Eagles Draft Buzz Thread: 4/15


Philip Rivers. Photo courtesy of USA Today

Philip Rivers. Photo courtesy of USA Today

Between now and the draft, we’ll have daily threads with the latest mocks, buzz and relevant links. Check back throughout the day for updates.

4:05 p.m.: Some injury news on a possible Eagles target:

3:57 p.m.: The Eagles hosted Marshall cornerback Darryl Roberts and also worked him out, per Aaron Wilson. More on Roberts from BGN:

Roberts projects to be a Day 3 pick. The 6-0, 182 pound senior finished his college career with 186 tackles, 35 passes defensed, five interceptions, one sack, and one forced fumble.

Roberts is the seventh defensive back the Eagles have hosted in Philly for a pre-draft visit.

 12:18 p.m.: Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com is sticking to his guns. He is convinced Jameis Winston is going No. 1, and one way or another, Marcus Mariota is going second.

The real question is what happens at No. 2. That’s where things get interesting. Again, I and others have reported for weeks there is a robust trade market for Mariota. The Rams, Eagles, Browns and Chargers have at least some interest in nabbing him (I wonder if the Saints wade in as well). Determining which club would go to the greatest length is difficult if not impossible. In fact, the best offer may not come in until the Titans actually are on the clock — so sussing out the team that covets him most is not easy. But if any of them land the former Oregon star it would be no surprise in the scouting community.

No one believes Kelly is married to Sam Bradford and won’t do anything within reason to land Mariota. The Browns and Saints are loaded with picks. The Chargers can’t get Philip Rivers to entertain contract-extension talks, which leaves them little choice but to look into dealing their longtime QB. And the Rams are seen by many clubs as a very strong suitor, too.

11:55 a.m.: Chris Burke of SI.com has the Eagles landing Oregon DL Arik Armstead at No. 20:

Have to give any Oregon product a slight Chip Kelly-related bump, and Armstead’s game would be an intriguing fit. He is one of several prospects generating a massive range of opinions, from top 10 down to Round 2.​

10:07 a.m.: Mark Eckel of NJ.com talked to some scouts about this crop of receiver prospects, including ASU’s Jaelen Strong:

Scouts Say: “He’s a lot like the guy the Eagles took last year (Jordan Matthews). He’s not spectacular, but very solid, very dependable. If you like (Matthews), you’ll like him.” …”His ceiling isn’t high, but he’s going to come in and start and be a very solid player for a long time.” …”He’s got good hands and he’s pretty physical. He’ll be good on short to intermediate routes.” …”Is ready to play, now. He can line up in the slot, or outside. Get him against a small corner and he’ll kill him.”

9:58 a.m.: The Titans/Philip Rivers trade buzz has gained a bit of steam over the past few days. Peter King writes about why the Chargers might be interested in trading their QB for the No. 2 overall pick.

The Chargers are in the horns of a dilemma with Rivers, because he’s entering the last year of his contract and has rebuffed efforts by San Diego GM Tom Telesco to sign an extension. Rivers hasn’t said why, but it seems pretty obvious. He has seven children, is happily married, and is worried about the franchise relocating to Los Angeles.

Rivers is from Alabama. He went to college in North Carolina. He’s a homebody type.  Nashville is less than two hours from where he grew up. The second pick in the draft is held by Tennessee, and a big contingent of Charger people was in Eugene, Ore., on Tuesday to work out Marcus Mariota. Makes sense: After the Bucs pick Jameis Winston number one—which is the most likely scenario—San Diego could deal Rivers to Tennessee for the second pick in the draft (with other picks thrown in to equalize an odd trade, though I have no clue which side should throw in other picks) and choose Mariota, giving the Chargers their presumptive quarterback of the future.

King added that if Rivers is willing to sign an extension with Tennessee, he’d do the deal in a second if he were the Titans.