The final day of combine workouts in Indianapolis could be the most important for Eagles fans to watch.
The defensive backs finally take to the field to run through their drills on tomorrow and the secondary is an area that the Eagles will certainly look to fortify in the draft. Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown are entrenched as the two starting corners, but they will be 29- and 31-years old respectively next season and there is a shortage of young, ascending depth behind them.
Safety is also a position of need as neither Macho Harris nor Quintin Demps has established themselves as a surefire starter opposite Quintin Mikell. Luckily, the defensive backfield is one of the stronger position groups of this draft class and the Eagles should be able to find value at both cornerback and safety throughout the draft.
First, let's take a look at some cornerbacks to watch during tomorrow's workouts.
Kyle Wilson, 5-foot-10, 194 pounds - Wilson was one of the true stars of the Senior Bowl and he is believed to have pulled ahead of the pack to become the consensus No. 2 cornerback in the draft class behind Florida's Joe Haden. Wilson, a Boise State product like Mikell, is well-versed in man-to-man coverage, has good ball skills and is a sound, physical tackler. If Wilson runs his 40-yard dash in the 4.4 range, he should cement his status as a mid first-round pick.
Devin McCourty, 5-foot-11, 193 pounds - McCourty is among a group of cornerbacks looking to sneak into the back end of the first round and he's expected to put on a show during his 40-yard dash tomorrow. In addition to his exploits as a corner, he's also a sure tackler, McCourty is one of the best special teams players in this draft, as noted by our own Tommy Lawlor.
Patrick Robinson, 5-foot-11, 190 pounds - Robinson is one of the most talented corners in the draft and he could merit consideration for the Eagles at No. 24, but he is not quite as consistent as the aforementioned players on tape. Still, his upside is undeniable and the former Florida State Seminole could be one of tomorrow's most impressive performers.
Kareem Jackson, 5-foot-10, 196 pounds - Jackson is also vying for first-round consideration and his performance tomorrow will likely go a long way in determining that outcome. Jackson's coverage ability is unquestioned and he adds above-average ball skills to his skill set, but the one knock on Jackson is his perceived lack of elite closing speed. If he burns up the 40, Jackson won't last beyond day one in April.
Brandon Ghee, 6-foot-0, 192 pounds - Ghee's stock dropped slightly following the Senior Bowl, but if the Eagles chose to forego a cornerback early on then Ghee could represent tremendous value in the third round range. Ghee had a productive career at Wake Forest and he has the size to be physical at the next level. Like Jackson, Ghee will have to answer questions about his top-end speed during tomorrow's workouts.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, 6-foot-0, 207 pounds - Out of small school Indiana (Pa.), Owusu-Ansah is another prospect who could be a fit for the Eagles on day two. Owusu-Ansah has more size than the aforementioned prospects, which some believe could force him into a position change to safety in the NFL, but a good 40-yard dash time should solidify him as a corner prospect.
Check back later tonight for a rundown of the safeties to watch.
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 6:30 p.m., March 1
