On April 30, 2015, in Chicago, the dead period in the NFL offseason will unceremoniously come to an end with the start of the NFL Draft. At the Novacare Complex, Chip Kelly & the newly-aligned Eagles front office have gotten a head start on spring cleaning: tempestuously turning over the Andy Reid-era roster and clearing space for things anew.
With the draft looming, several of the Eagledelphia writers have put together a 7-round mock draft. While Mariota is the name on everyone’s mind, the truth remains that the price is going to be incredibly steep to land the Oregon quarterback unless he unexpectedly drops in the draft. No trades were allowed during the draft, so the writers were forced to make their picks based on the Eagles’ current draft positions. Let’s get to it.
Round 1, (Pick #20 overall)
Patrick Causey: Nelson Agholor, WR, USC: I wanted the Eagles to target the safety position here, but as I will explain in more detail later this week, Landon Collins is the only viable first round safety, but his limited coverage skills make him a mismatch for the Eagles scheme. Enter Agholor. He reminds me a lot of the recently departed Jeremy Maclin. They are the same height (6’0), ran almost identical 40s (4.42 v. 4.45), are known for being precise route runners, and not known for having elite speed/separation skills. Agholor also checks off a lot of other “Chipisms”: he is a smart, high character guy with versatility, as he is known to be a great punt returner. He has also drawn comparisons to future Hall of Famer Reggie Wayne by numerous media outlets, which isn't too bad if you ask me.
Michael Coggin: Byron Jones, DB, Connecticut: A breakout Combine performance in February was enough to draw Chip Kelly, Ed Marynowitz, Billy Davis, & Tom Donahue away from Florida State’s talent-riddled Pro Day: instead opting to visit Jones in the friendly confines of Storrs, Connecticut. Jones (6’0”, 197 lbs) has the size & secondary utility—having played both cornerback & safety for the Huskies—the Eagles covet. Combine this with the raw athleticism seen in the spider chart (via Mockdraftable.com) below and you’ve got a guy that adds to an overhauled back end of the defense.
JR Cummings: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State – If he stays pat at 20, I think Chip Kelly may be disappointed that a number of his secondary targets may go off the board early unless he wants to reach for possible problem child Marcus Peters. Instead, with the need for a wide receiver after chickening out at the bargaining table with incumbent Jeremy Maclin, Chip will go with Philly native Strong. At 6-3, 215, he's the right size and would provide a different kind of red zone presence than Jordan Matthews did last year in the slot. If Trae Wayne's drops to 20, he is a definite possibility. Sorry Mariota truthers, it's not happening
Round 2, (#52)
JR: AJ Cann, OG, South Carolina – This may be pure optimism that Cann drops this far, but I think Kelly goes offensive line early in this draft. First of all. He's trying to trade Evan Mathis, while forgetting about the fact that he still has a self-created hole at the other guard slot whe he cut Todd Heremanns. Cann is the consensus top guard in this year’s draft, and if he's available, he'll likely start from day one. If Cann is off the board, a distinct possibility, Laken Tomlinson is another guard out of Duke that could be a possibility.
Patrick: Jake Fisher, T, Oregon: Yes, he went to Oregon, but make no mistake: he is a first round talent, and if the Eagles can get him in round 2, they would be ecstatic. Fisher is an athletic offensive lineman that excels in a zone blocking run scheme and has the versatility Chip Kelly craves (with experience playing guard and tackle). With the loss of Todd Herramens and potential departure of Evan Mathis, the Eagles could use a “well-schooled tackle who can come in and compete for a starting position right away.”
Michael: Nelson Agholor, WR, USC: It would be a surprise if Agholor lasted to #52 overall. The more likely situation is that someone farther down on this list doesn’t get drafted because the Eagles trade up to acquire a guy they seemingly love. Agholor caught over 100 balls for over 1,300 yards & 12 touchdowns last season at USC and has experience returning kickoffs & punts. Add him to Jordan Matthews, Josh Huff & Zach Ertz…wow.
Round 3, (#84)
Michael: Cedric Ogbuehi, OL, Texas A&M: The Eagles finally draft an offensive lineman. Ogbuehi has shown he has the athleticism & versatility Kelly likes: having played right guard in addition to both tackle spots in his career with A&M. Ogbuehi tore his ACL in the Liberty Bowl last year &, if he slides this far, is an absolute steal in the third round.
JR:Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State – Clearly a safety is needed at some point, but the birds are positioned awkwardly in the draft to get good value on one without reaching. Instead, Chip continues the youth movement along the offensive line, drafting Jason Peters' possible replacement. Sambrailo, a youth freestyle skiing champion, has some character issues that will need thorough investigation (off-campus knife fight, allegedly beat up four freshman at a party). He would be excellent value in the third round and would benefit from a year sitting and learning behind Peters and Lane Johnson.
Patrick: Eric Rowe, S/CB, Utah: versatility is key for Chip, and Eric Rowe has it in spades. He played his first three years of college football at corner before converting to safety in his senior year. He has the requisite length Chip Kelly desires in the secondary, standing at 6’1, 205 pounds with 31 1/2 inch arms, and he excels in playing press man coverage, using length and aggressiveness to jam receivers at the line.
Round 4, (#113)
Patrick: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon: I swear I am not just picking every Oregon player available. At the start of last season, Ekpre-Olomu was considered one of the top corner prospects in this draft; a potential first round pick with an elite, albeit imperfect skill set. While he lacks ideal size to play on the outside (5’9, 192 lbs) and is coming off a serious knee injury, he was an absolute stud when healthy. He earned consensus All-American and first team All Pac-12 honors in 2014, as well as first team Pack-12 honors in 2012 and 2013. If the Eagles can nab him in round 4, he could be one of the steals of this draft.
Michael: Damarious Randall, S, Arizona State: It’s no secret this is a weak safety draft class: which explains Kelly going so hard after Devin McCourty when free agency opened. Even still, the Eagles need to spend a pick on one somewhere because they are grasping at straws with what is currently on the roster opposite Malcolm Jenkins. Randall (5’11”, 196 lbs) doesn’t have the size Kelly likes: but between him & Byron Jones you have puzzle pieces to play with.
JR: Josh Shaw, CB, USC – Yes, he's the guy who made up the story about saving his drowning nephew. As a result of this bizarre episode, his draft stock has dropped approximately two rounds. This screams value, something Chip Kelly clearly covers after this offseason. Shaw has the size to possibly transition to safety, which would be appropriate since he hits and tackles like one. Tre McBride, a receiver out of William & Mary could be an option here as well.
Round 5, (#145)
JR: Tyler Kroft, TE, Rutgers – Tight End is an incredibly weak position this year, so the Eagles can wait until the later rounds to get good value. Despite Brent Celek being one of Chip's favorite players, he's very much in the same class as Todd Heremanns and Trent Cole as far as mileage, and he no longer is the pass catcher he used to be. Looking forward, Kelly will look to find a replacement. Kroft, who is 6-5 with excellent hands, is the kind of player Chip Kelly loves. At 240 pounds, he also has the girth to develop into a competent blocker at the tight end position.
Patrick: Chris Conley, WR, Georgia: several outlets have him going as high as the third round after he blew up the combine like a piñata at a 12-year old birthday party. The 6’2, 213 pound wide receiver ran a blistering 4.35 40, and set wide receiver records for the standing vertical leap (45 inches), and broad jump (11 feet, 7 inches). That’s just absurd. But I think the third round is a little too high for a guy who did not dominate in college. Admittedly, part of that was a byproduct of playing in a run heavy offense, but I think the 4th-5th round is a realistic bet. Conley has elite high end speed and is quick off the ball as well. But he is not just a speed guy: he is also known for his smooth route running. Add the fact that he is known as a great character guy with a strong work ethic (he was selected as the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee rep two years in a row), and it is easy to see why the Eagles brought him in for a workout. If they can nab Conley here, the Eagles will have a dynamic group of young wide receivers in Jordan Matthews, Josh Huff, Nelson Agoholor, and Conley, turning a weakness into a long term strength. Check out this vine of his combine performance, if you’re into that sort of thing:
Michael: David Cobb, RB, Minnesota: Sproles is getting up there & Chris Polk could very well be a trade chip come draft weekend. In Cobb, the Eagles get younger & gain some contractual control in their running corps. He had an incredibly productive career in the Big-10: averaging over 5 yards per carry for a total that eclipses 2,600 yards the last two seasons. Mix in 21 rushing touchdowns in a grind-it-out Big-10 conference, and you have a match for Kelly’s rushing style.
Round 5, (#156)
Michael: Blake Bell, TE, Oklahoma: Chip’s run on former Sooner’s continues as Bell follows Bradford & Murray into town. Bell is the capable blocker that could take over for an aging Brent Celek moving forward. Bell played his first three years at QB: a trait we know Kelly loves in his draft picks (see: Lane Johnson, Marcus Smith, etc.). Only downside, according to NFL.com, is his weakness “as a drive blocker & edge sealer.”
JR: Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford – A return specialist, Montgomery could instantly be put in as the exclusive kickoff return specialist and eventually replace Darren Sproles on punt returns when he inevitably loses a step. Might not have what it takes to be an NFL receiver, but if he can't find a niche as the next Dante Hall or Devin Hester, it will be well worth a 5th round pick.
Patrick: Kurtis Drummond, S, Michigan State. Just four months ago, if you told me the Eagles would land Drummond in the fifth round I would have told you that you are nuts. The Eagles worked out Drummond early in the draft process when he was widely considered one of the top safety prospects in the draft. And he had the hardware to prove it, being named the 2014 Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and Third-team AP All-American. Drummond has incredible ball skills for a safety (25 passes defended and 8 interceptions over the last two years), but his stock has dropped considerably because he did not perform well at the combine. Every year, a handful of extremely productive college players drop in the draft because they don’t shine at the combine, but turn out to be great pros. I expect Drummond to be one of those players.
Round 6, (#195)
Patrick: Obum Gwacham, DE/OLB, Oregon St: Remember this name, even if the Eagles do not draft him. He is an absolute freak of nature that has elite athleticism that makes defensive coordinators salivate. His problem? He was a wide receiver until last year, so he has only one year’s worth experience rushing the passer. He is another high character guy with a strong work ethic, and if given time, could blossom into a solid NFL player.
Michael: Sean Mannion, QB, Oregon State: Chip knows this guy and knows him well. In 2012, Mannion completed 31 of 49 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown facing a Kelly-led Oregon squad. Incidentally, he tossed four interceptions in that game. Tell me if this sounds like a Kelly QB-type (thanks to NFL.com): “Tall, rhythm thrower who shows an ability to play with confidence & accuracy when used as a game manager within an offense featuring a strong rushing attack.” Replied Chip Kelly: “Dibs!”
JR: Adrian Amos, S, Penn State – Another secondary tweener, Amos has good size and showed versatility as State College shifting between safety and corner. Could be a solid special teamer for years.
Round 7, (#237)
JR: Bryan Bennett, QB/S, Southeastern Louisiana – If at all possible, Chip will flip Barkley for any pick possible and draft a quarterback. Bennett, who lost out to Marcus Mariota while at Oregon, played under Chip Kelly before transferring and would fill his Oregon quota in the draft.
Patrick: Bryan Bennett, QB, Southeastern Louisiana: Chip Kelly gets one of his former quarterbacks from Oregon, just not that quarterback. Bennett would likely be brought in to compete with Matt Barkley as the Eagles third quarterback, and given his experience in a spread option attack, he might make a competition out of it. He would be a prime candidate for the practice squad as a player the Eagles can groom long term as their backup quarterback.
Michael: Obum Gwacham, OLB/DE, Oregon State: Here’s another edge defender with playing roots on the offensive side of the ball. Gwacham started out as a WR before being moved: which explains his 4.72 40-yard dash at the combine. He is another PAC-10 guy Kelly is likely familiar with: a trend which may soon stop as Kelly enters his third year away from the college game.
Results:
Michael:
- Byron Jones, DB, Connecticut
- Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
- Cedric Ogbuehi, OL, Texas A&M
- Damarious Randall, S, Arizona State
- David Cobb, RB, Minnesota
- Blake Bell, TE, Oklahoma
- Sean Mannion, QB, Oregon State
- Obum Gwacham, OLB/DE, Oregon State
JR:
- Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
- AJ McCann, OG, South Carolina
- Ty Sambrailo, OT, Colorado State
- Josh Shaw, CB, USC
- Tyler Kroft, TE, Rutgers
- Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford
- Adrian Amos, S, Penn State
- Bryan Bennett, QB/S, Southeastern Louisiana
Patrick:
- Nelson Agholor, WR, USC
- Jake Fisher, T, Oregon
- Eric Rowe, S/CB, Utah
- Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon
- Chris Conley, WR, Georgia
- Kurtis Drummond, S, Michigan State
- Obum Gwacham, DE/OLB, Oregon St
- Bryan Bennett, QB, Southeastern Louisiana
