Since the end of the 2011 season, Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly has been the player most mentioned as the likely pick for the Eagles at No. 15 overall. Throughout nearly all early mock draft, Kuechly was the clear majority selection for the Eagles. Now, with the NFL Scouting Combine a thing of the past, a new round of mock drafts has been unleashed and once again Kuechly is the popular pick. But, that majority is beginning to wane slightly, as a number of analysts expect the Eagles to address the defensive tackle position with the 15th overall pick. There, players like Dontari Poe of Memphis and Michael Brockers of LSU have been added to the mix. We surveyed 14 mock drafts and once again bring you their projections for the Eagles' first-round pick ...
As always, click on the name of the mock drafter to read the entire projection.
| Mock Draft Tracker | ||
| Site | Selection | Last Updated |
| NFL.com (Charley Casserly) | Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College | March 7 |
| Comment: "With Philadelphia's "wide nine" concept, the Eagles need a talented, instinctive middle linebacker. And Kuechly showed off fabulous athleticism at the NFL Scouting Combine." | ||
| NFL.com (Chad Reuter) | Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College | February 29 |
| Comment: "Kuechly measured in at 242 pounds and ran two 40s in the 4.5-range, exceeding scouts' expectations in both areas. He also looked fluid in coverage drills, which would make him the three-down defensive leader the Eagles have lacked the past few seasons." | ||
| NFL.com (Bucky Brooks) | Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis | February 29 |
| Comment: "Poe would fortify the interior of the Eagles' defensive front line, and his ability to command double teams would allow Philly's young linebackers to run freely to the ball." | ||
| ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr.) | Michael Brockers, DT, LSU | March 7 |
| Comment: "In Brockers the Eagles get a big, active player who can both take up blocks and penetrate. He weighed in at 322 pounds at the NFL combine, heavier than I've ever had him listed, but I don't see him as a prototype 3-4 nose tackle. My guess is he'll play a little lighter once he gets into camp, and the Eagles will benefit, particularly against the run." | ||
| ESPN (Todd McShay) | Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis | March 7 |
| Comment: "Kuechly would be the pick if he were available, but the Eagles like drafting linemen early and Poe is the kind if unique, dynamic talent that makes it worth passing on bigger needs. With backups Trevor Laws and Derek Landri set to become free agents, Poe and his impressive physical skills and versatility would make sense in a rotation with Mike Patterson and Cullen Jenkins." | ||
| CBS Sports (Rob Rang) | Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College | March 6 |
| Comment: "Philadelphia may be perfectly positioned to nab the most productive linebacker in recent college football history. By running in the 4.5s, according to some stopwatches, at the Combine, Kuechly proved he's not just as the most instinctive linebacker in the draft, he's one of the most athletic." | ||
| CBS Sports (Dane Brugler) | Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College | March 5 |
| Comment: "This seems to be a popular slot for the tackling machine out of Boston College, but Kuechly to the Eagles just makes sense. If there is ever a sure-thing in this draft class, it's Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly. He isn't overly flashy or speedy, but his instincts are off the charts and he plays with a nonstop motor on every play, reminiscent of a Zach Thomas-type linebacker." | ||
| NFL.com (Albert Breer) | Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis | February 29 |
| Comment: "If there's an issue with Jim Washburn's defensive line, it's that the group's a little light. Poe solves that problem. And then some." | ||
| FoxSports.com (Peter Schrager) | Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College | March 6 |
| Comment: "There were questions about Kuechly's speed heading into the combine, but he put those questions to rest with a blazing 4.5 40-yard dash. He's been compared to Sean Lee, without the durability and injury issues. Kuechly's considered a first-day NFL starter. Slate him into that Philly defense and watch out." | ||
| National Football Post (Wes Bunting) | Dre Kirkpatrick, CB/S, Alabama | March 7 |
| Comment: "Some of the buzz coming out of the NFL Combine is that a number of NFL teams are now looking at Alabama DB Dre Kirkpatrick as the top safety prospect in the draft. The Eagles rarely select a linebacker high in the draft and Kirkpatrick could come in and improve the Eagles play at safety early on." | ||
| SportsIllustrated.com (Don Banks) | Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College | February 22 |
| Comment: "This should be the perfect first-round melding of team need and draft slot value for the Eagles, because one of their glaring deficiences for a while now has been for a player who possesses Keuchly's skill set. He's a smart, instinctive tackler who has the ability to read and react and find the ballcarrier. He's a tough player and a natural leader who should fit perfectly in the hard-nosed NFC East." | ||
| RotoWorld (Evan Silva & Josh Norris) | Nick Perry, DE, USC | March 2 |
| Comment: "After retaining DeSean Jackson with the franchise tag, the Eagles are without a singular pressing need. Pass rushers are always welcomed by the organization, though, and Perry fits the Philly mantra as an explosive sack artist who flies off the edge. Perry would give the Birds another wave rusher behind Jason Babin and Trent Cole." | ||
| AFC2NFC.com (Justin Higdon) | Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College | March 7 |
| Comment: "At the combine, Kuechly proved to be a better athlete than some people had thought. Now that the Eagles know that he has the talent to match his production, he becomes the easy pick." | ||
| Sporting News (Russ Lande) | Cordy Glenn, OT/OG, Georgia | March 1 |
| Comment: "The Eagles' offensive line was not dominant in 2011, and Glenn has the physical talent to start at guard or right tackle as a rookie." | ||
