Chip Kelly’s type of guys?

It’s speculation season in the NFL: or “silly season,” if you’re Chip Kelly. Regardless the clever moniker, this is the time of year that drives page-views through the roof & will cause a person to develop callouses on whichever finger they use to refresh their Twitter feed…index finger, here. This year, especially, these callouses were well earned as Kelly, along with Ed Marynowitz, have been busy turning over the Andy Reid roster this offseason. We all know the moves that have been made: no need to rehash. The assumption is that any remaining holes on the roster—at wide receiver, offensive line, in the secondary, etc.—will be filled internally or through the draft. As we get closer, the rumors will only grow& speculation will only mount.

The only valid source of information that we, as fans, have is what we hear from the Eagles’ front office. (Not that anyone considers the words coming from Kelly & Co. valid or even remotely true).  Even still, let’s comb through Kelly’s actions in an attempt to identify a draft strategy.

Listed above are the draft picks made during Chip Kelly’s tenure as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.  Though he claims Howie Roseman was the one calling the shots, the information above is telling.  In all, seven of the 15 draft picks made were from the PAC 12.  Kelly had intimate knowledge of these players either as former Ducks or former conference competitors.  Of the other eight guys on the list, the Kelly-led, Oregon Ducks had played meaningful games against two of them: Bennie Logan & Beau Allen.  We also know that Kelly thought Odell Beckham Jr was the top prospect in the 2014 NFL draft.  It is no coincidence that on September 23^rd, 2011, Beckham was a member of the LSU team that beat Chip’s Ducks in Baton Rouge by a score of 40-27. 

Take a look at the available data above.  The hard streets of New Hampshire must have been touch on Kelly in his developmental years because he doesn’t exactly gravitate toward college dropouts.  The average number of games played by Kelly draft picks is 41.9 games.

There are several draft prospects in this year’s draft who were playing meaningful snaps while Chip Kelly was still coaching at Oregon.  The guys below are also guys who spent at least three years in college & played in at least 35 games.

NOTE: We won’t get into Marcus Mariota here.  Everyone knows his deal.  We also won’t get into any Oregon Ducks (that’s another post coming) or guys the Eagles have no legitimate chance at drafting (such as Leonard Williams, for example).  These may be a couple guys that Kelly targets come April:

Sean Mannion (QB – Oregon State) 31 of 49 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown in a losing effort to Kelly’s 2012 Oregon team. Incidentally, he also threw four interceptions. 

Nelson Agholor (WR – Southern Cal) caught six passes for 162 yards and one touchdown in USC’s 2012 loss to Chip Kellys Ducks.

Shaq Thompson (LB – Washington) registered 4 solo & eight total tackles, including one for a loss, in a 52-21 blowout loss to Oregon on October 6^th, 2012.  He also intercepted a Mariota pass in the game.

Xavier Cooper (DT – Washington State) registered two tackles for loss in a home loss to Oregon on September 29^th, 2012. 

Tyler Lockett (WR – Kansas State) caught four passes for 35 yards in a losing effort facing Kelly’s Ducks in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl.  Though small at 5’10” he can stretch the field from the slot & contribute in punt/kick returns.

Josh Shaw (CB – Southern Cal) started his junior year against Chip Kelly when the Ducks played in Los Angeles in November, 2012.  He meets the Kelly measurables at 6’0” & 200 lbs.

Derron Smith (S – Fresno State) played out of his mind in a September loss against Oregon back in 2012.  Though just 5’10” tall, he led the Bulldogs with 13 total tackles: 10 of which were solo.

BJ Finney (C/G – Kansas State) started 52 games in college & was another Wildcat competing against Kelly’s Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl. 

Jamil Douglas (G – Arizona State) has the versatility to play either left guard or tackle.  Started 40 consecutive games at Arizona State; including several losses to Kelly’s Ducks.  Made the All-PAC-12 first team & All-PAC 12 academic first team in his senior year after switching to left tackle.

This is certainly not a comprehensive list.  But—based on who Kelly has drafted— these represent some probable candidates for Kelly in this year’s draft.