Dave’s Seven Round Philadelphia Eagles Mock Draft

Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Detroit Lions former running back Barry Sanders (left) and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announce the Lions

Round Three, 86th Overall

The Pick: Jordan Tripp, Montana ILB (6’3, 234)

I understand the initial instinct to be apprehensive with the Philadelphia Eagles and third round picks. Prior to selecting starting nose tackle Bennie Logan in 2013 and appearing to have hit a homerun in 2012 with quarterback Nick Foles, the Eagles completely whiffed their previous three third round picks (CB Curtis Marsh, 2011; DE Daniel T’eo-Nesheim, 2010; Bryan Smith, 2008.)

Linebacker Jordan Tripp has been linked to the Philadelphia Eagles since the Senior Bowl, and has steadily remained on the radar throughout each offseason event since. Tripp is a fundamental tackler, something the Eagles have needed for years, as well as having what I consider to be above average block shedding. He definitely qualifies as a “high motor” player, but unlike previous Eagles who were given that dreaded moniker, it’s not the gasping-for-straws type where that’s the primary selling point.

Tripp’s initial ceiling for 2014 is what you’d expect from a third round pick: an opportunity to make an impact on Special Teams as well as competing for the third ILB position with Najee Goode and the returning Jason Phillips. He shouldn’t have a difficult time winning that job, and that’s no slight to Goode or Phillips. The main criticism of this pick would be that Tripp played at Montana. Obviously that’s no Alabama, but a good football player is a good football player and the Eagles could use more of those everywhere on defense.