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Moving the Chains

Eagles mocks, draft thoughts

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43 comments

Eagles mocks, draft thoughts

POSTED: Tuesday, April 3, 2012, 10:53 AM

Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com

Georgia offensive lineman Cordy Glenn is expected to be taken in the first or second round. (AP Photo / Michael Conroy)

Here's another mock roundup, broken down by position, along with my draft thoughts.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com has the Birds going with LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers:

With Jason Peters out for the indefinite future, offensive tackle jumps to the top of the Eagles' needs, especially considering it's no secret that Andy Reid prefers linemen in the first round. But the head coach also eyes defensive linemen early in the draft, making Michael Brockers a logical choice here. He is an intriguing prospect because he doesn't enter the NFL with a strong resume and is still very much an unpolished player. But the raw athletic ability matched with his large, long frame will be enticing for a defense who can mold the 21-year old into something special.

Chad Reuter of NFL.com also has the Birds taking Brockers:

General manager/head coach Andy Reid has used his first-round pick on the defensive line four times in the last eight years. He's already addressed a need at middle linebacker by trading for DeMeco Ryans, so adding a powerful young player like Brockers should only improve the run defense.

ESPN.com's staff of bloggers has the Birds taking Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox:

Michael Brockers was tempting, but the pick here is Cox because he provides a pass rush from the interior of the defensive line right away and could be more NFL-ready than Brockers at this point. The Eagles are a win-now team that relies on its defensive line to pressure the passer, and Cox fits nicely into their interior line rotation.

Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times also has the Eagles taking Cox:

If Cox is still around at this point, he will be hard to resist for the Eagles. He's very agile and can put more weight on his 6-foot-4 frame.

Russ Lande of The Sporting News projects Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe to the Eagles:

The Eagles want to improve the strength and production from their interior defensive line. They could get much bigger (346 pounds) and athletic with Poe.

My take: I've been over the reasons why defensive tackle makes sense a number of times in this space. You can draft a player who contributes immediately as part of the rotation and eventually takes over for either Mike Patterson or Cullen Jenkins as a starter. If the Eagles see primarily a run-stopper in Brockers, my guess is they'll pass on him. But if they see a player who Jim Washburn can mold into an interior pass rusher, he has added value. Cox may be the player most often linked to the Eagles at this point. As I pointed out yesterday, Greg Cosell of NFL Films believes Cox is a much better prospect than Poe.

Todd McShay's mock (below) is interesting because he has Still being available in the second round at No. 46. Since defensive tackle is considered a deep position this year, the Eagles will have to determine what kind of gap there is among the top prospects. If it's a small one, they may want to go another route in the first round and select a DT with one of their two second-round selections.

SAFETY

ESPN.com's Todd McShay has the Birds selecting Alabama safety Mark Barron:

The Eagles began addressing their linebacker need by trading for DeMeco Ryans, so Barron makes sense in the back end. He is the most complete safety in the draft, offering a physical presence in run support and the range to play the point in coverage.

McShay has the Eagles taking Penn State defensive tackle Devon Still with the 46th pick (second round) and Oklahoma linebacker Ronnell Lewis at 51.

Rob Rang of CBSSports.com also has the Eagles taking Barron:

The Eagles invested a pair of second-round picks and a seventh in safeties over just the past two years but still haven't found a starting combination that has played with any consistency. Barron is the unquestioned top prospect at the position this year and is both physical against the run and a ball hawk. Considering the passing attacks in the NFC East, investing in an all-purpose defensive back with Barron's instincts and pro-readiness seems like a good fit.

My take: There would be two reasons for taking Barron in the first round. One is if he's clearly their best player available when the Eagles make their pick. And two is if they have serious doubts that Jaiquawn Jarrett can be a quality starter in 2012. Considering Jarrett didn't see the field last year until the safeties ahead of him got injured, the latter point is not out of the question. But I would be surprised if the Eagles went with a safety early, specifically in the first round. With two young players on the roster already in Nate Allen and Jarrett, it wouldn't make a lot of sense.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has the Eagles going with Georgia tackle Cordy Glenn:

The potential season-ending loss of Jason Peters could force Andy Reid to add a versatile offensive lineman to the lineup as insurance. Glenn can play multiple spots along the front, giving Reid the flexibility to handle Peters' injury without putting Michael Vick in jeopardy.

My take: Domo did a good piece with NFL Network's Mike Mayock about the available tackles in the draft. Mayock doesn't see Glenn as a left tackle. He has him as a second-round right tackle right now, but thinks he might be best suited to play guard.

One thing we need to remember is that the Eagles' projections for offensive linemen are probably different than other teams' because of Howard Mudd. Nobody thought Jason Kelce, a sixth-round pick, would come in and start right away. If the Eagles don't think any of the available free-agent tackles are very good, they might just have to let Mudd do his homework, find a tackle or two he likes and trust that he can piece it all together.

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43 comments

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Comments (43)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:11 AM, 04/06/2012

Trade all the Eagles 6th round draft picks for 3 & 4 picks. Better quality and save the Eagles 4 years of trying to make them into starters.

— tulsaphil

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:33 PM, 04/04/2012

I am not a Nate Allen fan, but the last few games he did better. Colemen is a good player, despite that horrible event in the early season (game 2?). Having said that, we need help in the secondary, and if that's Barron, let's get him.

— Uncle Carm

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:58 PM, 04/04/2012

Good article. I think it's obvious that the Eagles are looking at DT in the first round. And you can't go wrong with Cox, Still or Brockers at 15. All are upgrades from Patterson, Laws and Landri. However Poe is the big risk. His tape sucks and he went against inferior competition....If Still is available at 46, I say take him and have COX AND STILL in the DT rotation. The pass rush would be ridiculous....It wouldn't be fair to Jarrett to give up on him this early and take Barron at 15. He had to learn a new system in a strike shortened season. I think he will be much better with a full off-season and familarity with the scheme....Last point, Mychal Kendricks (MLB, Cal) is a beast. I have no idea why this guy is projected as a second rounder...His tape is great and he blew the combine away. He ran a 4.47 40 and put up the most reps of any LB. He can play all three LB spots. And on top of that he's the Defensive Player of the Year of the Pac-12!...Draft him!

— MrMiles1

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:20 PM, 04/04/2012

Cox at 15, unless Kuechly is still on the board. Move up in second round and grab Harrison Smith. The other second round pick, best player available, hopefully a corner able to play in dime package or a DT if they grab Kuechly.

— beegal99

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:01 PM, 04/04/2012

The fact that they have not signed Landri or Laws leads me to believe it's a defensive tackle they're looking at right now. With the Bell signing it's just relief they can focus on best player available.

— tkeagle

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:56 AM, 04/04/2012

It's hard to talk about what to do in the first round without comparing what get in the 2nd. Getting a player like Devon Still in the 2nd is a very compelling argument to grab some other position in the 1st. Who knows what will happen. I can't really see them drafting Barron in the 1st only because it makes them look too stupid about drafting Jarrett so early last year.

— TubbyB

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:35 AM, 04/04/2012

Don't forget Mark Barron has to learn the NFL game too

— dwilly

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:03 PM, 04/03/2012

Mike Patterson is coming off of a serious surgery. Both Defensive Tackles are approaching the north side of 30. Without question, there is an opening at Defensive Tackle on the Eagles. A Stud Defensive Tackle give the Eagles another quality producer in their rotation.

I don't think it wise to reach for an Offensive Tackle, chances are no Tackle we select in the draft comes in here and gives what Peters gave. Peters is a different talent and no veteran they could bring in except maybe, Jake Long from Miami, or any rookie is going to give what Peters gives. The Offense changes because of the injury to Peters, we have to first just accept that fact.

In my opinion, for the quality of Tackles in the Draft the Eagles do not have to pick a Tackle until the Forth or Fifth Round. I trust Mudd to mold a Tackle into being productive in his system and personally don't see a Tackle in the draft who was able to come to philly and challenge.

Stick with the draft plans we had, I hope there was a quality receiver on the list, Safety and Corner Back, but we can get a Tackle later, or we can get a Tight End and convert him to a Tackle just like Peters was converted, but any Tackle will have to have speed to get out into the second level like Peters and Herreman does now.

— Dexter

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:51 PM, 04/03/2012

We need high motor fast guys

— Ssteve115

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:40 PM, 04/03/2012

Move Asante Samuel and keep DRC, then you can get away with having Nate Allen and Jaiquawn. Re-sign Landry and address the glaring need at OT. If Andy is hitching his wagon to Vick then protect the guy. This kid Glenn can play LT...Vick's sight side.

— rbecker1963

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:33 PM, 04/03/2012

Let's go D. Barron/Gilmore Still, Lewis, and Audie Cole NC State LB along with Russell Wilson and call it a day. And i agree with fellow posters. When the Eagles went with real programs, Cal, Missouri, Pitt, Baylor, etc. We found NFL players.

— oldBird

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 7:25 PM, 04/03/2012

Maclin was 1st rounder and not a bust. Stop on AR already.

— oldBird

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:35 PM, 04/03/2012

Go SEC. Go Safety. Best player in the draft at his position in the most NFL-ready conference at the position the Birds need the most. I think Left Tackle for the Eagles is not as big an emergency with a left-handed QB as it would be on 90% of the NFL teams. I say no question we go Barron.

— kjuggs77

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:00 PM, 04/03/2012

If the Eagles draft turned out the way McShay has it, I would be really pumped.

— Penfold18