A closer look at Leonard Fournette and pick 14

We still have no idea what the Eagles are thinking in reference to the 14th pick.

Could former LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette be an option at pick 14? Don’t rule it out. We’ll probably be asking this until the NFL Draft arrives. What do the Philadelphia Eagles do with their first-round selection?

We’ve ruled out the possibility of them taking a wide receiver (we think). Then again, many of the current mocks disagree. One question that’s surfaced frequently is whether or not the Eagles would be interested in Fournette if he’s still available once the Eagles are on the clock with the 14th selection.

The case for and against Fournette:

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Fournette answers a question the Eagles have had for quite some time. Where’s this team going to find someone who can chew up clock at the end of games or move the chains in short-yardage situations?

Fournette, on the surface, appears to be the obvious answer. At times, during his collegiate career, he appeared to be a man amongst boys.

Then again, there aren’t any boys in the NFL. Every week, you face the best athletes in the world (even if you play the league’s worst teams). Fournette ran over and around guys in Baton Rouge. That’s not going to happen as often at the next level.

There’s been a spotlight on Fournette for quite some time. Being dubbed “the next Adrian Peterson” following your senior year of high school will do that. Still, there’s enough tape on him now to see that he’s clearly a first round level talent.

There’s also enough tape to see some issues with versatility, his ability to change direction and his output against better teams. Against lesser talent, he bounced off of tacklers and ran wild. Against better competition (those guys from Tuscaloosa, Alabama for instance), he showed he could be contained, and he, often, went down on first contact.

Conclusion:

The only thing know about the 14th pick is the fact that we don’t know anything. The theory is this team is content with going with the “taking the best player available” theory.

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If that’s the case, we don’t know if this team will improve the offense or take a cornerback. Not to long ago, the theory seemed to be that teams were shying away from taking running backs early in the draft. It’s the league’s most punishing position, and we’ve seen teams find great ones in later rounds. Still, if Fournette is still on the board, you can’t expect the Eagles to rule him out.

Who knows how they intend to make plays on defense in the passing game.

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