poe. Can play inside + outside at times. Much more versatile. Could be gone by 12.
Cox has been mocked to the Eagles quite a bit since they traded for DeMeco Ryans.
And Cosell on California linebacker Mychal Kendricks:
Asked about Kendricks. Field fast with sideline-to-sideline range. Explosive elements to his play. Run and chase LB with good blitz potential
Kendricks could be a second-round target for the Birds.
Cosell also says Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick has the skill set to be a corner, even though some are talking about him as a safety prospect. And Cosell's not high on Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins, noting he's a limited passer with average arm strength. The Eagles will host Cousins for an official visit, according to a FoxSports.com report last week.
And finally, punter Donnie Jones had discussions with the Eagles before signing with the Texans, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Birds could be looking to bring in some competition for Chas Henry, who was OK in his rookie season.
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The eagles might be putting up smoke screen in their interest in Tannehill with the hope of driving up his stock and making Miami trade up to #3 to take him. The further down Kalil slides the more likely they will have enough to trade up and get him.— TXEaglesFan- I'd like to see them take a legit fullback (not a HB turned FB) somewhere in the middle rounds. Someone similar to Weaver who can pick up that tough yard and open up some holes for Shady.— Thrillhouse40
- With the FAT MAN in charge, it will not make any difference whom the Eagles draft. FAT ANDY + CONVICK + CASTIFOOOOOL = NO SUPERBOWL. I cannot wait until the next NFL season is over, the Eagles are 6 and 10 and the FAT MAN is run out of town. Time's your FAT MAN!!!— oneway
- Sheil, you should pay more attention to David DeCastro. Obviously the Eagles need an OT now. They could draft DeCastro and then move Evan Matthis to OT. Matthis played mostly OT in college. DeCastro is definitely in reach at 15. An O-line of Herremens, Matthis, Kelce, Watkins, DeCastro could still be excellent.— soulman386
- Birds need to come away with a kick returner. Lewis was terrible on KR's and you dont want to have use Chad Hall or even Desean or Maclin on Punts all year.— FABER
- Michael Floyd WR, Fletcher Cox DT, Mark Barron S Thats my Top 3 picks according to need. I would be surprised if any of these players make it out the first round. We would have to trade up for Fleener in the 2nd round. Hope the eagles are looking for the best players on the board this year.— Yes_General
- My preference: 1. Fletcher Cox, DT 2a. Harrison Smith, SS 2b. highest rated corner.
Eagles can address KR/PR, in addition to line depth, in rounds 3 to 5. Regarding FA, sign Marcus McNeill to play LT, Joseph Addai to backup Shady.
All bets are off if the Eagles are able to move up and get Tannehill.— beegal99 - A poor man's Percy Harvin is Jeremy Bloom. pass.— dragoon6
- Maybe the Eagles should concentrate on players from great college teams like Alabama, LSU, Texas, Penn State, Ohio State, etc. Doesn't it seem they favor finding a diamond in the rough from small schools? Hey, that is fine, but, how about getting proven and great college players for a change?— psuwelsh
- If they are planning to draft Rainey with a late pick to return kicks they should draft his teammate(Jeff Demps) at Florida instead who was actually a better return guy and is a tad faster.— NEPHILLY215
- I like Rainey. I think he could be a nice toy for the offense. Swing passes out of the backfield...line him up in the slot every now and then..let him return kickoffs...If he could be had in the 5th round or later, he'd be a good pickup.— MrMiles1
- If the Eagles deal Asante, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Birds draft a CB with the 15th pick. Hanson, Hughes and Marsh are not so good backups. They could actually trade down and still get Stephon Gilmore at say, pick 22. Then I would go DT and LB with the 2 Twos that they have.— younged
- McNeill would be wasted money. He is broken. We really needed to draft OT early anyway just to add quality depth but now we have an urgent need. My question is what sort of trade value Jason Peters has. We have three picks in the top 50 and an elite corner on the trading block already. Throw in Jason Peters in on that deal and that seems well worth a #3 overall pick. The problem is there's no way the Vikings are giving up Kalil to the Eagles for pretty much any deal. The Browns won't trade with us either. Now I do think Tampa could trade with us; they are desperate for quality at CB and while Claiborne is a great prospect Samuel is obviously a proven elite CB with plenty of tread left unlike Ronde. The question is whether the Eagles would need to move up at all to get the next OT after Kalil (Reiff or Martin) or go with WR Justin Blackmon, overanalyzed by the gurus to already be a bust despite all the assets he possesses, those skills he needed to pull TDs down in the big game, the one that Stanford coaches did not allow draft favorite Andrew Luck to win. Teams are absolutely forced to jam DeSean Jackson off the line but that could spell trouble in the open field for opponents trying to also cover Maclin and Blackmon. Blackmon also getting jammed will leave Maclin running free and that's a huge mistake for an opponent. Further, Blackmon gives us red zone size and hands that the Eagles sorely need to improve their passing offense.— HeelYes
- "Charles ran a 4.90 against the wind and a 4.75 with the wind. "
lmao.— bloodymess - @oneway, why do you even root for this team then? whats the point of having a favorite team if every one of your posts is laced with seething hatred? Stack Andy's numbers up against any other coach in the league and he has them beat, and its not easy to win a superbowl, seeing as only 2 f the 32 teams in the league make it there. And that was Castillo's first season as a defensive coordinator with a whole new cast of players and coming off the lockout. This staff deservesa fair chance before people start lighting torches and sharpening the pitchforks.— Omorales510
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