Sunday Philadelphia Eagles NFL Mock Draft Roundup
By Dave Searles
Jan 1, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Trae Waynes (15) during warmups before the game against the Baylor Bears in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. The Spartans defeated the Bears 42-41. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
For fans of twenty eight teams, the NFL Draft is the next date circled on their brand new 2015 calendars. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia Eagles are one of those teams. While the road to a Lombardi Trophy isn’t making any stops at Lincoln Financial Field this season, mock draft season is out in full force and that’s usually enough to get by when we aren’t dreaming of potential free-agent signings.
Here’s what five writers around the internet are predicting for the 20th overall selection so far, and no, there are no signs of Oregon QB Marcus Mariota.
Walter Cherepinsky (WalterFootball.com) – CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State
The first of two Trae Waynes selections out of this group, I feel like he meets the perfect blend of need and value at the Eagles draft spot. It’s difficult to find any player in this mock draft that is more of a BPA candidate, too. Only Clemson edge rusher Vic Beasley comes to mind, but he’s undersized for a 3-4 OLB and wouldn’t necessarily fit Chip Kelly’s vision.
Charlie Campbell (WalterFootball.com) – S Landon Collins, Alabama
Here’s more of an ideal scenario, but it would rely on multiple teams making questionable Draft day decisions prior to the Eagles pick. If it were to happen, it’s a no-brainer, but too many teams need a safety in the first nineteen picks for me to feel confident about this happening.
Draft Tek (DraftTek.com) – OT La’el Collins, LSU
I’m not a fan of this selection at all, and I usually greatly enjoy reading DraftTek’s mock drafts. They are based on algorithms set to team needs and value, which actually generates some very realistic picks. In this case, the Eagles are forcing an OT selection over a severely-dropped Florida DE Dante Fowler, Jr. With the uncertainty of Trent Cole and Brandon Graham on top of the puzzling development of 2014 first round pick Marcus Smith II, passing on Fowler would be a severely shortsighted move.
Darren Page (Bleacher Report) – QB Brett Hundley, UCLA
I’m also not a fan of this pick, but it’s more due to shoehorning a need into a first round pick. With the tornado of varying opinions regarding Nick Foles, I’m still not convinced by any means that it’s a first round need. Nobody has yet to show me definitively why he is incapable of getting the Eagles to the next level, and any QB drafted in 2015 wouldn’t be able to do it until at least 2016, either. Some team will take Brett Hundley in the first round, likely in a late trade-up to prevent a team from scooping him up in the second, but 20th overall is too early to consider him for a team that still won ten games.
Matt Miller (Bleacher Report) – CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State
The second Trae Waynes selection, I still feel just as good about it as I did earlier. No agenda here and I’m not opposed to the Eagles selecting other positions or players, but no other mock draft here has really made a clear case, bombs-away pick that really “gets it” for the Eagles other than these two. Too many question marks in the other picks for my liking, or passing on potentially better players even though they don’t necessarily fit a need.
Now that we’re past the January 15th deadline for underclassmen declaring for the 2015 NFL Draft, I’ll be posting my first mock draft of the season next Sunday.
If you can’t get enough about potential Philadelphia Eagles prospects for the Draft, make sure you check out Inside the Iggles staff writer Anthony DiBona’s latest NFL Draft Profile. This week’s features an in-depth breakdown, as well as an interview with, South Alabama QB Brandon Bridge. Definitely a player to keep an eye on as we get closer to the Draft.