Eagles mock draft roundup
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Eagles mock draft roundup
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Here's a roundup of the latest mock drafts, along with the Eagles' picks:
SI.com's Don Banks has the Eagles going with Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe at No. 15:
Poe finds his NFL home, and it's not surprising to see Andy Reid taking the athletically gifted big man from Memphis. The Eagles need more strength up the middle of their defense, and the hope is that newly acquired linebacker DeMeco Ryans was just the beginning of that upgrade.
It's worth noting that Banks has Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox coming off the board at No. 9 to the Panthers, but he has Michael Brockers falling all the way to 25.
Charles Davis of NFL.com has the Eagles taking Brockers:
The Eagles want to get stronger down the middle of their defense, and this redshirt sophomore from the bayou is only going to get better.
Davis also has Cox going to Carolina. He's got the Cardinals taking Poe at 13.
Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com also has the Birds taking Brockers:
Before trading for DeMeco Ryans, just about everyone (including me) had the Eagles drafting Luke Kuechly, the do-everything middle linebacker out of Boston College. With the linebacker position addressed via Ryans, Philly can go a variety of directions with the 15th pick. Brockers may fulfill a huge area of need—Philly already has Cullen Jenkins and Mike Patterson at DT—but he could be the best player on the board. An active, big body, Brockers came on strong towards the end of the 2011 season and had a fantastic week at the Combine.
Rob Rang of CBSSports.com has the Eagles taking Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly:
No, I didn't forget that the Eagles traded for quality middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans. Perhaps the better question might be if you forgot how poorly Philadelphia's entire linebacking corps fared last season. In proving his athleticism at the Combine (and his jaw-dropping consistency throughout his entire career), Kuechly is earning top 15 grades from some clubs as an outside linebacker, as well as for the inside position. The addition of Ryans and Kuechly would turn what was the Eagles' worst unit into one of the team's greatest strengths.
ESPN's Todd McShay has the Eagles taking Alabama safety Mark Barron. He thinks Kuechly could still be an option though too:
Don't rule out Kuechly if he should fall this far. Yes, Philadelphia brought in ILB DeMeco Ryans via trade, but Kuechly might be too good to pass and has the ability to move to the outside.
The Sporting News mock draft predicts Cox will last to the Eagles:
Philadelphia wants to add a playmaker to the interior of its defensive line. Cox is the most explosive, dynamic inside force in the draft and a perfect fit in the Eagles' scheme.
Russ Lande of The Sporting News has the Birds taking Poe:
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.
Albert Breer of NFL.com has the Birds going with Poe too:
One scout told me you can assemble 40 or so plays on tape to make Poe look like a star. Philly hopes Jim Washburn can draw more out of him.
Chad Reuter of NFL.com thinks the Eagles will draft Cox:
General manager/head coach Andy Reid likes using his first-round picks to bolster the defense, and Cox has a chance to be an effective pass rusher next to Cullen Jenkins, who turned 31 in January and received a restructured deal this offseason that may have lessened his grip on the team's cap.
Wes Bunting of the National Football Post has the Eagles landing Cox too:
Cox is the kind of potential three-technique who can create behind the line of scrimmage and stop plays before they start. The Eagles don’t have a huge need at DT, but Cox could still mature into a playmaker inside, at a position where Philly lacks an impact guy.
ESPN's Mel Kiper goes with Cox as well. In the second round, he has them taking North Carolina linebacker Zach Brown and Clemson tight end Dwayne Allen:
My top tight end for much of the year, Allen didn't test well, but he's there on tape.
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle has the Eagles taking Brockers.
Evan Silva of Pro Football Talk has the Birds taking Cox:
Cox fits line coach Jim Washburn’s scheme as a gap shooter.
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Eagles will trade down for more picks and come away with junk.— pedge- im so sick of idiotic people saying poe.hes over rated and absolutely does not fit our system he has zero pass rush ability.maybe with his physical tools washburn may be able to make a real dt out of him but you dont take projects at #15.round two is for projects not 15 overall.gimme kuechly worthy hill wagner— Sean s.
- Just dont draft Poe. He is a typical guy with game tape that is mediocre and a combine that was great. This is not the guy.— UncleStosh
- I agree with TNEaglesFan; I think Mamula probably could have been a pro bowl player as a 3-4 linebacker. He was drafted too high, and they used him wrong, but the next "true" defensive end taken in that draft was Derrick Alexander, who wasn't as good a DE as Mamula.— Section 730
- For the critics of Poe: take a look at the talent/lack of talent that was around him at Memphis. You don't go 2-10 for no reason at all. At the end of the day, you cannot teach size and speed. If the guy is willing to be coached, there is no one better than Washburn. I'm gonna say the draft scouts know just a little more than the schlub sitting on his couch watching games or game clips on YouTube.— beegal99
- Out of all the DTs in the draft, Still and Brockers are the best with their hands (see Reggie White, Jenkins and Suh as examples). Still has a great first step off the ball, not to mention very good ball instincts. If you could play a scenario out, I'd rather see then move up in the first to get Kuechly, and move up in the second to get Still, even if that meant giving up the other second round pick. Since Reid needs to get it done this year, I would try to hold onto that second in the 2nd round and use picks next year to move up in the first and second rounds.— beegal99
- The defense had it's problems last year, but it was magnified by the 38 turnovers. If they can just get lucky and get 2 our the 3 major needs on defense (DT, OLB, CB/S), that side of the ball can catch up with the offense. A great defensive line can make a mediocre secondary much better.— SilliBilli
- Another scenario could be that Kuechly falls to 15, Eagles take him, then trade and move into 27 to get Still, if he's still there. I'd still be okay with them taking Still at 15, then taking the best players available in the 2nd round, including Harrison Smith if he's still available with that first 2nd round pick.— beegal99
- I don't know why you people bother. You have never even heard of any of these guys 6 months ago. Now you talking about you rather have this guy over that guy. Leave it to the professionals to figure it out. We know that the Eagles will select someone that we have never heard of in the 1st, or trade down.— penncrow19
- I could see them trading a bunch of picks to move up and take Tannehill with the vikings pick, the fans would love that ha— peteike
- And in a shocker, the Eagles trade their 2012 first round pick their first pick in the second round and a 2013 first round pick to Minesotta for the #3 pick and select Tannenhill. LMAO. I did dream this last night and given Andy Reid, nothing would surprise me. I personally would like them to draft Moore in the 3rd round if he is still available.— Eaglemania500
- Address the secondary, please. Specifically, both Safety positions. They were one of the biggest weak spots (behind only the LB corps, which managed to get dragged for 5 yards after contact on about 80% of all snaps). I will stand firm: Take the Best Safety out of the best conference: Barron. It's been a few years, but I thought Mamula was primarily a LB at BC and the Birds tried to make him a DE, but don't remember.— kjuggs77
Wow, Eagles trade out of the first round in 2008 and you guys just won't let it go. Give it a break, it's old and getting really annoying. Go back to that year and who would you pick at #19? If memory serves correctly that wasn't a very good draft year. Only about 6 guys taken in the first round are still around if not injured.- OH Yeah and DeSean Jackson was the Eagles second pick in the second round. If you thought he acted up last season can you imagine what he would have been like if he was the Eagles pick in the first round at #19? A game changer like Jackson in the second round, what a pick, who cares if they traded the 19th pick. Eagles got an impact player and didn't have to pay him first round money. Laws was the first pick in the second round and look were he is. Looking for work.
- Dont want Poe or Tannehill, both seem a bit over rated. Id love to see them take a chance on Osweiller if they can land him at the right pick. Anyone have a clue or guess where this guy might get picked? I know hes a project but hes pretty agile for such a big guy and has an arm. Wouldnt have to worry about batted down balls, just would have to work on accuracy. Lot to ask thats why it matters where he goes— peteike
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