Dave’s Seven Round Philadelphia Eagles Mock Draft
By Dave Searles
Nov 10, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; General view of the NFL shield logo at midfield at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Round Five, 162nd Overall
The Pick: Walt Aikens, Liberty CB
Another small schooler joins the Philadelphia Eagles, with cornerback Walt Aikens getting the selection. I don’t believe the Eagles intend to address cornerback with a top pick, as there are pressing needs with great value elsewhere in the Draft and the Eagles already signed Nolan Carroll in the offseason to a two-year contract worth just over $5 million. Not major money, but there are four cornerbacks expected to contribute on the team as is, and that’s before factoring in Roc Carmichael or Curtis Marsh.
One of the things I enjoyed watching about Aikens the most was that he’s very good at adapting mid-play. If something doesn’t go the way it’s planned, it’s comforting to see that he doesn’t lose composure. He’s a bigger corner, standing 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, and also important is that he plays to his size. Too often there are cornerbacks with great physical traits that can’t seem to use it to their advantage, but Aikens is a corner who isn’t afraid to tackle or be hit. My concerns are that he doesn’t have elite speed and will occasionally give up the big play as well as not consistently standing out above the others at a smaller school. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it is definitely something to note when expecting a player to compete against the best.
If Walt Aikens were drafted to the Eagles, it’s an interesting situation. Currently, the depth chart is clogged with slightly above-average talent (Brandon Boykin being the only true stud of the group) and realistically he’ll be battling Roc Carmichael and Curtis Marsh for the fifth corner position to start. If he’s able to make the transition and stick in the NFL, he could be in the running for an increased role if the Eagles decide to move on from Cary Williams next year.