Eagles draft buzz
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Eagles draft buzz
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Before we update some of the most recent draft visits and workouts, a couple notes on potential first-round options for the Birds.
I got a chance to take a closer look at Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, who many are mocking to the Eagles with the 15th pick. And I really liked what I saw.
In the games I watched, Cox (6-4, 298) consistently made plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. He finished 2011 with 14.5 tackles for loss, third-most among SEC defensive linemen. I'm guessing Jim Washburn is drooling over Cox's athleticism and versatility. He lined up at both tackle and end at Mississippi State. I even saw Cox drop back into coverage once (not that he'd be asked to do that under Washburn, but it still shows his athleticism).
I know the mock drafts generally swing and miss at the Eagles' pick, but if Cox is there at 15, I have to think there's a strong possibility the Eagles snag him.
If you're wondering about the other defensive tackles, I'm going to try and take a look at them in the next couple days and will offer up my impressions in future blog posts.
Another guy I watched recently was Alabama's Dre Kirkpatrick. Cornerback is an extremely difficult position to evaluate off of TV because camera angles often only show the player when he's thrown at or makes a tackle. But Kirkpatrick (6-2, 186) is definitely a physical player who runs to contact, instead of away from it (which we saw a lot of with the Eagles last season).
But the Birds would likely have to get creative in how they used Kirkpatrick in his rookie season. From the games I watched and the scouting reports I've read, there's no indication that he'd be effective as a slot cornerback. He could probably be used to against tight ends, or at right cornerback if Nnamdi Asomugha covered tight ends. Some project Kirkpatrick as a safety, so he does have versatility.
As I've mentioned multiple times, Asante Samuel will likely be traded, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie enters the final year of his contract. Asomugha will be 31 when next season starts. The Eagles spent a third-round pick on Curtis Marsh last year, but Kirkpatrick could provide depth and versatility, while eventually working himself into a starter's role.
DRAFT VISITS AND WORKOUTS
In my post yesterday, I wrote that it wouldn't surprise me if the Eagles drafted a playmaker on offense in the first two rounds.
One of the top wide receiver prospects on the board, Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill, told Sirius XM NFL Radio that he's visited with the Birds (thanks to BGN for the link).
Hill (6-4, 215) ran a 4.36 40 at the combine, which was tied for the fastest time among wide receivers. Playing in Georgia Tech's run-heavy offense, he had only 28 catches as a senior, but made the most of them, averaging 29.3 yards per reception. Mike Mayock of NFL Network has Hill ranked as his fourth-best wide receiver prospect.
Because of the system he played in, Hill is a difficult player to evaluate. Combine that with the fact that he's coming out as a junior, and it makes sense that the Eagles and other teams would need to do extra homework on him. But if the Birds go wide receiver early, my guess is they'd want someone to complement their current weapons a little better. Based on the scouting report on Hill, it seems like he'd be primarily a vertical threat, like DeSean Jackson, except that he has excellent size. He is expected to be taken in the first two rounds.
Meanwhile, Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner has visited the Eagles, according to Aaron Wilson of Scout.com. The Eagles also sent linebackers coach Mike Caldwell to his Pro Day, per the report.
Wagner (6-0, 241) was named MVP of the North team at the Senior Bowl, but did not participate in the combine because he had pneumonia. He was a four-year starter in college and three-time All-WAC selection. The Eagles added DeMeco Ryans to play the middle, but they've made no upgrades at SAM or WILL. Wagner could be a fit there. He is expected to go in the second or third round.
The Eagles are also scheduled to host Wagner's teammate, running back Robert Turbin, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Turbin (5-10, 222) ran for 1,517 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per carry as a senior. He also caught 17 balls for 171 yards and accounted for 23 total touchdowns. Per the report, he suffered a torn capsule at the bottom of his big toe in 2007 and a torn ACL in 2010. He's expected to be a mid-round pick.
Digging deeper, the Eagles have held a private workout with small-school wide receiver Cody Pearcy, according to The Montgomery Advertiser. Pearcy (5-11, 160) played his college ball at Division III Huntingdon College. At his Pro Day, Pearcy was clocked at a 4.31 40 and had a vertical leap of 44 inches, per the report. He's looking to catch on somewhere as an undrafted free agent.
The Eagles also held an individual workout with Wisconsin offensive tackle Josh Oglesby, according to the Badgers' Web site. Oglesby (6-7, 338) has battled knee injuries and is expected to be a late-round pick or undrafted free agent.
"A few teams in Indy said it was up to their medical staff on whether or not I'm slotted in the draft,'' he said "Hopefully someone can put aside the knee problems and just grade the player. It all depends on who's willing to take a chance."
Oglesby was a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season.
I will be updating my master list of Eagles draft visits and workouts later today.
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Fletcher Cox is rising up the draft boards. I don't see him being around by #15.— dpcoz- I ranted about Fletcher cox for the past month...This kid would play for free (well, not really) as he LOVES football...BMOC, and a reall leader...Kirkpatrick was a stud at Bama from Day 1 his freshman year as he was the most heralded DB coming out of HS...Not a ball hawk, but physical (despite the skinny build) and able to play press corner...If he didn't get caught with the weed two months ago, he'd be a top 8 pick...Good player at a super important position. He's contribute right away, although we don't know how they feel about Marsh...I guess we will real soon.— bearsfriend
- bearsfriend, with my limited college IQ and reading Mayock a bit I came down to those same two players. Both make sense especially if Kirkpatrick is actually able to play CB and S. Would love to see them trade up with lower picks to get 5 QUALITY players rather than down to get a dozen ho-hum types.— tpizza
- What is with the 6-0 LBs ? Who are too small to tackle or cover ? Jeff Lurie should make a rule. No LBs shorter than 6-3 and lighter than 250. 6-5 320lb guards can't wait to play us.— oldBird
- London Fletcher has proven that you don't have to be tall as a telephone pole and weigh half a ton to be effective at LB. We have a good one at WILL that is proving the same thing. Just have to be disciplined, have good football instincts, able to get to the ball and most importantly have a pair to get to the ball carrier and TACKLE. Ryans should shore up the middle the SAM and WILL spots will be beasts this season. I believe we have a decent core of guys. I'm not saying not to improve but give those guys a little credit. Not easy learning a new position and not having a lot of time to learn it. I believe most of them were rookies or first/second year players. Foku sucks though.
- In my opinion, which means nothing, I think they should trade DJax and the first round to move up and take Keuchly to solidify the LB's. Then take Hill in the second round. Hill seems like a speedy, solid receiver. I don't know much about him but from what I've seen and heard he seems solid... any thoughts?— lagnwag99
- Why would you trade DJax to move up a few spots to lock in Keuchly?
We have an extra 2nd and more later picks along with
Bye Bye Asanta as trading chips to move up a few spots if need be.
I agree with Hill and Keuchly and the more I see what is out there. they should just stand pat and take best available. Not trading up or down. and NO QB please.— dmanphilly 
I think Michael Brockers and Jerel Worthy are the best scheme fits at DT for a 4-3 defense (and the wide 9 particularly) in the draft. Brockers is the most capable of tying up two interior linemen on every play and giving linebackers room to operate, and Worthy gets off the ball to create penetration in a flash.— conceptual_bro- they probably look at the guys from smaller schools for their 30 work outs. for those at big schools, it is probably easier and more efficient to be out at their pro days because they may be able to take a look at multiple prospects at the same time.— HDemetriou
Comment removed.- Hill and Wagner both make sense as Eagles, especially if they're there past the middle of the second round. Cox would fall under "best player available," which is what the Eagles should do in Round 1 this year.— armchairGM
- Preventing a QB from passing the ball and preventing a WR from catching it are the the most important things in the NFL right now. DT or CB must be the pick at 15. WR's, RB's and LB's can be had in the later rounds and it looks like the Birds are scouting mid-round talent accordingly.— SilliBilli
- The one position not talked much about, but we desperately need is someone to return punts and kick offs. If we can find someone who is good at both would really be nice. If we can get good starting yardage for the offense, the Eagles will be that more dangerous. Special teams are part of the game as well. It'll allow Jackson to concentrate on the wide receiver spot and not risk injury returning punts. The kickoff returns weren't very good. I didn't look at the stats for average starting yardage after the kick off but if memory serves correctly, we weren't that good at it.
- With the kickoff rule change, kick returner is not as important as it used to be. Of 2,400 or so kickoffs, only 9 were run back for touchdowns. There were touchbacks on 43.5% of all kicjoffs. As for punts, DeSean wasn't great last year, but he is still a threat to break a big return. Maybe this year he will be happier and run faster. And in more than forty years of watching football, I believe I've seen a bunch more injuries among wide receivers than punt returners (though my memory isn't perfect). — Section 730
- You're probably right, however, when there is an opportunity to return a kick off we weren't very good at it. I don't even think we got back to the 20 on most kicks that were returned. There aren't many that do both, return punts and play wide receiver. You don't see many teams use one of their best receivers returning punts.
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