Eagles have plenty of options in Round 1 of 2017 NFL Draft
With the NFL Draft soon to be upon us, let’s take a look at who some of the experts believe the Philadelphia Eagles will select at 14.
Well, it’s about that time. It is the eve of the NFL Draft and speculation will be running wild as to what the Philadelphia Eagles (and every team for that matter) will do on draft day. In the months leading up to the draft, it is always fun to see how picks have shifted and see what player is deemed to be the “best fit.” With that being said, let’s take a look at some of the prospects who have been mocked to the Eagles. Below is a list of players that people believe are good fits for the the team and are worthy of a first-round selection.
Now, with the 14th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select:
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford (Todd McShay, ESPN Insider, 4/12/2017) (scouting report here)
This is the one of the more popular options for the Eagles as of late. McCaffrey is quite an intriguing prospect in this draft. He did a little bit of everything at Stanford and was extremely good at doing it. To put it simply, the kid can flat out ball. For the Eagles, he can be that Darren Sproles-esque player. He can get carries out of the backfield as a true running back, catch passes out of the backfield and even line up out wide. He is also a natural kick/punt returner, so his versatility makes him very appealing.
The question is whether or not you think picking McCaffrey here will give you that game-altering player. Personally, I think the value of an elite level corner at this pick outweighs the value of an elite level running back. But don’t get me wrong, I would in no way be upset with this selection.
Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee (Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com, 4/25/2017) (scouting report here)
Right now, the top defensive ends on the team are Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, Chris Long and Marcus Smith. Graham showed last year that he can play at a high level, but Curry hasn’t really lived up to his contract. Long was brought in this offseason as a productive, veteran presence, but is not a long-term answer. Smith showed improvement last year and another full year in the system might help him turn the corner, but that is no guarantee.
Barnett would provide a relentless pass rusher who could come in right away and provide a boost.
Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida (Matt Miller, Bleacher Report, 4/14/2017. Miller’s final mock draft will be posted Thursday morning) (scouting report here)
Quincy Wilson is a big corner at 6’1”, 211 pounds who could potentially slide in and start Day 1. Other projections have him going in the second round so this could potentially be a reach, but there is no denying his talent. To begin the college football season, Jalen Tabor was believed to be the top corner at the University of Florida. However, Wilson’s play this past year elevated his draft stock and helped move him ahead of his former teammate. With the projected top three corners being Jalen Mills, Patrick Robinson and Ron Brooks, Wilson would have the opportunity to compete immediately.
O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama (Walter Football, 4/25/2017) (scouting report here)
I’ll be honest, I’ve seen this pick a couple of times and each time I’m a bit confused. There is no doubt that O.J. Howard is a phenomenal player, but is he really someone that the team should select this high? The Eagles’ top three tight ends right now are Zach Ertz, Brent Celek and Trey Burton. Ertz, recently inked a long-term extension, Celek is signed through 2018, and Burton was valued enough to have a second-round tender placed on him this offseason. As much as I like Howard, I think you can fill a greater area of need with the first-round pick.
As you can see, there is a plethora of options for the Eagles at 14. Most people agree on the overall needs of the team, but the order in which they address those needs is anyone’s guess. That’s part of what makes the draft so interesting. We can speculate all we want, but until the commissioner reads that card, no one really knows.
What do you guys think of the picks above? Give us your feedback and let us know if you think there is someone else who is a better fit in the comments below!