Eagles Round one Draft Pick Options

Eagles Round one Draft Pick:

Normally I would have made an entire Eagles draft, but had limited time. I would like to see the eagles address their tackle position in the first round since Peters is old and keeps getting injured. I don’t love the OTs that would be available around where we pick but Connor Williams 6’5 296 could be good.

I’ve seen people say that we should draft a Running back. We should not. We have two very good ones in Jay Ajayi and Corey Clement, but we also have potential with Pumphrey and Smallwood.

We don’t need a receiver with Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor as both great WRs. We also have Mack Hollins who looked good as a rookie and Mike Wallace for the deep ball. It’s not worth taking a first round WR.

I wouldn’t mind a CB since we are a little thin there or a Linebacker where we are very thin.

Eagles Draft - First Round Options:

Leighton Vander Esch, ILB, Boise State, 6’4 256:

He did well in at the combine especially in the cone, shuttle and, vertical jump. He had a great senior year with 141 tackles 8.5 for a loss, 4 sacks, 4 pbu, and 3 ints.

Connor Williams, G, Texas 6’5 296:

He played tackle in college but will probably play guard in the NFL. He’s a great technician and if not for his injury and decline in play in 2017 he would be a higher pick.

Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa, 6’0 196:

He has good size and is above average athletic. He also has a crazy senior year with 18 PBU and 8 INTs. He needs time to develop and doesn’t have much experience but he’s a natural.

Later Round CBs

Quenton Meeks, Stanford, 6’1 209: Round 4

He has great size and he’s very athletic. His 40 is average but his other measurable are high. In three years he had 18 PBU and 7 INT. He’s very productive. He also had 65 tackles his senior year.

Avonte Maddox, Pittsburg, 5’9 184: Round 5

He’s extremely athletic but he is shorter and lighter than many CB. He would have to play the slot. He also has great production over his career with 34 PBU and 9 INTs.

Grant Haley, Penn State 5’9 190: Round 6

Another good slot corner option. He is short, but he is very athletic and has pretty good production.

Andre Chachere, San Jose St. 5’11 197: Round 7

He has good size and athleticism. He didn’t have the best senior year but did have 14 pbu and 4 ints his junior year. Worth a shot late for sure.

Darious Williams, UAB, 5’9 184: RFA

He’s short and was injured for several years. He had a great senior year though and is athletic enough to play the position.

Jordan Thomas, Oklahoma, 6’0 187: RFA

He needs some work, but for a late pick he has potential. He had a good junior year with 17 PBU and had 5 ints during his sophomore year. His 40 time is slow so he might have to switch to safety. Otherwise he has great change of direction.

Later Round Safety Prospects

Tarvarius Moore, Southern Miss, 6’1 199: Round 3

He has good size but could stand to be 10 lbs more. He had a very good senior year with 87 tackles 10 pbu and 3 ints. He is very fast in a straight line with pretty good change of direction and great explosion.

Godwin Igwebuike, Notherwestern, 5’11 213: Round 6 or 7

He has good size and very good production over his career with 324 tackles 24 PBU and 7 ints.

Late Round RB:

Dontrell Hillard, Tulane 5’10 202: RFA

Had 1k yards senior year 5.2 yard average. He also has a career over 10 ypc on 70 catches. He’s athletic enough for the positon for sure.  He has a good top speed and very good acceleration. He can run through some contact even though he’s only 202. He could be this year’s Corey Clement.

Disclaimer: I normally spend more time analyzing data and watching film. I did my best this year with very limited time. 

2018 NFL Draft: Value Prospects

Value ILB Prospects:

Genard Avery, Memphis 6’1 248: Round 5 or 6

He’s very powerful and very athletic. He also had many tackles for losses. He has some deficiencies but they are mostly in technique. He is a little slow off the ball though which is a concern. Either way his potential makes him a great pick in round 5 or 6.

Value Running Backs Prospects :

Saquon Barkley, Penn State, 6’0 233: First over all

The best. There’s nothing to say. He will be the best running back in a while.  

Nick Chubb, Georigia,  5’1 225: Round 2

He has a good career average of 6.5. Decent combine with good numbers in bench vert and very good broad. He has above average acceleration and power, which are his main strengths. He’s not super agile, but does have a good leg drive when he’s hit. He looks like he could be a beast behind a good offensive line. Maybe a one cut system. I think his injury slowed him down or he would be rated higher.

Rashaad Penny, San Diego State, 5’11 220: Round 3

His combine numbers are just okay other than his 40 time of 4.46. He needs to work on his hands and pass blocking, but he has effortless acceleration and a very good top speed. He also can hit you with power and then quick acceleration. He reminds me of David Johnson. Not super shifty, but that’s not his style.

Roc Thomas, Jacksonville St. 5’11 193: Round 6

 He’s a little small, but he has a good career average of 5.9. He is shifty and looks to have some potential.

Chase Edmonds, Fordham, 5’9 205: Round 7

He had very good stats until his injured senior year. He has a very good shuttle and cone but just okay other combine numbers. He’s very agile with a great spin move and quick side to side movement. He also has good acceleration but just average top speed. He’s a great prospect for the 7^th round.  

Value Wide Receiver Prospects:

J’Mon Moore, Missouri,  6’3 207: Round 4

He has a great cone and shuttle and vertical. Two very good years with over a 16ypc average. He also averaged 9TDs his last two years. He’s raw, but very athletic. Worth a shot in rounds three or four.

Justin Watson, Pennsylvainia, 6’2 215: Round 5

He has great consistent stats with three years over 1k yards and an average of around 13.5 with 10 tds. He has a good 40 and vertical but just so so otherwise.

Damion Ratley, texas A&M, 6’2 196: Round 7

He has a good 40 and vertical, with a decent three cone. He has minimal production, but he did have one good year with a 23 yard average and almost 700 yards and 6tdd. He’s raw but worth a shot late.

Vyncint Smith, Limestone, 6’2 197: Round 6

He has a very good vertical and broad jump, with a decent cone and good 40. He has minimal catches but very good averages with not a bad senior year of 849 yards. He needs to develop his hands and routes but has potential because of his size and speed.  

Jaelon Acklin, Western Illinois, 6’1 185: Round 7

He is light but has good combine numbers. He has a great senior year with 1369 yards, 16.3 average, and 10td. He’s sudden out of breaks and runs smooth routes. He should work on his hands but is a great late round pick.

My Ranking and Thoughts on Top Qbs:

Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma:

He looks better than Sam Darnold to me. He has a quick release and pretty strong arm. He throws a better spiral than Darnold. And he has some running ability. The spread system inflated his stats, but he did have the best QBR of any QB. He has had years of success and looks like he has great potential.

Sam Darnold, USC:

Moves very well in the pocket, which lets him make plays. Good arm strength but not the most I’ve seen. He doesn’t always throw the nicest ball. He looks the part though and should be a solid QB.

Josh Allen, Wyoming:

I don’t like him and wouldn’t draft him in the first. It’s rare that QBs with poor college stats do well in the NFL. I’m not impressed. He has a strong arm, but not enough else.

Josh Rosen, UCLA:

I also don’t like him. He doesn’t have great stats and he has a weak arm. 

Disclaimer: I usually spend way more time analyzing data and game tape, but I had limited time this draft season. I like the prospects that I selected, but I missed other good ones for sure and I didn’t watch nearly as much video on the prospects that I normally would.  

Thoughts on the Browns draft:

First, I would be so much fun to take over a new team and have two high first round picks. If I was the Browns, I would take Saquon Barkley first overall. He’s a once in a decade talent. He’s by far the best RB in this class and is the best prospect in years.  He’s super athletic, fast, strong agile. He’s a can’t miss. If the Browns continue to build their offensive line and have such a great running back, it will make things much easier for their QB. With their 4^th pick I would either tank Quenton Nelson, who is viewed as a can’t miss guard. I didn’t evaluate him, but if he’s as good as he’s supposed to be, and the Browns could move one of their guards to RT, they would have a dominate offensive line. The combination of the powerful line, Tyrod Taylor’s running, and Saquon
Barkley’s running, would turn the Browns into a winning team…finally. Alternatively, if they want a future QB I would take either Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold at 4 if they were still available.

Eagles Rookie Free Agent Signings and Grades

Free Agent Signings Grades and Analysis 

Overall Rookie Free Agent Singing Grade: A

We signed some solid players that can make the team and even start at some point.

Corey Clement RB 5’’11 220: A

Corey has potential. He didn’t have a great rushing average his senior year, but did during his freshman and sophomore years. He has poor long speed but is shifty enough for a bigger guy and has above average acceleration. He also shows some power during his runs. He didn’t catch the ball much, but does well when he catches it. He really looks like someone who could not only make the team, but could become a contributor in the run game.  

Greg Ward Jr. WR: F

Greg played QB in college, but switched to WR during the draft process. He is simply not athletic enough to play WR.

Tre Sullivan FS: F

Too small and not athletic enough for the NFL.

Tyler Orlosky C: C+

Not athletic, but he is strong and was a team captain. He does have some potential, but his short arms and lack of athleticism, will likely limit him to not making the team.

Billy Brown TE: A

Billy has good size at 6’3, 254 and has the athleticism to play in the NFL. He alos had a huge senior year with over 1500 yards and 22 TDs. He also had a huge junior year with almost 1500 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had a 16.3 yard average during those two years. He has good hands, but will need to work on his routes. While he doesn’t have elite long speed for WR, (his position in college) he does have decent top speed for a TE. What can I say about this guy but he will likely make the team and has a chance to become a future starter for the Eagles.

Marcus Oliver ILB 5’11 238: B

Marcus is a powerful and productive inside linebacker. He is a good tackler and forced many fumbles in college. He lacks athleticism to the outside and in coverage, and he is poor at changing directions. That being said, Marcus has the chance to be a first and second down linebacker in run situations and could make the team as a backup.

Jomal Wiltz CB  5’10 174: A-

Wiltz had a good number of passes broken up during his two years of college. He is small and will have to put on some weight, but he is athletic enough to cover NFL WRs. He could make the team and could even be better than the Eagles third round pick Rasul.  

Winston Craig DT 6’3 288: B-

Not a bad free agent pick up. He is small for DT but big enough that he could come in on passing downs. He has average athleticism for his size and above average production in college. He played at a small school though and usually you would want a player to dominate at that level if they are going to make an NFL team. He has some potential. 

Philadelphia Eagles Draft Grade and Assessment

Eagles Draft Grade

Overall Grade: B- : We didn't get many if any players that will come right in and start. I don't think Barnett is ready and Sidney Jones is injured. Rasul will likely never start. We did however get some nice athletic developmental prospects that could eventually contribute and Sidney Jones looks like he will be good when he heals. Derek could become a passable starter as well.

Round 1: Derek Barnett DE: B-

It’s not like Barnett doesn’t have positives or that he can’t become a very good player, it’s just that he doesn’t look like a sure thing like other players did. Yes, he was very productive and even broke Reggie White’s record. Does that make him Reggie White? No. Reggie had forty pounds on Barnett. He was quicker, better at changing direction, and more powerful than Barnett.

Barnett is great at fighting with his hands, but his arms are very short and 3 inches shorter than miles Garrett. He is decent against the run, but his change of direction speed and closing speed are liabilities. He was productive, it seems, largely due to his hand fighting and his anticipation of the snap. He will have a much harder time doing the same things in the NFL. His anticipation of the snap helped mask his explosion off of the line, which was average at best. Barnett could become a reliable starter if he increases his pass rushing skill set, but he is not a sure thing. I would love a dominant DE and have been waiting for one for a long time. I hope that Barnett becomes the man for us, and he could, but I would have gone a safer direction here.

Round 2: Sidney Jones CB 6’0 186: B

Sidney was projected to be a first round pick until he tore his Achilles tendon. He has enough athletic ability to stay with WR except for fast receivers on deep routes. He has natural talent and awareness at the position to overcome his sub elite athletics. His production was pretty good in college, but he didn’t have any amazing years. He has good hands and can pull in interceptions. Sidney is a hard pick to grade. He could develop into a good CB. His injury is a setback, but also helped the Eagles to get him in the second round. The value and injury cancel out on the grade. Other than that he has enough potential for a B grade.

Round 3: Douglas Rasul CB 6’2 209: D+

Rasul has great size for a press CB. He could also play safety. He is a one year wonder in college which is concerning. It was quite a good year with 8 ints, but it’s always risky relying on one year. He does not have a great long speed at 4.6 which is a concern as a CB. He also only have average athletics otherwise. Because of his poor long speed, he will need safety help over the top, and he will have to give a strong jam at the line. He is likely a better safety than CB athletically, but since he’s not a great tackler that limits his potential move. He will have problems staying with WRs on all routes.

Round 4: Mack Hollins WR 6’4 221: B

Mack has great size for a WR. Ideal really. He only ran the 40 at the combine and had a solid 4.5. While he doesn’t have another measrualbes, he is very quick and has great acceleration. He needs to greatly improve his route running on shorter routes to be able to get open. He also needs to work on his catching ability and stop body catching. He certainly has potential to become a top WR if he gets everything else together. He wasn’t very productive in college, which is a little concerning, but once again he has good potential.

Round 4: Donnel Pumphrey RB: B-

He could only be used for a return man. He’s too small to pass block so he can’t be in on third downs. He’s too small to play RB on first and second downs. If his hands weren’t bellow average, he could play WR on some special plays. He doesn’t have long speed, but he does accelerate very quickly. He also has good lateral agility, not the two man cutting ability of Lesean Mccoy, but good. His production was huge in college… tons of yards, tons of tds, good average. If he can put on 20 lbs and learn to pass block, he could be a great third down RB and maybe contribute on first and second downs. If he weighed 25 lbs more and still had the same quickness, he would have been an A pick in the 4^th. Many small players like him cannot make the jump to the NFL though. That being said, I want him to make it. If he gets bigger it looks like he could be special.

Round 5: Shelton Gibson WR 5’11 191: A-

Shelton is a great deep threat with a very good average per catch. He needs to work on his route running and his hands, but if he can get that together, he could be a good wr. He also has good size for someone as fast as he is. People have been comparing him to Desean Jackson. He is similar, but not the same. He’s bigger than him and not quite as fast as him. I love the pick in the 5^th round.

Round 5: Nate Gerry S 6’2 218: C-

Nate is simply not athletic enough to play safety in the NFL. It’s possible that he could put on weight and play LB. He was decently productive in college. He has good ball skills with 13 ints. He isn’t good enough with coverage to cover WRs. He could cover TEs though. He missed many tackles in college, so he would have to improve there.

Round 6: Elijah Qualls DT 6’1 313: B

Elijah has power and can attack low with good leverage. He has very short arms though, the second shortest of all D lineman. He also has decent athleticism. His production is average in college and he needs to get into better shape. The two biggest concerns about him are his arm length and his work ethic. For the 6^th round it’s not bad to change a chance on someone who has some potential.

Philadelphia Eagles Mock Draft 2017

Eagles Mock Draft

1st Round: Marlon Humphrey CB, or Ryan Ramczyk OT since we need a future RT and I'm not feeling the other prospects. We could go CB in round two if we went OT here. (I'm not into Derek Barnett, the projected pick in some mocks) - If Marlon is around at the Eagles pick he will be very worth drafting and will likely become a starter.

2nd Round: Dion Dawkins OT - We need depth at tackle for when someone gets injured and when Jason Peters Retires. Dion has power in the run game and also adequate athleticism to pass block. He could move in at RT after Peters retires and Lane Johnson moves to LT.  

3rd Round: Taywan Taylor WR - We don't need a WR as much as we did before signing Alshon Jeffery but Taywan has a ton of potential. 

4th Round: Shaquill Griffin CB - A very athletic CB with good coverage ability. His top speed isn't elite, but he can develop into a very good CB. 

4th Round:  Marlin Mack RB - Marlin is a speedy productive RB. He has great acceleration once he picks his lane. He has the potential to compete for the top Eagles RB spot. 

5th Round: Connor Harris ILB - Connor is a small school prospect who was a tackle machine. Not all players can make the jump from a small school to the NFL, but Connor has the athleticism and drive to be one of them. 

6th Round: Robert Davis WR - An excellent sized WR with good explosion. His routes need work but he has great hands and is great at high pointing the ball. He will provide us even more depth at WR for a strong camp competition. 

7th Round:7 Joe Williams RB - Joe has great acceleration and finds holes quickly. He has a great rushing average in college and looked great on tape. He does have several character issues, but if he is committed to the game, Joe could be a starting running back.

Best Middle and Late Round Draft Prospects

Late and Middle Round Draft Prospects

RB

Joe Williams - Joe is great through the hole with top acceleration. He finds the holes quick without dancing around and has good top speed. He had a 6.7 yard average during his senior year and good measurables. He looks really great on tape, and should be a good starting running back barring problems from his character. He retired from football for two months and has an arrest record. He will need to be interviewed well to determine his dedication to the sport. CBS round projection 6,7

T.J. Logan - He is fast and eats up ground quick with long strides. He has good but not great later agility. He is more of a one cut and go runner. He looks like he could be a strong third down back if he can improve his pass blocking. He should put on some muscle since he doesn't have that much power and a smaller lower body. CBS round projection 5,6. 

Justin Davis - He has good acceleration through his cuts and can make some good moves. He has quick feet and quick cuts. He is also a good pass catcher. His measurables are acceptable, and his 3 cone is good. He should put on some weight, but otherwise looks like he could be worthwhile pick, possibly as a 3rd down back. CBS round projection RFA

WR

Taywan Taylor - Hes a mid round prospect. He has a ton of potential. His top speed isn't amazing, but he is very quick and still got open on deep balls quite a bit. He looks very open on many of his catches. He only ran a few routes, so he will need more practice, but he should become a starting second receiver or slot receiver. CBS round projection 3,4

Robert Davis - He has very good size and very good measurables, especially his vertical and broad jumps, which shows explosion. He had good stats but nothing amazing. His routes need work but he has great hands and is great at high pointing the ball. If he can improve his route running, he could become a starting receiver in the NFL. CBS round projection 6

TE

Bucky Hodges - He has both great athletics and great statistics. He looks like a sure thing as a receiving TE. He's another mid round prospect projected to go in the 4th round. I included him because he just looks great. Even if a team doesn't need a TE, he would be a steal in the 4th round. He could learn from the starter and be the eventual starter. He need to improve his route running for sure though and work on his hands a bit. 

DT

Grover Stewart - He's a 347lbs NT. He is athletic for his size and is super strong. He needs to work on his technique and his pad level, but if he can consistently attack with lower pads, he could become a force to be reckoned with. He had good production for a man of his size, but it was at lower level competition. He will need to make a big jump to the NFL. Since he's a 6th round projected prospect, he's worth pulling the trigger on. 

CB

Shaquill Griffin - He's very athletic, but his top speed isn't elite. He has good coverage and hardly allowed any passes to be completed. He also has many passes broken up. He might have to play the slot or in the cover 2, but he looks like he can develop into a very good CB. He's also a mid round prospect with a projected round of 3.

Ahkello Witherspoon - He has good height and very good athletics. He has many passes broken up and very few passes completed. He doesn't get many interceptions and needs to get a little stronger as well. He's projected to go in the third round. 

FS

Branden Leston - He has great athletics and good size. His stats are also good with 90+ tackles for two years and 9 passes broken up his senior year. He's worth definitely pick up since he's projected as a RFA. He has the potential to become a starter.

Jason Thompson - He barely played football and started out as a QB. He is incredibly athletic though and should be taken as a RFA to see if he can be developed into a FS or SS.