By Jesse Larch, Sports Talk Philly Staff 
The first round will be filled with defensive talent, so it is appropriate that this week we look at three defensive players for the Eagles to target in with the 14th overall pick.
In 2016, The Eagles defense ranked 12th in yards allowed per game, and 11th in points allowed, but those numbers are skewed. The Eagles defense was downright dominant at times last season, and at other times they seemed entirely inept, specifically in the passing game. The Eagles offense received a boost this offseason with the additions of Chance Warmack, Torrey Smith, and Alshon Jeffery. The defense has added veterans Chris Long and Patrick Robinson to the fold. Both should help, but it is likely that neither will be good enough to solve the problems that the team had on defense last season.
This week we will look at two cornerbacks, Quincy Wilson from Florida, and Gareon Conley from Ohio State, as well as linebacker Reuben Foster from Alabama.
CB Quincy Wilson, Florida
6'1", 211lbs, 4.54 40 yard dash, 32" vertical, 14 bench reps
Quincy Wilson is a confident cornerback who enjoys facing the other team's top receiver as much as possible. At Florida, he formed one of the best cornerback duos in the country with Teez Tabor. Wilson and Tabor both have slid in draft rankings after both being in the discussion for the first cornerback taken.
Wilson displays incredible toughness and strength. He wins battles with force rather than athleticism. He also has displayed exceptional ball skills, with three interceptions and six pass breakups last season and six interceptions and 14 pass breakups over three years of play in the SEC.
Wilson also shows very good instincts in the run game with three and a half tackles for loss last season.
His physicality and toughness could be very appealing to Jim Schwartz's straight-forward approach on defense, but with Wilson there is also reason to believe that his physical nature will translate to penalties when covering NFL receivers.
The Eagles have recently signed Patrick Robinson, presumably to start, but it will be surprising if they do not take a cornerback with one of their first two picks even with Robinson in the fold.
CB Gareon Conley, Ohio State
6'0", 195lbs, 4.44 40 yard dash, 37.0" vertical, 11 bench reps,
Like Wilson, Gareon Conley has been predicted to go in a wide range of spots in the first round and is efficient in press and man coverage.
Unlike Wilson, Conley possesses 4.4 speed.
That speed, coupled with his ability to get his arms extended on a receiver have solidified Conley as a first round talent this April. Conley combines his speed and length to make plays on the ball consistently. Over the past two seasons, he has six interceptions and 13 pass breakups.
Conley needs to work on his route recognition, as he can be turned around and forced to play with his back to the ball. He also struggles to diagnose and attack on running plays.
As previously stated, the Robinson signing is security and the Eagles are still expected to pursue a cornerback, or two, early in the draft.
ILB Reuben Foster, Alabama
6'0", 229lbs, did not participate in combine
Reuben Foster is viewed as one of the truly elite talents in the NFL draft. He played in the middle of another dominant Nick Saban defense at powerhouseAlabama, and all signs point to him being a force to be reckoned with at the next level.
Foster is a violent hitter who always makes his presence known. In addition to his hitting, he is also one of the mos athletic linebackers in the country, displaying an ability to play downhill, registering 115 tackles last season, or drop into coverage seamlessly, collecting nine pass breakups over two seasons with only one of the seasons spent as the every day starter.
Foster was a lock for the top-10, and he still is to many scouts, but he appears on this list as a target for the Eagles at 14 because of his combine week.
At the combine, Foster was expected to wow scouts and solidify is draft status, but and argument with a combine official cause Foster to get kicked out of the combine.
If Foster does fall to the Eagles at 14, they cannot pass him up. Although linebacker is not the biggest need for the eagles, Foster is a game changing player and would form a truly elite linebacker duo with Jordan Hicks, with both capable of playing in the middle or outside and some feeling that either Hicks or Foster is better suited to play outside than in the middle.
