How far we've come since the opening of the mock draft season when Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly was the overwhelmingly most popular projection to the Eagles with the 15th pick. Now, with less than a week to go before we find out who is the real apple of the Eagles' eye, only one of the 16 mock drafts surveyed slots Kuechly to the Eagles. Instead, defensive tackle is the consensus position allocated to the Eagles, with 11 of the mock drafts slotting a first-round defensive tackle to Philadelphia. Three different defensive tackles are linked to the Eagles, but Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox wins the plurality vote with five mentions. Three mock drafters believe the Eagles will pick a defensive end rather than a defensive tackle, leaving only two non-defensive linemen among the 16 players listed below. Will one of these players find themselves in midnight green a week from today? Or will we see another wild card from Andy Reid, Howie Roseman and co.?
As always, click on the name of the mock drafter to read the entire projection.
Indicates a projected trade-up
Cox is the player I said I thought the Eagles would target for months and I'll be sticking to my guns until draft day. Unfortunately for the Birds – I don't see any way he makes it through KC and Dallas – but a quick trade with Buffalo who doesn't see value on the board saves the day. Mock Draft Tracker Site Selection Last Updated NFL.com (Charley Casserly) Michael Brockers, DT, LSU April 13 Comment:"In the NFC East, you need a physical run defender." NFL.com (Albert Breer) Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis April 9 Comment:"One scout told me you can assemble 40 or so plays on tape to make Poe look like a star. Philly hopes Jim Washburn can draw more out of him." NFL.com (Charles Davis) Michael Brockers, DT, LSU April 11 Comment:"The Eagles want to get stronger down the middle of their defense, and this redshirt sophomore from the bayou is only going to get better." NFL.com (Steve Wyche) Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. April 16 Comment:"Cox is flying up draft boards. Adding him to the DT rotation could give Philly a relentless interior front." NFL.com (Chad Reuter) Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. April 6 Comment:"Andy Reid likes using his first-round picks to bolster the defense, and Cox has a chance to be an effective pass rusher next to Cullen Jenkins, who turned 31 in January and received a restructured deal this offseason that may have lessened his grip on the team's cap." ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr.) Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. April 18 Comment: "Cox is the real deal. The Eagles can get to quarterbacks, but they were awful up the middle last year. Cox can be a big part of the solution." ESPN (Todd McShay) Mark Barron, S, Alabama April 11 Comment:"Barron fills one of Philadelphia's top three needs, and the Eagles have lacked a do-everything, physical presence at safety since Brian Dawkins left town." CBS Sports (Rob Rang) Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College April 16 Comment:"In proving his athleticism at the Combine (and his jaw-dropping consistency throughout his entire career), Kuechly is earning top 15 grades from some clubs as an outside linebacker, as well as for the inside position. The addition of Ryans and Kuechly would turn what was the Eagles' worst unit into one of the team's greatest strengths." CBS Sports (Dane Brugler) Michael Brockers, DT, LSU April 16 Comment:"It's no secret that Andy Reid prefers linemen in the first round, especially defensive linemen, making Michael Brockers a logical choice here. The raw athletic ability matched with his large, long frame will be enticing for a defense who can mold the 21-year old into something special." Scouts Notebook (Matt Alkire) Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. April 19 Comment: "Cox is the player I said I thought the Eagles would target for months and I'll be sticking to my guns until draft day. Unfortunately for the Birds – I don't see any way he makes it through KC and Dallas – but a quick trade with Buffalo who doesn't see value on the board saves the day." RotoWorld (Evan Silva) Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse April 19 Comment: "While not as explosive off the edge, Jones has some JPPish traits as a long-armed, high-effort pass rusher with loads of "growth potential." He'd be the Eagles' left defensive end of the future. " National Football Post (Wes Bunting) Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. April 18 Comment: "Cox is the kind of potential three-technique who can create behind the line of scrimmage and stop plays before they start. The Eagles don't have a huge need at DT, but Cox could still mature into a playmaker inside, at a position where Philly lacks an impact guy." SportsIllustrated.com (Don Banks) Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina April 18 Comment: "Though a defensive tackle like Michael Brockers or Dontari Poe are options here, the Eagles probably wouldn't pass on a prospect with rare pass-rush skills. Coples has critics when it comes to his inconsistent motor, but Eagles defensive line coach Jim Washburn doesn't take the quiet approach to those sort of issues." Sports Illustrated (Peter King) Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina April 17 Comment: "One coach used these words to me about Coples: "Gifted. Sporadic." We're getting to the part of the draft—mid first round—where beauty's in the eye of the beholder, and teams reach for pass rushers who often don't pan out. Philly D-line coach Jim Washburn is as demanding as they come, and Coples will have a chance to make the Eagles more formidable up front." The Sporting News (Russ Lande) Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis April 16 Comment: "The Eagles want to get more inside pressure on quarterbacks and Coe has the raw physical talent to be a disruptive interior force." Pro Football Weekly (Nolan Nawrocki) Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis April 17 Comment: "The Eagles' defensive line thrives on its quickness. Poe possesses freakish movement skill for a man his size and could benefit from the tutelage of DL coach Jim Washburn. President Joe Banner remains at the forefront of sage positional spending and is likely to land a premium position player such as a quarterback or defensive tackle with his team's top pick."
