The Philadelphia Eagles have completed their first draft, with head coach Chip Kelly at the helm. The Eagles had plenty of holes to fill at many positions this offseason: WR, CB, FS, and G. I’ll breakdown each selection they’ve made, and list the UDFA’s they have signed as well. By the way, I don’t give draft grades the day after the draft. These kids haven’t played a down of football yet. Get back at me after one to two seasons.
WR Nelson Agholor 6’0 198 lbs Jr. USC Round 1 20th Overall (31st on my Big Board- 2nd Round Grade)
The Eagles lost their two best WR’s, Jackson and Maclin over the past two seasons and needed to seriously add a guy who could come in, start, and contribute right away. Agholor is one of the more polished WR’s in this draft. He is a great route runner, wins outside and in the slot, has reliable hands, and can get deep. He’s also on of the best punt returners in the draft. He has to work on his releases vs press man coverage, but that’s something he’ll develop with time. The Eagles have themselves a day one starter in my opinion.
FS/CB Eric Rowe 6’1 205 lbs Sr. Utah Round 2 47th Overall (85th on my Big Board- 4th Round Grade)
The Eagles needed instant help at both CB and FS, and Rowe has experience playing both positions. Rowe started at FS his first three seasons before moving to CB as a Senior. He’s big, long, and fast, but yet still raw for the position. I liked his tape much more as a FS, but with the way Kelly was talking at his news conference, they plan on trying him at CB first. When technically sound, he gets good jams at the line of scrimmage, redirects WR’s, and can turn the hips and run with them deep. Has to work on not being so high in his backpedal, which makes it hard for him to react and break on the in cuts, and short routes in front of him. If he doesn’t work out at CB, the good thing is that he can play FS. I had a 4th round grade on him, I thought this was a reach, but the Eagles also filled a need. We’ll see how it plays out. The Eagles need him to start, play, and contribute year one.
LB Jordan Hicks 6’1 236 lbs Sr. Texas Round 3 84th Overall(112th on my Big Board-4th Round Grade)
I like Hicks as a player, outside of his significant injury history, but the Eagles really needed help at G, and he isn’t a scheme fit in my opinion. Hicks is at his best playing in space, running, chasing down plays and does well in coverage. I had him as my 3rd ranked 4-3 OLB in the draft. Not a guy who’s going to take on blocks at the point of attack, shed them, and make plays in the hole vs the run.
The Eagles have Kiko Alonso, Mychal Kendricks, and Demeco Ryans currently on the roster, along with Brad Jones. The Eagles lost G Todd Herremans, and after the way Chip Kelly ripped him in public, Evan Mathis is as good as gone as well. Allen Barbre and Matt Tobin played last season and weren’t very good. The Eagles passed up on some good Guards in the third and fourth rounds, leaving gaping holes at both guard positions.
JaCorey Shepherd 5’11 200 lbs Sr. Kansas Round 6 191st Overall (93rd on my Big Board-4th Round Grade)
The Eagles got great value grabbing Shepherd in the 6th round. I guess he slipped in the draft because of his slow 40 time(4.65), but if teams did their homework, he ran that day with a bad hamstring. His tape shows a much more faster, fluid, smooth athlete at the CB position. He can play press, off man, and zone(Cover 3). He always competes, shows the ability to recover, get his hands on the ball and breakup passes after getting beat initially. Shows the ability to anticipate, undercut passes, knocking them down or picking the football off. He has to master his initial jam at the line of scrimmage, so he doesn’t have to recover from getting beat quickly so often. The Eagles got themselves a football player who could play immediately, and contribute on special teams as a returner and cover guy.
Randall Evans 6’0 195 lbs Sr. Kansas St. Round 6 196th Overall (Grade: UDFA)
Evans played inside at nickel exclusively for the Wildcats as a senior. He was a solid player, good tackler, but nothing spectacular. He would have been available post draft. FS Cody Prewitt was still on the board, had a 3rd round grade, and would have filled a need. Evans and Prewitt are two football players that I’ll always take their careers and compare them.
Brian Mihalik 6’9 295 lbs Sr. Boston College Round 7 237th Overall (Grade: UDFA)
Mihalik is a big body, projects to be a 5 tech DE in the 3-4, and some scouts like his athleticism so much, they think he could play OT. Right now he’s a project player, with size who needs serious work regardless of what position he plays at as a pro.
Undrafted Free Agent Signings
Mike Coccia OL New Hampshire
John Harris WR Texas
Brett Boyko OL UNLV
Devante Davis WR UNLV
Malcolm Bunche OL UCLA
Travis Raciti DL San Jose State
Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo DE Duke
Cole Manhart OG Nebraska-Kearney
Rasheed Bailey WR Delaware Valley
BJ McBryde DL UConn
Kip Smith P Oklahoma State
Raheem Mostert RB Purdue
Muslim Football Scout 
Reblogged this on Sports Trappin' Bran.
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