Eagles mock draft roundup
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Eagles mock draft roundup
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
With the NFL combine under way in Indianapolis, now seems like a good time to round up the latest mock drafts from around the country.
SI.com's Don Banks has the Eagles taking Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly at No. 15:
This should be the perfect first-round melding of team need and draft slot value for the Eagles, because one of their glaring deficiences for a while now has been for a player who possesses Keuchly's skill set. He's a smart and instinct tackler who has the ability to read and react and find the ballcarrier. He's a tough player and a natural leader, and he should fit perfectly in the hard-nosed NFC East.
Wes Bunting of the National Football Post also likes Kuechly for the Eagles:
A tackling machine with good size, natural instincts and knowledge to fend off blocks and find the football. Is the kind of talent the Eagles need inside to improve their struggling linebacking corps.
Chad Reuter of NFL.com has the Eagles taking Kuechly (sense a pattern here?):
The team's problems in the middle of the defense last season were well-documented. Kuechly's production and instincts could fill that gap, especially if he shows better-than-expected athleticism at the combine.
ESPN.com's Mel Kiper pegs Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox for the Eagles:
No team was softer up the middle than Philly in 2011, and while linebacker is a bigger need, it wouldn't be a very good value here if the board lines up like this. In Cox, you get a player who should be great in the 3-4, a powerful bull-rusher who can collapse the pocket, but also a guy who does a good job against the run and plays with a really high motor. I have wide receiver as another potential need, but the Philly defense needs to be a bigger priority in the draft. The Eagles can target a linebacker in the next round.
Pat Kirwan of CBSSports.com has the Eagles going with (surprise!) Kuechly:
It's a little high in the draft for a middle linebacker, but unless the Eagles secure a player like Stephen Tulloch in free agency, this kid is too good to pass up.
Rob Rang of CBSSports.com thinks it'll be Kuechly too:
Juan Castillo was a convenient scapegoat for the fact that the Eagles didn't have a middle linebacker play with any kind of consistency in 2011. Philadelphia may be perfectly positioned to nab the most productive linebacker in recent college football history. More decorated than a wedding cake, Kuechly is the reigning Butkus, Nagurski, Lombardi and Lott Impact Trophy Award winner and has more career tackles (532) than any other linebacker in the country. That's saying something considering he's leaving after his junior season.
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I got the Eagles going cornerback. Can never have enough.— Bama- As always, Andy will take someone nobody mentions.— 4thand10
- 80% chance they use one of thier 2nd round picks on "Bobby Wagner" or something, from Utah State or Iowa Reserve or some school you barely hear of. Hes like the 7th rated inside LB...or #1 rated "high motor" linebacker in the draft for sure. Coming in at a whopping 6-0 229 pounds, and probably a captain of his high school team. Hes the only guy on the list that doesnt break 230 pounds. Its a beautiful thing.— CharlieGarner25
- You know that whoever is the logical choice/best available player will not be picked by Birds.— Fla Ben
- When has Andy Reid EVER picked someone who we expected him to pick! So it's a safe bet that they will not be picking Kuechly— dilbert
- i heard bill bergey was available. i am sure nickles banner would try to pick him up cheap just to fill the spot. an then draft another worthless qb— Evil Overlord
- I have an idea ....lets take a troubled athletic QB that's too short to see over the line, runs with the ball like a loaf of bread and has trouble reading a defense presnap. Perfect sense. Or better yet a undersized speedy defensive end.— RealizticFan
- what's a LB? :)— With all this talent who needs a real defensive coordinator 2011
- The real truth about this team is that we are basically fundamentally sound. We have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, at every position (except maybe LB). The biggest problem with this team is leadership. In my opinion, Vick is a great QB but he seems to be timid when it comes to telling his receivers what he needs from them – they seem to have a laxidasical approach to the offense. I watch Brees, Manning, and Brady get in the asses of their receivers when they run the wrong routes or give up on plays but with Vick, it’s like we’ll get’m next time.— low1016
- Hey Kiper!! EVERYBODY - except you, apparently - knows this draft is VERY deep in Defensive Tackles, and LIGHT on LBs. So you have it backwards, you dope. You take LB at 15, and STILL get a stud DT in later rounds...Seriously, man.— 5NOT4
- Your logic is incorrect. While DT is deeper in top rate players that is not what matters. The 5 top DT will be drafted by the very early 2nd round. The grade difference between #5 and #6 is a huge dropoff. #1-5 get rated above a 7.0(perennial pro bowl type talent) while number 6 drops to about a 6.0(possible starter down the road). LB is exactly the opposite. The #1- #6 inside LB's all get grades really close to one another. So in the end if you wait to choose a LB ion the 2nd round, you get a guy that has the same basic grade as Kuechly. If you wait to take a DT in the late 2nd rd, you end up witha guy that isn't even projected as a starter while 4-5 DT that were there at pick 15 all project to be potential pro bowlers. — UncleStosh
- If Andy thought he could start a 4th round rookie why not a 1st rounder? btw I believe he wont take a LBer at 15.— Warhound
- Not to nitpick, but is Kuechly wearing bowling shoes during the drill in the picture?— JMick1215
- My guess is Andy will trade out of the 1st round for three picks in the 5th. Andy loves those 5th round guys because they are so cheap.— 4thand10
- They'll be scared of the Mike Mamula comparisons so Kuechly will not be drafted. Those geniuses know better than the rest of us that if you keep spending high picks on the defensive front, one of the is bound to work out. This might be the year they are due. Unless of course the geniuses decide that trading back is the way to go because having extra 3rd rounds picks that can be used to draft the next T'eo Besheim is great for the team.— eldiablodelsol2009
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