Eagles pick Eric Rowe, a versatile defensive back in second round

Chip Kelly started the second day of the NFL draft with his focus on defensive back Eric Rowe. After Byron Jones went in the first round on Thursday, Rowe was the player they targeted for one of their biggest needs on Friday.

Kelly waited through the beginning of the second round. With the Eagles not selecting until the No. 52 overall pick, he did not want to wait any longer. The Eagles traded with the Miami Dolphins to select Rowe at No. 47, surrendering both their fifth-round picks to move up five spots in the second round. They also took back Miami's sixth-round pick.

Rowe, who is 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, can play both cornerback and safety. Kelly said he can do "a lot of things" and wants to bring him in to figure out where to put him, but the coach suggested that Rowe could open his career at cornerback despite an apparent need at safety. Rowe would seem to welcome that decision.

"I'm comfortable at both positions," Rowe said. "If I had a preference, I would say corner."

The Eagles selected Texas inside linebacker Jordan Hicks in the third round. Hicks, who is 6-1 and 236 pounds, had a second-round grade from the Eagles and "there was no one else around him" on the team's draft board.

"He's a three-down linebacker, he can cover, he's an outstanding special teams player," Kelly said.

Kelly said the addition of Hicks does not indicate that Mychal Kendricks is on the trading block. He added that Kendricks' absence from the offseason program has been because he wanted to be with his brother leading up to the draft. Kelly also said the Eagles have not received trade offers for Kendricks, and that they made it a priority to add inside linebackers this season because of the lack of depth last year.

Cornerback Brandon Boykin and guard Evan Mathis are also rumored to be potential trade options, but Kelly said the Eagles have not received calls for those players during the draft.

In Rowe, the Eagles found a player who fits their prototype for the defensive backfield. Rowe was one of the top athletic testers at cornerback, including a 40-yard dash at 4.45 seconds, 19 reps on the bench press, and a 39-inch vertical leap.

"He's kind of off the charts for what he can do from a physical standpoint," Kelly said.

Rowe, a 22-year old from Spring, Texas, was a four-year starter at Utah. Three of those seasons were spent at safety before he switched to cornerback last season. Rowe finished with 261 tackles, three interceptions, 34 pass breakups, and 1.5 sacks during his career. The versatility is important.

"We're looking for safeties that can cover, and this kid played corner, so he's got those skills," Kelly said. "And he can play corner. We'll find out exactly where he fits, but he may start off at corner for us. We've got a lot of time here. It was getting what we felt was the best secondary guy out there for what we do, and that was the guy we targeted."

Rowe said he prefers cornerback to safety because he has more upside at the position. He said he's a "physical, press" cornerback who loves to hit, blitz, and tackle.

At safety, Rowe said he would bring a high football IQ with an ability to read offenses. He believes he's good in run support, but can also roam the backfield.

They had tried to move up earlier in the second round to pick Rowe. If they had traded out of their No. 20 pick in the first round, they would have targeted him.

"He was the guy we wanted all along," Kelly said. "I wouldn't have been surprised if he went a lot earlier."

In Hicks, the Eagles found a player who adds depth to the inside linebacker spot and can contribute on special teams. Kelly noted that Hicks was exposed to multiple defenses during his time at Texas, and the Eagles like his intelligence.

Hicks was suspended for the 2012 Alamo Bowl along with a teammate. He said the suspension was because he missed curfew. Kelly felt "very comfortable" in Hicks' character.

There were reports that the suspension came amid an allegation of sexual assault. No charges were filed, he was never arrested and the investigation was closed.

Hicks was the player that the Eagles were exposed to the most during the predraft process. Rowe visited the Eagles late in the draft process and left enthused about what Kelly is creating in Philadelphia. He said the culture was different than the other places he visited, and he appreciated that they traded up to select him.

"I feel like they really wanted me," Rowe said. "I'm glad it was them because after I left my visit, I was like, 'Man, I want to go here so bad' but it's not like college where I get to pick."

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