The combine drills finally begin tomorrow at 10 a.m. EST on NFL Network as the offensive linemen, tight ends and specialists perform a number of drills in front of coaches and personnel men from all 32 NFL teams. Chris McPherson already detailed what drills the players will be partcipating in, now it's time to take a look at which specific players Eagles fans should keep their eyes on.
Offensive tackle is considered a deep position in this draft, with up to eight players considered first-round possibilities. Although the Eagles already have two starting offensive tackles in Pro-Bowler Jason Peters and Winston Justice, tackle is such a premium position that it cannot be ruled out as a possibility early on.
In addition to their first-round pick, the Eagles also have their second rounder along with two picks each in both the third and fourth rounds. For a full list of the Eagles' draft picks, click here. With that in mind, here are some offensive tackles to keep on your radar during tomorrow's workouts.
OT Russell Okung, 6-foot-5, 307 pounds - Okung is considered by many to be the No. 1 offensive lineman in the draft and he could go as high as second overall, so he will assuredly not be around for the Eagles at 24. But Okung is worth watching because of his believed dominance at left tackle. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy is a mauling run-blocker and is said to have the strongest hands of any lineman in the draft. His pass protection is slightly behind his run blocking, but Okung is expected to be a cornerstone left tackle nonetheless.
OT Bruce Campbell, 6-foot-6, 314 pounds - Entering combine week, Campbell was expected to be one of the biggest risers. He didn't disappoint at the weigh-in when he more than looked the part of an elite tackle and added a 36 1/4 inch reach to his immense frame, and he has all the tools to be become a Pro Bowler. Campbell is less experienced than the rest of the first-round caliber tackles though, having only started 17 games at Maryland, so he could be available to the Eagles at 24.
OT Charles Brown, 6-foot-5, 303 pounds - Brown is considered to be among the second tier of offensive tackles with Campbell, behind Okung, Rutgers' Anthony Davis, Iowa's Bryan Bulaga and Oklahoma's Trent Williams, which means that he could also be a potential first-round match for the Eagles. There were concerns that Brown wasn't hefty enough to play tackle after he was thought to be playing at less than 300 pounds at USC, but he assuaged those concerns with yesterday's weigh-in. Brown is light on his feet and could turn into a valuable pass protector.
OL Vladimir Ducasse, 6-foot-4, 332 pounds - Ducasse is very raw and will require a significant time investment before he's able to start at the next level, but he has all the physical tools to become a quality player. A product of division 1-AA Massachussetts, Ducasse has the athleticism and quickness to play left tackle, and he showed a good hand punch during the Senior Bowl game, but he is probably best suited to play guard in the NFL.
OT Jared Veldheer, 6-foot-8, 312 pounds - Out of tiny Hillsdale College, Veldheer is a possible late-round, developmental target at tackle. His stock dropped a bit at the weigh-in because his arm reach of 33 inches is small for a man his size, so he could be looking at a grade somewhere around the fifth round. Still, he's considered very athletic for his size and could boost his stock with a good performance on Saturday.
Check back later for a list of interior offensive linemen and tight ends to watch.
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 3:00 p.m., February 26
