Philadelphia Eagles Draft Easter Eggs Could Be Well Hidden
By Matt Giraldi
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has proven to be an enigma wrapped in a paradox. His offensive schemes and tendencies have proven pundits incorrect, and his roster management has left fans and beat-writers in the dark. As we approach the four week mark until the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, private workouts and meetings between teams and players are reaching a zenith. Chip Kelly however isn’t going to make it that easy to determine what players are clearly on the Philadelphia Eagles’ radar.
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According to Walter Football, the Philadelphia Eagles met with 49 draft prospects prior to last year’s NFL draft. Of the seven players drafted by the Eagles, only three met with the team prior to the draft (Marcus Smith, Jaylen Watkins, and Taylor Hart). Meeting and working out with players provides the coaches their due diligence. It does not necessarily mean anything more. One thing that I did took notice of was the fact that the Eagles met with several top prospects at positions they drafted.
Surely Chip Kelly and company were crossing all their t’s and dotting the i’s, but maybe they realize that the differential between a Jordan Matthews and Mike Evans might not be as big as 35 draft spots. And if this current offseason has taught us anything, it’s that bang for your buck is a key component to how the Philadelphia Eagles are shaping their roster.
Perhaps the most startling aspect of the pre-draft ritual has been the positions that the Eagles have met with. Wide receivers once again rule the roost, and there is a small mix of defensive backs, linebackers, and linemen (both offensive and defensive). Unfortunately, the safety position, which most Eagles fans have clamored for, is surprising vacant sans Arizona State prospect Damarious Randall.
Randall has shown his ability to be a center-fielder, and while his size is somewhat suspect, he certainly could be a target for Philadelphia in the second or third round. Once again, for the hype that Alabama safety Landon Collins has received, if the Eagles believe that Randall could be a similar talent to be had nearly 30 picks later, expect Chip to stick to his plan.
As for the aforementioned wide receivers, the Eagles have their second meeting today with USC wide receiver Nelson Agholor. If you are unfamiliar with Agholor, be sure to check out Rotoviz’s comparison of he and another wide receiver prospect, Jaelen Strong (whom has also met with the Eagles). Projected to be a second round pick, Nelson Agholor would bolster the Eagles wide receiving core, and fulfill Chip Kelly’s quota of Pac-12 players in the draft.
Again, value will dictate the the Eagles path in the draft. Players unexpectedly fall due to unforeseen circumstances. Judging solely on precedent, I don’t foresee the Philadelphia Eagles targeting big name players just to appease the fans (Sorry Landon Collins). While we all want the team to succeed and draft the best players available, only Chip Kelly and his coaching staff knows which players project the best in their system. Keep that in mind prior to booing an unexpected draftee or any player that hails from the Pac-12…because if there is one thing we all know for certain, Chip loves players from the Pac-12 to be a part of the Philadelphia Eagles.