Eagles Need To Trade Up In The 2014 NFL Draft
Nov 2, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Darqueze Dennard (31) raises his had before a play during the third quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Spartan Stadium. Spartans beat the Wolverines 29-6. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Calvin Pryor, and Mike Evans, all player that could make an impact on the Eagles roster. Unfortunately for the Eagles, the chances of any of those players being available when the Eagles select at 22 is highly unlikely.
To be a good team in the NFL, sometimes you need to take chances. Those chances can sometimes come back to haunt you, but taking those chances spreads a message, the message that you are willing to do whatever it takes to make your team better.
The Eagles sit at an awkward spot at 22 overall. They can either, a) wait and see if somebody that was expected to go high, falls to them, they can b) take a player that fills a need, or they could c) try to trade down and possibly out of the first round.
With the departure of DeSean Jackson, the Eagles now have a gaping hole at wide receiver, and don’t think we forgot about that other gaping hole that the Eagles have in the secondary. If the Eagles fill on of those needs at 22, sure they will get a good player who will turn into a solid starter, but if the Eagles want to take that next level and compete with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, the Eagles need to take a great player who can turn into an elite starter.
Not to say that the Eagles can’t find that at 22, the chances of it happening however, are higher if the Eagles trade up to take a great prospect in a talent filled draft. According to a report on SB nation, the 49ers could be very aggressive in the draft, and they sit further behind the Eagles at 30.
One problem and the biggest difference in the 49ers and Eagles, is that, while the 49ers have 11 picks, the Eagles have only six, which isn’t a lot of breathing room to move up, however the reward could certainly be worth it.
As mentioned earlier, the Eagles desperately need a wide receiver as well as pieces in the secondary. Mike Evans will likely be gone no later than 13, Clinton-Dix will not make it past Pittburgh at 15, Pryor could drop to the late teens, but I don’t see him making it to the Eagles, and if the Eagles want a top corner, they will likely need to trade up to get Darqueze Dennard.
Four players high on the Eagles draft board will all likely be gone before the Eagles even get a chance to pick. At 22 their options are limited and earlier on Inside The Iggles, we have the Eagles taking wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
That is a good option for the Eagles, but Chip Kelly needs to add size to this offense and Cooks is only 5’10, not saying that he won’t have a successful career because of his size as small receivers can have good careers, but a big target for Foles would be nice.
The Eagles have some big needs that they will need to fill in the draft. As much as some fans would like the Eagles to trade up nine spots to get Evans or Clinton-Dix, it’s just not likely. The most likely scenario that the Eagles trade up is if Dennard is still on the board and is a few spots away and there is a risk that a team could take him. In that scenario the Eagles aren’t breaking the bank trying to trade up they’d likely only need to give up a later round draft pick.
The Eagles right now are favorites to win the NFC East next year, as they should be. They can’t completely disregard their rivals in the division, but they need to find ways to compete with the defenses of the Seahawks and 49ers if they want to win a Super Bowl.
The only way to do that is to get bigger and physical. If Evans somehow falls to the mid-late teens, Clinton-Dix falls past the Steelers and Cowboys, or Dennard is in risk of being taken, it would be wise for head coach Chip Kelly and general manager Howie Roseman to do what it takes, make the risky move, and trade up.