Weekend Reading: Draft Edition
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
The draft is just over a month away. We’ll be kicking our coverage into high gear beginning this week. Let’s start with a look at who the draftniks are linking to the Eagles:
Chris Steuber looks at Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks as a potential fit for Chip Kelly.
Nicknamed “Sonic Boom” for his explosive speed and game-breaking ability, Cooks showcased his dynamic skill set at the combine in February and made quite the impression on the scouting community. He was timed at a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash, put up 16 reps on the bench, and generated a 36-inch vertical and 10-foot broad jump…
The abundance of talent available in this year’s draft, not just at the wide receiver position, but at multiple positions, could be great news for a team like the Eagles. With the recent release of DeSean Jackson, Cooks could be the explosive deep threat the team needs if he slides a bit in the draft and falls into their lap at 22nd overall.
Tommy Lawlor put together a seven-round mock. He has the Eagles taking the following with their six picks:
1st Round – No. 22 Overall – CB Kyle Fuller
2nd Round – No. 54 Overall – WR Jordan Matthews
3rd Round – No. 86 Overall – OLB Marcus Smith
4th Round – No. 122 Overall – DE Brent Urban
5th Round – No. 162 Overall – SS Isaiah Lewis
7th Round – No. 237 Overall – OL Trey Hopkins
On Fuller:
Fuller was a full time starter for the past three seasons and even started most of his freshman year. He is a physical player who will hit and tackle. He even played the “Whip Linebacker” position for one season, so he’s not shy about contact. Bill Davis likes big corners who can disrupt receivers as they release from the line of scrimmage.
Sam Farmer sees Cooks landing with the Eagles at No. 22.
The Eagles said goodbye to DeSean Jackson and could be saying hello to the speedy Cooks, who set Pac-12 records last season with 128 receptions for 1,730 yards.
Doug Farrar of SI.com makes a case for UCLA guard Xavier Su’a-Filo.
Chip Kelly’s Eagles have already let DeSean Jackson walk, and guard Evan Mathis, one of the NFL’s best at his position, might be next — according to several rumors — because he wants a new contract. If Mathis is indeed on his way out, there’s no better option in the draft than Su’a-Filo, one of the most physically imposing and nasty guards I’ve seen in the last decade. An outstanding technician, Su’a-Filo gets under the pads of defenders and rocks them back on a regular basis, frequently adding hits at the whistle to emphasize his point. He has the movement skills to play in any system, and the intelligence to pull it off at the NFL level. If he lasts until the 22nd pick (and I’m of the opinion that he shouldn’t), the Eagles would have their Mathis replacement right here.