Mock drafts: Who will the Eagles take?
Here's a roundup of mock drafts and who they have the Eagles taking:
ESPN.com's Mel Kiper still has the Birds going with Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi in the first round:
I have offensive tackle as the top need for a team that has to make sure they don't take the athleticism of their starting quarterback for granted. In Carimi they get a guy who loves to run block and will sustain those blocks. But he can also take on great pass-rushers, and has shown enough that it figures he could fill in at either tackle position early, potentially starting on the right side with the goal to become a starting left tackle.
ESPN.com's Todd McShay also has the Birds going with an offensive lineman, but it's Mississippi State's Derek Sherrod:
I struggled with this pick more than any other in the first round, having a hard time finding a player who fits Philadelphia's needs and was worthy of the pick. In the end, guard and tackle are priorities and Sherrod has the versatility to contribute at both positions. He's not explosive or dominant and is a bit of a reach here, but Sherrod consistently gets into position and rarely makes mistakes, and recent off-field issues for current OT Jason Peters could increase the urgency to address the offensive line. The Eagles could also consider the top available cornerbacks here, but all come with questions.
Off-field issues for Peters? C'mon. I can say with confidence that Peters' little run-in with the police will have zero effect on who the Eagles take in the first round.
WalterFootball.com has the Birds taking Carimi:
The Eagles' most glaring weakness is the offensive line. They surrendered 52 sacks this year, including six in that weird Tuesday night game against the Vikings.
Gabe Carimi, drawing comparisons to Jon Runyan, is perfect for Andy Reid's blocking scheme. He can take over for Winston Justice, who was benched in the playoff loss to Green Bay.
Adam Caplan of FoxSports.com has the Birds taking Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith:
Smith, who visited the Eagles last week, would be a perfect fit for the way the coaches use their cornerbacks in the secondary — a lot of man coverage. And they would like to be more physical at that position. Pouncey would also make a lot of sense since they need competition at center and have an opening at right guard.
Rob Rang of CBSSports.com has the Birds going with Carimi, and Chad Reuter of CBSSports.com has them taking Smith.
Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly gives the Birds Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers:
The Eagles could use help on both of their lines, and, with Victor Abiamiri returning from injured reserve, are one of the few teams with enough talent to consider drafting Bowers and shelving him for a year, if necessary. Teams have expressed serious concerns after Bowers clearly appeared hobbled at his pro day, and his Combine reevaluation could go a long way toward determining his draft status.
The National Football Post tabs Colorado offensive lineman Nate Solder for the Birds:
A major position of need in Philadelphia is filled by the athletic Colorado OT for Andy Reid's offense.
Brian Baldinger of NFL.com says it'll be Carimi:
When the Eagles benched starting RT Winston Justice in the playoff loss to the Packers, it spoke volumes about the need for an immediate upgrade. They have missed the steady presence of Jon Runyan since his retirement, and Carimi carries himself with the same type of confidence. Carimi gets the task of protecting Mchael Vick's blind side.
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has the Eagles going with Smith:
The Eagles' playoff loss to the Packers revealed a secondary that lacks the depth or talent to hold up against sophisticated aerial attacks. Smith comes with baggage, but his cover skills are undeniable and he should thrive playing opposite Asante Samuel in an aggressive scheme.
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