Eagles Mock Draft: 7-Round Best Draft: Elliot to the Rescue

Who will the Eagles draft?

We are just under six weeks away from the NFL Draft and as news floods in about potential prospects, major question are still looming about who might the Philadelphia Eagles draft. There are good ways to draft and, as we saw with outside linebacker Marcus Smith, bad ways to draft. Here is an Eagles-only seven round mock draft with potential targets for the Birds.

Round 1 (8th Overall): Ezekiel Elliot, RB Ohio State

Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Evan Spencer (6) and running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) react following Elliot /

With the Eagles’ first pick they have a few options but none are better than Ezekiel Elliot. I was skeptical when I first heard the possibility of a running back in round one. However, the more I hear about Elliot the more I hear he could be a generational talent.

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While there have been star running backs in later rounds there have also been busts, but Elliot looks like the real deal. With Elliot as their running back, the Eagles could recapture the magic they had in the McNabb-Westbrook days with a Bradford-Elliot one-two punch.

As for the other talent in the first round, the two other options I see still available at pick eight are Notre Dame’s offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and Florida’s cornerback Vernon Hargreaves. However, Stanley would be a liability at guard even though he is an elite talent at tackle and would likely have to redshirt a season until offensive tackle Jason Peters retires, or step in if Peters gets hurt.

Hargreaves, meanwhile, is not the talent that Elliot is and is less of a pressing need following the re-signing of cornerback Nolan Carroll.

Round 3 (77th Overall): Joshua Perry, ILB/OLB Ohio State

Sep 19, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Joshua Perry (37) during the game versus the Northern Illinois Huskies at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

Another Ohio State player? Yes, because while the Eagles have found their other starting linebacker in Nigel Bradham they need depth desperately and Perry is a potential star. Perry is versatile as he can play any linebacker spot in any scheme and he is very talented, the only issue with this pick is that some team might scoop him up earlier. If Perry is gone, a potential replacement either here or a little bit later is Temple’s Tyler Matakevich.

Round 3 (79th Overall): Christian Westerman, OG/OT Arizona State

Sep 25, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils offensive lineman Christian Westerman (55) holds an Arizona flag as he leads his team onto the field prior to the game against the UCLA Bruins at Sun Devil Stadium. UCLA defeated Arizona State 62-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Westerman, in my opinion, is the biggest steal at offensive line in this draft. After signing offensive guard Brandon Brooks the Eagles are one lineman away from a more than capable line after their disaster from a year ago. Westerman can immediately slot in and start at left guard, and should Jason Peters go down with yet another injury, he has the talent to play right tackle while offensive tackle Lane Johnson slides over to left and fill in. Westerman is the best guard in this draft and would be a steal for the Eagles.

Round 4 (100th Overall): Xavien Howard, CB Baylor

Oct 18, 2014; Morgantown, WV, USA; Baylor Bears cornerback Xavien Howard (4) signals they had recovered the fumble during the first quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Howard is a player who I have liked for a while now, and should be here for the Eagles. The only “issue” is that he had a really nice pro day and might get bumped up on some boards. Howard is a very talented prospect, but lacks consistency from game to game. However, he will begin his career as a depth player and can be groomed into a very good starting cornerback.

From talent alone, he should be a second round pick, but his inconsistency and game tape is what allows him to fall here for the Eagles.

Another idea here that I personally like is Florida State kicker Robert Aguayo. I know that drafting a kicker this early seems ridiculous, but especially last year it was hard to find consistency at kicker for a lot of teams including the Eagles who lost more than a couple games with missed field goals.

Aguayo is the best kicking prospect in the past century and would immediately a top, if not the top kicker in the NFL. Look for him to go anywhere from the third to fifth round on draft day.

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Round 5 (153rd Overall): Hassan Ridgeway, DT Texas

Sep 6, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway (98) reacts after a sack against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports /

Ridgeway would be at the latest a third rounder any other year. The Eagles need to take advantage of depth at defensive tackle and find a rotational piece at DT to make their defensive line elite and perhaps replace Bennie Logan when his contract is up.

Round 5 (164th Overall): Brandon Allen, QB Arkansas

Jan 30, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad quarterback Brandon Allen of Arkansas (10) throws a pass during second half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

Brandon Allen is my favorite quarterback in the draft from a value standpoint. The Eagles have not been shy about the idea of finding a young quarterback to groom at some point in this draft and Allen is the perfect one. I knew very little about Allen until I saw him in the Senior Bowl where he was one of, if not the most impressive quarterback come game day. After watching some of his game tape I can confidently say that he should be a target for the Eagles (Even if he has smaller hands).

Round 6 (188th Overall): Graham Glasgow, C/OG Michigan

Nov 29, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Michael Bennett (63) is held by Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (61) at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 42-28. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /

Glasgow is not a star by any means but he would be more than a capable starter. The Eagles would have to move up a bit to get Glasgow, probably into the fifth round. Even then it would be lucky for him to be there. Perhaps they give their sixth from this and next year, but it would be worth it. Glasgow is a capable starter and excellent depth he can play either guard or center in case of an injury and would one day be a solid starter.

In the very possible scenario that Glasgow is gone, other options are USC center Max Tuerk, who has fallen due to injury. Missouri offensive guard Connor McGovern could also be an option.

Round 7 (230th Overall): Geronimo Allison, WR Illinois

Oct 10, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Geronimo Allison (8) runs for a touchdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the this quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa beat Illinois 29-20. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /

Allison is by no means a star wide receiver, but he was very solid at the Senior Bowl and would be an excellent depth pick to be a fourth or fifth receiver for the Eagles. He offers size and athleticism at a point in the draft where this is usually hard to find.

Round 7 (248th Overall): Derek Watt, FB/TE Wisconsin

Sep 5, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Wisconsin Badgers fullback Derek Watt (34) runs the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium. Alabama won 35-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

The Eagles need a full back. They have survived without one in the Chip Kelly era, but in a west coast offense, they need one. Glenn Gronkowski and Dan Vitale are two better options but will likely be gone at this point and Watt is more than capable of being a starting full back. Not to mention, the brother of a famous defensive end from Houston.

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