Eagles Wake-Up Call: Kiper Expects Offers For No. 4 Pick

Earlier this week, we discussed the possibility of the Eagles trading down out of the No. 4 pick.

And while many believe teams at the top of the first round will have a tough time drawing significant offers, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. thinks the Eagles will get some calls.

“You’re going to get offers because it’s not costly to be up there,” Kiper said. ‘It’s a case where there’s going to be some hot players, and the hot players are going to be those left tackles. Everybody seems to want to go up and get those guys. After [Luke] Joeckel goes, if he goes one, that’s going to make Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson two possibilities for teams that are going to look to move up.”

The tackles seem to be the players to watch. Joeckel, Fisher and Johnson are the clear-cut top three options. It seems likely that Andy Reid and the Chiefs will go with one of them. But the Jaguars and Raiders at two and three could go in a number of different directions.

One team that has the ammo to move up is the Miami Dolphins. But Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins like Joeckel and Fisher much more than Johnson. There are plenty of smokescreens this time of year, but that’s something that could work in the Eagles’ favor.

Meanwhile, one option for the Birds with the No. 35 pick (second round) could be Florida State QB EJ Manuel. But will he still be there? Kiper said he loves Manuel, but has some concerns.

“I just saw a kid who didn’t go through progression to the third or fourth option,” Kiper said. “He’d go one, two, and underneath.  Didn’t have to read the whole field, read half the field, that’s a concern.  At times he made inaccurate throws, questionable decisions. That’s a concern. I didn’t see him take his game to an elite level despite having elite physical and athletic skills.

“On the numbers alone he’s first round. He tests like a first rounder. I thought his performance was more like a second or third rounder. Do the math on that, you’re thinking late one, early two.”

WHAT YOU MISSED

In his Twitter Mailbag, T-Mac discusses the Tavon Austin possibility.

Is Geno Smith the next Tony Romo? Here’s the latest draft buzz.

The Eagles traded Dion Lewis to the Browns for linebacker Emmanuel Acho.

Here’s our latest draft profile of Oklahoma offensive tackle Lane Johnson.

DeSean Jackson talks about the Geno Smith possibility.

The Eagles have released linebacker Ryan Rau and three others.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock tells Paul Domowitch of the Daily News that he doesn’t think Florida’s Sharrif Floyd is a great fit in a 3-4.

“I don’t think 3-4 teams are going to be very interested in Sharrif, unless they intend to use him like Houston uses J.J. Watt. The base 3-4 teams typically are looking for longer, bigger guys to line up head up on that tackle.”

Tommy Lawlor of IgglesBlitz.com would not be on board with a Geno Smith pick:

I will be highly disappointed if the Eagles use the #4 pick on Geno Smith.  If they trade back and take him, I’d be more comfortable, but that wouldn’t change the fact that I’m just not sold on Geno.  Greg Cosell has pointed out the “slow eyes” issue.  Geno is a smart QB, but as Ron Jaworski says so perfectly, a QB must process information quickly.  Geno doesn’t do this.  He’s late on his reads and decisions.  I’m not sure that can be coached out of him.  The situations in the NFL will only be tougher.  Receivers will be less open.  Pass rushers will be bigger, faster, and stronger.

COMING UP

Draft, draft and more draft!

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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