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Eagles could choose from among several offensive linemen at No. 20

The first draft pick Chip Kelly made as the Eagles head coach was an offensive lineman, Lane Johnson. He has not picked an offensive lineman since.

The first draft pick Chip Kelly made as the Eagles head coach was an offensive lineman, Lane Johnson. He has not picked an offensive lineman since.

The Eagles have three projected starters who will be 31 or older next season. The draft this week could be a good time for the Eagles to add at least one young lineman they could pencil in as a future starter.

If the Eagles stay at No. 20 in the first round Thursday, they will be in the range for some of the draft's top offensive tackles. There are appealing prospects who could step in at guard early in their careers and eventually become the Eagles' right tackle if Johnson moves to left tackle to replace Jason Peters in a few years.

Oregon's Jake Fisher could be a potential option, and not just because Kelly recruited him to the Ducks. Fisher, a converted tight end, fits what the Eagles want in an offensive lineman. He also has guard experience that could help him learn both line spots in the NFL.

At 6-foot-6 and 306 pounds, Fisher was the top offensive lineman at the Scouting Combine in the three-cone drill and the 20-yard shuttle, and he was second at the 40-yard dash. That shows the athleticism needed to play in the Eagles' scheme, and Kelly is familiar with his personality.

Fisher called Kelly "a coach that was very influential in my game and how I play."

The No. 20 pick might a bit early to take Fisher. However, Ed Marynowitz, the Eagles' vice president of player personnel, said that after the top eight to 10 players in this draft, the rest of the board is subjective based on scheme and specifications.

The top offensive lineman is Iowa's Brandon Scherff, who will likely play guard in the NFL and is expected to be off the board when the Eagles pick. Offensive line is considered a deep group this year, albeit without consensus about how the top players rank. Stanford's Andrus Peat, Florida's D.J. Humphries, LSU's La'el Collins, Pittsburgh's T.J. Clemmings, and Miami's Ereck Flowers are among a group that could be first-round picks. Good luck figuring out the order.

"It doesn't mean there's not a lot of talent, because there is," said NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock, a Philadelphia native. "But I could take, for instance, Ereck Flowers, D.J. Humphries, Andrus Peat and T.J. Clemmings. And all are gifted first-round tackles but I can poke a hole in every one of those kids, either from a technique perspective or an off-the-field perspective or whatever.

"So what's happened this year is . . . they've been pushed down a little bit in the first round, not because of talent, but because they're not all ready to play day one."

The most ready might be LSU's Collins, who would be a good fit for the Eagles because of his ability to play guard. Collins, who is 6-4 and 305 pounds, started 13 games as sophomore at left guard and 26 games during his junior and senior years at left tackle.

"I have La'el Collins as my No. 1 tackle because out of that whole group he's the only one where I bang the table and say I think I know exactly what I'm getting," Mayock said. "I'm getting a starting right tackle that can kick inside and play guard, but I'm getting a starter day one and he's a body mover."

ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, a Super Bowl-winning coach, said he thinks Flowers will become a "Pro Bowl lineman" who could play left tackle, right tackle, or guard. The NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, a former Eagles scout, sees Florida's Humphries as the top offensive tackle.

The lack of a consensus means that the Eagles could have options at No. 20. Considering the franchise needs young linemen, it would make sense for the Eagles to spend a first-round pick on a tackle for the second time in three seasons.