Eagle Eye Focus: Draft Recap

Eagles Draft Round up

Well the draft has arrived. T-23 hours when writing this until draft time. Unlike last year there are still many questions about where prospects are going to end up and all these rumors flying around about where they are going, potential trades, and quite frankly I am getting tired of it. Hopefully the NFL will return to the draft being in April next year. Its OK though because we are here. As for the Eagles, many rumors are flying and one is that the Eagles are seriously trying to get up to get one of the big time receivers. Odell Beckham Jr. is on the top of the list for the Eagles as we know now, but if you look into this deeper.....they could be going for Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans. Roseman would have to break the bank to get one of them since you would have to get into the top ten. However if they feel they could make the offense that much better, I would love to see Watkins in mid night green. A few potential trade suitors the Eagles could trade with are at fifth overall the Oakland Raiders, second overall St. Louis Rams, eleventh Tennessee Titans, and the seventeenth Baltimore Ravens. If the Eagles traded with the Titans or Ravens, I expect Cooks or Beckham Jr., but if it is the Raiders or Rams, it is Mike Evans or Sammy Watkins. Defense is still an option if they stay at 22, but I think even at 22, Marqise Lee is their guy. Well the NFL Draft is among us, I felt obligated to give my last write up before we dive into some NFL action once again. Go Birds!

Eagles targeting LSU Wide Receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

The Eagles are in full throttle for their draft coming up this Thursday, and they have hit the headlines this week with the report that Howie Roseman and the Eagles are talking with mid round teams to potentially move up for the speedy, versatile receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. who by the way is not only being touted by the Eagles. The San Francisco 49ers are also in hot pursuit of the receiver which to me is the more reasonable destination as the Eagles only hold 6 picks in this years draft. I would be perfectly fine if the Eagles stay put and settle for Marqise Lee or Kelvin Benjamin. I don't wanna break the bank on someone unless they truly believe he can be such a difference maker. If the Eagles could land Beckham Jr. it could add to this explosive offense that already features Lesean McCoy, Darren Sproles, Jeremy Maclin, Ertz, Cooper, etc the list goes on which is why it would be so much fun if Chip Kelly got another toy in this incredible toy box. I will keep Eagles Nation posted as more reports and rumors about the Eagles draft come out.

Eagles Mock Draft 1.0

Mock Drafts are all the rage over the past couple drafts, but instead of going team by team that you don't care about, lets get to the Birds picks shall we? Here on the first Eaglesportstalk Mock Draft I will give you my opinion on what the Eagles will do with their 6 picks in this years draft.

First Round #22: Kelvin Benjamin WR Florida State- A player that has huge size and explosive speed is an ideal fit for a team that needs size at receiver. Many put Brandin Cooks or Odell Beckham Jr. here to replace speed with speed, but with what Chip Kelly said about Desean and going in a new direction at WR, I think he wants to go size this time.



Second Round #54: Lamarcus Joyner S/CB Florida State- Chip Kelly loves versatility on both sides of the ball. Joyner defines just that with his undersize may be a concern at safety, he also started at corner and was a dominant hitter and turnover machine with the Seminoles. I don't buy that Joyner can't play safety. If you watch the tape he was great in pass protection and making sure his defense was set. He also was a big part of the run defense.



Third Round # 86: Marcus Smith OLB/DE Louisville- The Eagles met with Smith and reportedly like what they see. He can play both outside linebacker and end which the Eagles need with Trent Cole not being a traditional 3-4 OLB. Smith can drop back in coverage and be a nice rotational player opposite of Connor Barwin.


 Fourth Round #122: E.J Gaines CB Missouri- Joyner will play both safety and corner so the Eagles will hope to add more young depth at corner which they don't have. Gaines can develop and compete for a job in a year or two after Fletcher and/or Williams become incompetent.


 Fifth Round #162: Craig Loston SS LSU- To me if he is available a pure steal. Loston is a big hitting safety that is smart in reading coverage and helping in the run game. Loston would compete with Earl Wolff and Nate Allen for playing time next to Malcolm Jenkins.



 Seventh Round #237: Kevin Danser OG Standord- Mathis is on the trade block and the Eagles only have 3 viable backup lineman in Julian Vandervelde, Allen Barbe, and Dennis Kelly. Danser will provide depth.

Eagles Schedule Released

Check it out Eagles Nation!

Could the Eagles trade back?

The Eagles currently hold only 6 picks in the draft. With many needs on the defense and a low pick that could have Philadelphia going best player available, is there a real possibility that Howie Roseman and the Eagles pull the trigger on a trade with a QB needy team possibly trying to swoop up and grab a fallen Teddy Bridgewater or Derek Carr? This could be the perfect scenario to get more picks in the draft, and to have more second round picks that can add players like a Jordan Matthews, Davante Adams or defensive players like safeties Jimmie Ward and Deon Buccannon. At 22 I have been debating between a wide receiver and a outside linebacker, but honestly Kony Ealy and Dee Ford are more 4-3 defensive ends that might not even be there. Plus the receiver the Eagles like in Brandin Cooks will most likely be gone as the New York Jets are reportedly really interested in the speedy receiver. This is the year that many teams are trying to claw back into the first round and get in on this deep pool of players (At certain positions as linebacker is thin). Why not grab more picks and let the Jacksonville Jaguars get Teddy Bridgewater? If I'm the Eagles, I would field every call for the pick and pull the trigger on the right trade. Cleveland seems excited about Derek Carr so they would be happy staying at 26, but at 20 the Cardinals may take Carr which would push the Browns to trade up to get Bridgewater (Or vise versa) to get one of their quaterbacks. I don't see the Cardinals taking a QB but if they do, many teams will be calling up the Packers and Eagles to get Carr or Bridgewater or whoever has fallen as they will be the last of the "Big Four". There is my rant for the day. This years draft is exciting no? So much better talking about all these trades and quaterbacks and receivers instead of those pesky offensive tackles. Go Birds!

Odell Beckham Jr. vs Marqise Lee vs Brandin Cooks

The Eagles don't have Desean Jackson anymore which means they need to replace a explosive receiver to go along with Cooper and Maclin. Luckily for the Eagles, the draft is full of talented receivers in fact many draft experts say it is the deepest draft of receivers in a long time. So the question is if the Eagles will choose to take one with their first round pick or go into the second and third and target a receiver like Allen Robinson or Paul Richardson. Potentially at 22, the Eagles could have a couple guys available that would be instant play makers, but which one best suits the Eagles out of Odell Beckham Jr., Marqise Lee, and Brandin Cooks. First lets talk about Lee. Coming out of his junior year he was seen as the best receiver in college. Unfortunately a unproductive senior year due to a QB conundrum has hurt Lee's draft stock. With explosive speed and route running, Lee could fit perfectly in Chip Kelly's offense, but his hands are a concern to many scouts as he dropped a lot of passes in his senior year. I expect Lee to be a low first round pick that could suit the Eagles liking. I personally like Brandin Cooks a lot better. Cooks came out of Oregon State last year with over sixteen hundred yards receiving and 16 touchdowns. He is clearly not just a slot receiver because of his size. He played all over the place in college which is exactly why he is loved by Chip Kelly. The question with Cooks is if he will even be there at 22. Other teams have shown a lot of interest in Cooks including the New York Jets who met with Cooks this week. Odell Beckham Jr. is the player I could see the Eagles taking. With his home run speed that allows him to punt and kick return as well, not to mention he is much taller than Desean Jackson was, Beckham could be a nice fit in this offense. Kelly has shown interest in getting bigger at receiver so Beckham could be his guy at 22 if Cooks is not available. Kelvin Benjamin is another player the Eagles have expressed interest in, but at 22 it is a bit of a reach. After looking at how Maclin and Cooper play at receiver, I would say that Brandin Cooks is the perfect fit in this receiving core, but the guy that will most likely be available is Odell Beckham Jr. and I would be perfectly fine with that pick.