With the NFL Scouting Combine is in full swing, we turn to our Mock Draft Tracker to find out which players the experts think the Eagles might draft with the fourth overall pick.
Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel is beginning to pull away from the pack, picking up six of our 16 experts' selections. The next most popular is Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei with four votes, and Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner with three. Also receiving selections are West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher and Alabama guard Chance Warmack.
To read the entire projection, click on the name of the expert who made the selection. Click here to view last week's mock draft tracker ...
| Mock Draft Tracker | ||
|---|---|---|
| Site | Selection | Last Updated |
| ESPN (Mel Kiper, Jr.) | Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama | February 7 |
| Comment: "I noted in the previous mock that on a per-play basis, rookie Brandon Boykin might have been the best player in the Eagles secondary toward the end of the season. The Eagles could see a number of personnel changes with the new regime, but they can't afford to fall off significantly in the secondary in a division with Eli Manning, Robert Griffin III and Tony Romo. You might expect Chip Kelly to score points, but he's always put a great emphasis on his defense too. Milliner has elite grades in terms of awareness and ball skills, and he's a physical corner who can push wideouts off routes. And he can flat-out tackle." | ||
| ESPN (Todd McShay) | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | February 7 |
| Comment: "West Virginia QB Geno Smith is a possibility here, but Joeckel is one of the top three overall prospects in this class and would be tough to pass up. New head coach Chip Kelly favors smaller, more athletic linemen like Joeckel, who would take care of a desperate need for an overall talent and depth upgrade along the offensive line. The question is whether the Eagles would feel comfortable moving Joeckel to the right side to accommodate returning LT Jason Peters." | ||
| SI.com (Don Banks) | Geno Smith, QB, WVU | January 24 |
| Comment: "This is where the real guess-work begins, because so much depends on whether new Eagles coach Chip Kelly believes he currently has his starting quarterback on the roster or not. Smith's talents aren't a perfect mesh for Kelly's up-tempo offense, but he's got enough mobility to get the job done, and his pocket-passing skills are NFL ready. We know quarterbacks get pushed up by need, but the Eagles defense needs so much help that Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner could be tough to pass on." | ||
| FOX Sports (Peter Schrager) | Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama | February 14 |
| Comment: "Michael Vick will be Chip Kelly's starting quarterback in 2013. Will Nick Foles be Vick's backup? We'll see how the Eagles proceed in the coming weeks, but regardless of who's under center or the understudy to the guy who's under center — the Eagles need to improve their defensive backfield. Nnamdi Asomugha's best days are behind him, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie can't tackle, and the rest of the corners are just "guys." Milliner isn't just a "guy," he's the next in a long line of great Alabama corners to enter the NFL Draft. He'll be a good fit in Philly — playing for whomever's coaching them next season." | ||
| NFL.com (Bucky Brooks) | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | February 20 |
| Comment: "The return of quarterback Michael Vick gives new coach Chip Kelly an explosive playmaker to guide the offense, but the Eagles would be wise to protect the brittle veteran with the top pass protector in the draft." | ||
| NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | February 8 |
| Comment: "The Eagles are focused on getting bigger on defense as they adjust their scheme with a new coaching staff. Lotulelei would form an excellent tandem with last year's first-round pick, Fletcher Cox." | ||
| NFL.com (Charles Davis) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | January 15 |
| NFL.com (Gil Brandt) | Chance Warmack, G, Alabama | January 15 |
| Comment: "The Eagles fill a need by making Warmack the first guard picked in the top 10 since 1997." | ||
| NFL.com (Albert Breer) | Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama | February 6 |
| NFL.com (Josh Norris) | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | February 15 |
| Comment: "Obviously, if Chip Kelly has full confidence that Jason Peters will return to form, this pick might not happen. Joeckel showed a few rough edges against Florida, but he fits the style of offense Kelly ran at Oregon -- if that is indeed the direction he intends to go." | ||
| CBSSports.com (Dane Brugler) | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | February 18 |
| Comment: "Just like other positions on the Eagles depth chart, offensive tackle looked to be a strength, but injuries have really taken a toll on this team. Although Jason Peters injury situation will be a factor in Philadelphia choosing a tackle, Joeckel has the chance to grow into one of the NFL's best." | ||
| CBSSports.com (Rob Rang) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | February 19 |
| Comment: "When Chip Kelly's offense struggled at Oregon it was usually due to the presence of a dominant interior defensive lineman (as in former Auburn standout Nick Fairley in the 2010-11 BCS Championship Game). As such, expect Kelly to push for a premium defensive tackle if in position to land one. Adding the versatile Lotulelei would give the Eagles a fearsome duo inside, considering the investment made a year ago in Fletcher Cox." | ||
| CBSSports.com (Pete Prisco) | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | February 19 |
| Comment: "They will get Jason Peters back, but this kid is too good to pass up." | ||
| OptimumScouting.com (Eric Galko) | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | January 27 |
| Comment: "Up for consideration for this pick is Ryan Nassib, who may be a sneaky good fit for this Chip Kelly/West Coast offense hybrid, but would be a reach here, Eric Fisher, who may work better in space for Chip Kelly's offense, or Joeckel, who still retains the value of the drafts best tackle, for now. It's no lock that Joeckel is the best (reviewing his film to compare he and Fisher), but at this point, the Eagles go with the best OT in the draft." | ||
| NationalFootballPost.com (Russ Lande) | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | February 11 |
| Comment: "Jason Peters is no sure thing to be the player he was before his achilles injury and the Eagles right tackle spot is still unsettled. After an outstanding week at the Senior Bowl, where he convinced everyone in attendance that he can be a high end starter, the Eagles know selecting him gives them insurance in case Peters has any issues and stabilizes the right tackle position if Peters is back to his old form for the 2013 season." | ||
| USA Today (Tony Pauline) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | February 4 |
| Comment: "Some will argue Lotulelei is the draft's top player. He offers a remedy for the Eagles' porous run defense and the ability to line up in a 3-4 or 4-3." | ||
| NFL.com (Scott Pioli) | Chance Warmack, G, Alabama | February 22 |
| Comment: "I think they've got to go with a player who is the best player in the entire draft. They need help on their offensive line. Chance Warmack is the best player in this draft at this point and time and I think they get tremendous value." | ||
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