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An Early Look At The Mock Drafts
 
January 23, 2010 | Last Updated: 1/23/10 12:01 AM ET | Comments (15)

Chris Steuber, Scout.com's NFL Draft expert, joined Chris McPherson on Eagles Live! earlier this week to talk about some of the players that he thinks the Eagles might be targeting in the upcoming draft.
 
Steuber said that the ideal match of need and value for the Eagles would be safety.
 
"I really do think (this could be the best class of safeties in NFL draft history)," Steuber said. "When you talk about guys like Eric Berry (Tennessee), Taylor Mays (USC), Earl Thomas (Texas), you're talking about ball hawks, intimidators in the secondary, guys who can make a difference."
 
In Steuber's current mock draft, he has Thomas going at No. 23 overall, one pick before the Eagles.
 
"Earl Thomas is interesting," Steuber said. "He's only a redshirt sophomore; he's 20-years-old, 6-foot-1, 197 pounds. He had eight interceptions last year. He would be the perfect fit for the Eagles. If he does fall to No. 24, you almost have to go out and get Earl Thomas, he's that good."
 
So because none of the premier safeties are available in his projection, Steuber tabbed Northwestern defensive end Corey Wootten for the Eagles.
 
"He's 6-foot-6, 280 pounds, so he's the big defensive end that the Eagles need," Steuber said of Wootten. "In workouts and combines and pro days, he's really going to turn some heads."
 
In the second round of his mock draft, Steuber projected the Eagles to pick a safety.
 
"Chad Jones (from LSU), 6-foot-3, 230 pounds," Steuber said. "He's an intimidator.
 
"He's just a gamer, a guy who could really make a difference in the secondary. I would love to see him in Eagles green, he's that good, and I think he would really help out a lot."
 
Of course, now is the time when many initial mock drafts are being put together across the NFL universe. Here's a look at three other first-round projections for the Eagles.
 
Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN.com: OLB Navorro Bowman, Penn State - "The Eagles need an athletic OLB, and they get a lot of value by landing Bowman here. Bowman lacks size, but any parsing on measurables can't overcome his great play on film. Could end up as the best at his position in this class."
 
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: Taylor Mays, S, USC - Andy Reid underestimated the impact of losing Brian Dawkins in the back end, so he nabs Mays to become the new anchor of the secondary.
 
FootballsFuture.com: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida - There aren't many players with the combination of size and athleticism that Dunlap possesses. Most that do hear their name called in the top ten. Some inconsistencies along with some maturity questions drop him here, but he's worth the risk for the Eagles at this spot.

-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 12:01 a.m., January 23
An Early Look At The Mock Drafts
   
DrPimper1232@...
01/24/10
8:28 pm ET
mikell was nasty travis mikell is gunna be nasty 4 awhile you better get used 2 it if he steps in 4 any one it would be 4 macho harris and sean jones who sux u don"t know anything about football mikell is the least of our problems
travispapa@...
01/24/10
12:46 am ET
I'd love to see a top safety like Thomas or Mays fall to us but it won't happen. Mays could step right in for Mikell at SS who's tackling was terrible down the stretch. We need another LB like S in the secondary. He could also be taught coverage responsibility. If neither are there Dunlap would be ideal & T. Cody in the 2nd a huge space covering DT to free up LBs. If we dont get a S early take M. Rolle mid-late rds. He might have been out of football for a yr but hes a genius.
Blasphemy
01/23/10
4:33 pm ET
Peppers is a beast, but he is a little over the hill and would be on the expensive side. I'm not sure we will fix the DE situation in FA. I think we can fix some O-line concerns in FA, and add some depth to other positions, but I think DE, OLB, and S will need to be fixed via the draft.
ajball
01/23/10
4:16 pm ET
I live in Pac-10 country and I'm telling you right now... I'd be really surprised if the birds took Mays. He's got all the measurables, but the dude is out of position ALL THE TIME. He routinely gets burned because he's way too aggressive. Unbelievable athlete, but an NFL bust waiting to happen. WE need an experienced FS anyway. Use rounds 1-2 of the draft to get the best players available regardless of position (preferably OL, DL or CB) and get LB, RB and secondary depth in the middle/late rounds.
john.littlefield@...
01/23/10
3:16 pm ET
Peppers is a truely talented player but has a history of taking plays (even games off). Besides...I expect him to stay a Panther. According to most mock drafts, Spiller will still be available come 24, but I'm sure that will change once he blows up at the combine. I know everyone thinks we have all of the off weapons in place but you have to consider the long-term...we're gonna need another running back...one who can do the things Westbrook can do. We also need a kick returner who can change field position in our favor and even get us the occassional cheap TD!
EaglesIsFamily@...
01/23/10
2:39 pm ET
The only worry I have about Peppers is how he has expressed his interest to play in a 3-4 defense. Eric Berry is supposed to be the best safety in the draft, but he's going to go also in the top 10 most likely. The odds are low but who knows. Anything can happen in the Eagles offseason and draft, we see interesting and surprising stuff every year. I agree, Witherspoon is stoudt at Will, Bradley obviously at Mike, Sam is the only question mark. Do they feel confident that Foku can step up and go to the next level this year at Sam? What about Gocong? Whatever happens, we will need some depth behind our starters so we don't panic and move everyone around almost every weak to find a combination. Injuries happen, and we gotta have our LBs better prepared. If Gaither can get healthy, he would be a good backup at Mike.
e36agles@...
01/23/10
2:30 pm ET
we should trade up in the draft pick up Eric berry if we can pick up peppers in free agency and if we can make a trade and get a second round pick we might be able to trade the two picks and move into the first to pick up spiller then we wouldn't need Westbrook any more i think that would be nice because we would have the DE we need we would have the safety and the running back and we have witherspoon who can play outside so we would be all set but whats the odds of all that happening
EaglesIsFamily@...
01/23/10
2:01 pm ET
john.little C.J. Spiller is going to be a BEAST. He is so explosive. A threat to take it to the house anytime. I've been saying I want him in Eagles green, but he's gonna go no later than 15, prob even 10. As much as I want him, I don't see the Eagles trading up that much to get him. Especially with the other needs we need: DE, Safety, and OLB. However, if the eagles decide to address those needs via free-agency, (Peppers? Safety from Rams? Derrick Johnson?) Maybe we could see 28 in eagles green lighting up the scoreboard.
EaglesIsFamily@...
01/23/10
1:55 pm ET
Blasphemy I completely agree with you. Mays is a huge hitter, but when I watched some of the USC games he did get beat. Sometimes he plays too aggressive and gets out of position. We can't have that, we need that all around safety, especially how the league is pass happy. We need that guy who can cover, has speed, and can also stick his head in the run defense. I didn't get to see many Texas games but from what I hear and saw from Thomas, he can do all of the above.
Blasphemy
01/23/10
12:56 pm ET
I think I'd rather go with Earl Thomas than Mays. Mays is big and fast, but his coverage skills lack compared to Thomas. All I've seen from Mays is big hits, Thomas is a little more well-rounded and I think is a safer pick.
poordad07
01/23/10
12:52 pm ET
The best thing for the eagles is to get a stud DE -The safeties will not have to worry about cobering if the QB is on the ground-Is there another Reggie out there?Or even a Jerome Brown?We'll even take Osi from the Giants (if he can play against Winston!)
redsox62592@...
01/23/10
12:29 pm ET
They almost have to go with an OLB or a safety in the first round im hoping for Bowman, Mays, Thomas, or Weatherspoon
Blasphemy
01/23/10
11:26 am ET
john.littlefield, a backfield of McCoy and Spiller with Weaver going into the future with all of our weapons on O would make me salivate, but I doubt it'd happen. Eagles will probably go with a safety here, Wootten or a decent OLB should be available come the 2nd round.
JPFabian1988@...
01/23/10
10:43 am ET
come on now, its gonna be a pick that we all don't think we need till we have them. So its most likely gonna be a QB or an DT or something that we don't need like I said
john.littlefield@...
01/23/10
5:29 am ET
Eagles need to consider CJ Spiller if he's around at 24. He will be the most dynamic kick returner in the NFL and a great replacement for Brian Westbrook as his career winds down. the rest of our picks and moves in FA can be used for safety, LB, OL, DL, and CB.



 
 
 
 
 
 
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