Early Birds: Mailbag on Landon Collins, Jerome Couplin and Brandon Boykin

Answers to three Twitter questions (send future queries to @Jeff_McLane) from my weekly mailbag:

1. From @kunzw99: What are your thoughts on Landon Collins as a scheme fit? Some of your colleagues ignore the fit issue and see him as the pick.

The Eagles need a safety, maybe two, so the natural inclination for many national mock drafters is to look at the hole and then the first-round worthy safeties and slot one to Philly. The general consensus is there's only one bona fide safety that is first-round caliber – Alabama's Landon Collins. That has led to some pairing the Eagles with Collins. But, as mentioned in the question, Collins may not be an ideal scheme fit for Bill Davis' defense.

Many evaluators see Collins as primarily a box safety. He was an excellent run defender for the Crimson Tide. He tackled well. He's aggressive. But he may not be as gifted in coverage. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds at the combine – a decent time for a safety – but some scouts have called him stiff in space. The Eagles' scheme requires safeties that are adept in both run and pass defense. Chip Kelly seems willing to give up specialization in one discipline for a safety that is versatile and smart.

That isn't to say the Eagles will drop Collins far down their board. He may just be listed a little lower that some other teams have him graded. Still, you can't rule out Collins at No. 20. Some evaluators have wondered if he carried too much weight in college. He appeared to be as bulky at the combine, weighing in at 228 pounds. If he slimmed down, could he be just as effective in coverage as he was in run support?

The feeling here is that if the Eagles take a safety in first round it will be the multi-positional Shaq Thompson. Some teams view him more as an inside linebacker. The Eagles may not even have a spot they like Thompson at the most. They brought the Washington product in for one of their 30 pre-draft visits on Monday, according to an NFL source.

If Kelly uses his top pick on another position, there are safety options in the latter rounds, although the position is considered one of the weakest in the draft. Utah cornerback Eric Rowe could be a second day option. He played safety for most of his college career. Penn State's Adrian Amos has drawn interest from the Eagles, and so, too, has Arizona State's Damarious Randall.

2. From @Kdoll423: Does Jerome Couplin have a legit chance of starting at safety opposite Jenkins based on who is on the current roster?

Let's say the Eagles don't draft a safety. They didn't sign one in free agency after Nate Allen walked to the Oakland Raiders with a four-year deal worth $23 million with $11.8 million guaranteed. But they do have options on the roster to play opposite Malcolm Jenkins. Those options may not be especially attractive, but Jerome Couplin is probably the least known.

The Eagles signed him off the Lions' practice squad and to their 53-man roster in December. An undrafted rookie, Couplin played some special teams in Detroit before he was waived. The Bills picked him up and then cut him, too, before the Lions reclaimed him to their practice squad. He was inactive for the three games he was with the Eagles, so it's difficult to say whether he really has any shot at starting.

The Eagles liked him enough to sign him, though, and he should have an opportunity to compete with Earl Wolff, Chris Maragos and Chris Prosinski – if no other safeties are added. He has good size (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and a mind-boggling 81-inch wing span. If there's a starting spot for an unheralded player like Couplin to make a push for it's at safety.

3. From @JRasmun: what is the trade value of Boykin?

There is certainly value, but I'm not sure how much Brandon Boykin could retrieve in a straight-up trade. Maybe the Eagles could get a fourth rounder in return. That's no knock on Boykin, but his value has been diluted some because he "only" plays in the slot. "Only" because the nickel cornerback position may be as difficult – and maybe even more difficult – than playing outside where you have a sideline as a border.

I don't think the Eagles have plans to move Boykin, unless, of course, he's part of some package to acquire Marcus Mariota in the draft. The chances of that happening are obviously slim to none. Boykin has made it no secret that he wants a shot to start outside. Kelly said last month that he will compete for a spot, but he emphasized that Boykin always had that opportunity. Still, you have to wonder if it was legit. Bradley Fletcher's struggles last season were well documented, and yet, Boykin couldn't supplant him?

"I think show us what we have and what's available to us and everyone competes. Brandon plays outside everyday in practice," Kelly said. "That's something I don't think, when Brandon goes out to practice, he's not like this, 'I don't look at what the outside corners are doing.'"

The Eagles prefer to have long corners. Boykin is a generously listed 5-10. But he has a 43-inch vertical leap and has been arguably the Eagles' best defensive back in coverage the last two seasons.

Byron Maxwell has one starting spot sewn up. Walter Thurmond will probably get the first look at the other spot. Boykin, Nolan Carroll and Jaylen Watkins will vie with Thurmond, but there's a good chance the Eagles could expend a first or second round selection in the draft on a corner.

The Eagles added cornerback E.J. Biggers earlier this month and he has experience inside, so he could be the backup plan if the Eagles have plans to move Boykin. But it seems likely that the cornerback, who has one year left on his contract, returns as the starting slot.