Jan 17, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A Philadelphia Eagles helmet rests on a table prior to a press conference to announce Chip Kelly (not pictured) as the new Eagles head coach at the Philadelphia Eagles NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Team Needs:
OT, QB, CB, DE, S,
1st Round 4th Overall: Eric Fisher OT, Central Michigan
While Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel may be considered the best player in the draft, Central Michigan LT Eric Fisher comes in at a very close second. Fisher may not be as developed as Joeckel, but he has the potential to be an All-Pro LT at the next level. New Eagles coach Chip Kelly needs a premium protector to help his new offense run smoothly. We saw last season what happened with Michael Vick and Nick Foles, they were sitting ducks behind a paper mache offensive line. It doesn’t matter who Kelly puts behind center in Week 1, if they don’t have help they will struggle just like last season. A duo of Fisher and Jason Peters could help the Eagles take the next step and contend in the NFC East. Kelly could choose to go with NT Star Lotulelei, but now I believe Fisher is the best pick.
2nd Round 35th Overall: E.J Manuel QB, Florida State
While the Eagles may have Michael Vick, Nick Foles and Dennis Dixon I think it may be hard to let Florida State QB EJ Manuel go. Kelly wants a QB who he can tutor and help run a read-option type offense. Manuel displayed outstanding athletic ability during his tenure at Florida State, and is regarded as the most mobile QB in this class. While Manuel has a strong arm and can run Kelly’s offense perfectly, he struggles with inconsistency. Manuel needs to spend time on refining his footwork and throwing motion so it stays consistent, and he must learn how to read a defense and looking through his reads. Manuel will need a few years to develop, but given time can help lead this Eagles offense.
3rd Round 67th Overall: Bacarri Rambo S, Georgia
One of the Eagles biggest needs in this draft comes in the secondary. Philadelphia has swung and missed in recent years in attempts to find a playmaking safety for the defense. While Georgia Bulldogs S Bacarri Rambo may have off-the-field issues, he showed how dangerous he could be in 2011 when he picked off 8 passes. Rambo struggled in 2012 after missing the first 4 games of the season with a suspension, and when he came back he wasn’t the same player. He plays the safety position like a center fielder, and is willing to take chances in coverage. Rambo will have to improve his tackling, as he failed to wrap up often when going after the ball carrier. He is a playmaker and will finally give the Eagles the safety they have needed for some time.
4th Round 101st Overall: Robert Alford CB, Southeast Louisiana
The Eagles go back to fixing their secondary in the fourth with the selection of Southeast Louisiana CB Robert Alford. Alford saw his stock soar after dazzling in front of scouts and coaches during the Senior Bowl in part because of his athleticism and love for contact. Alford can match up against faster receivers either in the slot or out wide, and isn’t afraid to come up against the run as well. While Alford is a quick corner, he doesn’t have the size to match up against stronger competition and his desire for contact can hurt him at times. Alford can help the Eagles in the slot as a rookie, while providing help on special teams.
5th Round 136th Overall: Joe Kruger DE, Utah
A brother of Cleveland Browns OLB Paul Kruger, Utah Utes DE Joe Kruger hopes to make his own name in the NFL. Kruger didn’t get much attention at Utah, playing with the monster NT Star Lotulelei. While Kruger certainly benefited on the field with the attention on Star, Kruger still had a meaningful impact on the game. He does a nice job getting after the QB, recording 6 sacks last season. Kruger is best suited as a 3-4 defensive end, a perfect fit for the Eagles defense.
7th Round 210th Overall: John Boyett S, Oregon
After selecting Bacarri Rambo in the third round, Philadelphia picks up another safety in round 6. Oregon Ducks S John Boyett never had the college career he dreamed of after tears to both patellar tendons ruined his chances. Boyett struggled through the injury in 2011 before missing all of last season after having surgery. When Boyett did play he was a physical safety who uses his instincts to read plays and react to them. When healthy he was one of the best safeties in this class, but he hasn’t been that way for almost two years now. This late in the draft I expect Chip Kelly to take a chance on his former player and fill a need at the same time.
7th Round 212th Overall (from CLE): Jasper Collins WR, Mount Union
Philadelphia has filled plenty of needs in this draft, and one of those includes adding more weapons to the passing game. While Jeremy Maclin and Desean Jackson can cause headaches for an opposing defense, they also tend to cause headaches for coaches when they miss 4 games with injuries. The Eagles need a versatile WR who can contribute in the slot and return game and Mount Union WR Jasper Collins provides them with exactly that. Collins has a small frame and needs to improve his hands, but he can contribute on special teams and provide the Eagles with crucial depth at receiver.
7th Round 239th Overall (Compensatory): Garrett Gilkey OG, Chadron State
After filling a big hole at tackle, now the Eagles have to bolster their interior line and Garrett Gilkey could be just the guy. While Gilkey may come from Chadron State, he is rising up draft boards as we get closer to April. Some believe Gilkey can kick outside, but he has a great chance to play guard as well. While Gilkey isn’t well known as a football player, he is getting more attention for the hurdles he has overcome.
Summary:
Chip Kelly’s first draft in the NFL will be a testament to just what type of team he wants to run. In this scenario I think the Eagles fill their major needs and get great value in the process. Fisher is starting to get more attention as a potential No.1 pick and Manuel is starting to move up the board. The Eagles also fill major gaps in the secondary, and hopefully won’t be as much of an eye sore as last season. This would be a great start for the Eagles and would be the beginning of the Chip Kelly era.