Baldy, Middlekauff Talk Mid-Round Fits For Eagles


 Paul Perkins -- USA Today Sports

Paul Perkins — USA Today Sports

Now comes the business of finding players to grow alongside that new quarterback of theirs.

After selecting Carson Wentz  No. 2 overall, the Eagles currently have six picks remaining in the 2016 NFL Draft. They are:

Third round (No. 79 overall)
Fifth round (No. 153 overall)
Fifth round (No. 164 overall)
Sixth round (No. 188 overall)
Seventh round (No. 233 overall)
Seventh round (No. 251 overall)

The second and third rounds will take place Friday night (7 pm) while rounds 4-7 are on Saturday (noon).

To help get a feel for what players they might be targeting, we checked in with former Eagles scout John Middlekauff and NFL analyst Brian Baldinger to see who they have in mind as potential fits for Doug Pederson, Jim Schwartz and Co.

(Projected rounds courtesy of CBS Sports)

Three From Middlekauff

RB Paul Perkins, UCLA (5-10, 208)
Projected Round: 3

“They’re going to need some playmakers on offense,” said Middlekauff. “I would say in the third round a guy that would be intriguing would be the UCLA running back Paul Perkins. He’s got a little Shady McCoy in terms of shiftiness, he catches the ball out of the backfield. He’s tough.”

WR Jordan Payton, UCLA (6-1, 207)
Projected Round: 3-4

“[UCLA] actually has a receiver, too, who is a deep threat, Jordan Payton. He’s been a productive guy, especially this year. He’s just a solid receiver. To me, they need to get something to stretch the field. Carson Wentz, one of his best qualities is deep-ball accuracy.”

DE Jason Fanaika, Utah (6-2, 271)
Projected Round: 4

“He played 3-4 outside linebacker but in that Wide 9 situation where you’re just trying to get up the field… he’s a pass-rusher in that Vinny Curry [mold]. The great thing about Jim Schwartz and Jim Washburn is that they can deal with those hybrid players that struggle in a lot of places like Jason Babin, and all of a sudden they just flex him out wide and let him go.”

Four From Baldy

SS Kevin Byard, Middle Tennessee State (5-11, 212)
Projected Round: 3-4

“Four year starter there at Middle Tennessee State. Nineteen career interceptions. Two-time captain. Started every game. He’s a great kid with big-time measurables. I think he’s a good fit for Schwartz all the way.”

RB Wendell Smallwood, West Virginia (5-10, 208)
Projected Round: 5

“Great receiver out of the backfield. Big-time production. Pittsburgh kid.”

RB DeAndre Washington, Texas Tech (5-8, 204)
Projected Round: 5-6

“Not quite as strong as [Darren] Sproles but the same type of production as Sproles. Just a very good runner between the tackles, was a returner. Really tough kid, too, man, great receiver.

“You look at that offense, it’s a ton of screens. One thing about Andy [Reid] — and I think Doug will do the same — whether it’s Jamaal Charles or Charcandrick West last year, they caught a ton of screens, checkdowns, things like that. They throw to their backs a lot. They want to get five out as much as they can and in true West Coast philosophy, just spread the field.”

DE Tyrone Holmes, Montana (6-4, 250)
Projected Round: 5

“Really can convert speed to power.  I think this kid can be a defensive end that can really collapse the pocket. He was a guy I thought the Eagles could be interested in later on. Probably not at 79, but in the fifth round they can probably get him. Just a kid that jumped off the screen to me. He had unbelievable production but when you watch him play, he’s got incredible power. I know it’s the same level of [competition] as Carson Wentz but nonetheless, a productive player.”

Bonus Point From Mike Mayock

DT Javon Hargrave, South Carolina State
Projected Round: 3

“I could see them lining up a defensive tackle in the third round because it’s such a great class,” he told the team website. “You can get a starter there. A guy like Javon Hargrave could make some sense. Maliek Collins (Nebraska) could make some sense. You can get a defensive tackle in the third or fourth round that’s really a second-round pick in any other draft.”