With less than a week to go until the start of the 2013 NFL Draft, no one seems to have a clear picture of what the Eagles plan to do with the fourth overall selection.
As has often been the case, there is no clear consensus pick among our pool of 34 experts. West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith is once again the top pick tied with Oregon defensive end/linebacker Dion Jordan as each player garnered seven selections. Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei was next up receiving six selections.
The list is rounded out by several of the usual suspects, including Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher and Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner, both of whom were the selection of three pundits each. BYU defensive end/linebacker Ziggy Ansah also makes his first appearance this week.
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.) | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | April 4 |
|
Comment: "In drafting Smith, the Eagles are in a good position to develop an athletic, talented thrower to succeed specifically in Kelly's offense, but without the requirement that he must start from day one. I don't like the idea of Smith as a Week 1 starter in 2013 -- but for a roster that's already in a good position to compete this season, he could be a great fit for the franchise in 2014, and most importantly, a great fit for the coach." | ||
| ESPN (Todd McShay) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | April 17 |
| Comment: "Of all the teams in the top five overall, the Eagles did the best job in free agency and are most free to take the best available player for their schemes. The D-line isn't a pressing need, but Lotulelei is a top-five talent and would give the Eagles another solid 3-4 end and some flexibility in their new 3-4 hybrid scheme." | ||
| SI.com (Don Banks) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | April 17 |
| Comment: "The Eagles would seem to be in prime position to trade down here, with teams just behind them coveting either Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel or Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner. If the Eagles are content with the notion of winding up with Lotulelei in a lower slot, why not try to get the tackle-needy Lions, Cardinals, Chargers and Dolphins bidding on Joeckel? By next week's final mock, Philly's No. 4 slot might be almost slam-dunk trade territory." | ||
| FOX Sports (Peter Schrager) | Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon | April 17 |
| Comment: "The Eagles' defensive backfield has undergone an extreme makeover. Four new defensive backs — Bradley Fletcher, Cary Williams, Patrick Chung and Kenny Phillips — should be in the starting lineup. With those additions, I don't see the Eagles going with Dee Milliner, the cornerback out of Alabama. Dion Jordan, a fantastic athlete who played for Chip Kelly at Oregon, could be the guy here. Jordan is most favorably compared to Aldon Smith, the electric outside linebacker in San Francisco." | ||
| NFL.com (Bucky Brooks) | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | April 8 |
| Comment: "Chip Kelly understands the importance of protecting the passer, which is why drafting Joeckel makes complete sense in this scenario." | ||
| NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah) | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | April 10 |
| Comment: "With this move, Chip Kelly would be getting a young quarterback who has experience playing in an up-tempo offense. Michael Vick's veteran presence will give Smith some time to sit and learn before taking the reins in Philly." | ||
| NFL.com (Charles Davis) | Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma | March 5 |
| Comment: "Some recent buzz had Geno Smith being a bit of a surprise pick here. Here's my surprise choice, after previously penciling OT Lane Johnson into this spot." | ||
| NFL.com (Gil Brandt) | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | March 27 |
| Comment: "Fisher (6-7 1/4, 306) ran real well and was strong; in short, he looked to be every bit what I thought he was. He'll be one of those guys who starts at left tackle for a long time. The Eagles could use the offensive line help." | ||
| NFL.com (Albert Breer) | Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama | February 6 |
| NFL.com (Josh Norris) | Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama | March 13 |
| Comment: "After releasing Nnamdi Asomugha, the Eagles signed Bradley Fletcher, who is solid when healthy. Still, the team needs another outside cover man. (Brandon Boykin is solid, but in a slot corner role.)" | ||
| CBSSports.com (Dane Brugler) | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | April 16 |
| Comment: "With Michael Vick currently under contract, quarterback isn't a huge need for the Eagles, but head coach Chip Kelly will be on the lookout for the long-term solution at the position. Smith has all the physical tools for Kelly's offense and would be able to sit and digest the playbook and not thrown into the fire on day one. | ||
| CBSSports.com (Rob Rang) | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | April 15 |
| Comment: "Michael Vick has proven unreliable. Nick Foles, despite what the Eagles are saying publicly, is clearly not a fit in head coach Chip Kelly's offense. Thus, this seems to be the logical spot for Smith, the most gifted talent of an average quarterback class. The Eagles are certainly doing their homework on the strong-armed quarterback. Team owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Chip Kelly traveled to Morgantown to put the former Mountaineer quarterback through a personal workout three days before WVU's scheduled Pro Day." | ||
| CBSSports.com (Pete Prisco) | Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon | April 15 |
| Comment: "Big, fast, strong and tough. He would be a great fit in the middle." | ||
| Sporting News (Eric Galko) | Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon | April 8 |
| Comment: "We're switching from Dion Jordan after re-evaluating the Eagles' needs. Adding a starting 5-technique tackle to play opposite Fletcher Cox would be ideal. Chip Kelly values versatility and athleticism, and Richardson fits both categories well." | ||
| NationalFootballPost.com (Russ Lande) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | April 10 |
| Comment: "As the Eagles make the switch to a 34 defense they need to fill a number of positional needs and none is more important than a nose tackle. With his ability to physically dominate blockers at the POA, now that he appears to have overcome medical questions he would be an ideal choice to anchor the middle of the Eagles' defensive front." | ||
| USA Today (Tony Pauline) | Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon | February 27 |
| Comment: "Jordan is a natural fit for the 3-4 defense and a good fit for Chip Kelly, his former college coach." | ||
| NFL.com (Scott Pioli) | Chance Warmack, G, Alabama | February 22 |
| Comment: "The Eagles need help on their offensive line. Warmack is the best player in this draft at this point in time." | ||
| NFL.com (Mike Tannenbaum) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | February 23 |
| Comment: "A two-time team captain at Utah, Lotulelei is a great complement to the finesse players of Philadelphia as a big, strong, stout guy." | ||
| NFL.com (Brian Billick) | Chance Warmack, G, Alabama | February 25 |
| Comment: "Quite possibly the cleanest player on the board. Landing Warmack and getting a couple of healthy players back could make this a good offensive line." | ||
| NFL.com (Charlie Casserly) | Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma | April 19 |
| Comment: "Both of the Eagles' starting offensive tackles are coming off of surgery." | ||
| CBSSports.com (Will Brinson) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | April 16 |
| Comment: "Honestly I could have Philly going four different ways with this pick. Part of me wants to give them an athletic guard, part of me wants to give them Geno with a move down and part of me wants them to take a pass-rusher. But I think they'll see serious value in Lotulelei as a guy who can wreck havoc on opposing offensive lines." | ||
| Yahoo! Sports (Doug Farrar) | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida | April 11 |
| Comment: "The thought of Chip Kelly taking former Oregon endbacker Dion Jordan is obvious and appealing in some schematic senses, but when a team moves from 4-3 to 3-4 principles, versatility is the order of the day, and nobody plays more roles on the line with more impact than Floyd." | ||
| CBSSports.com (Pat Kirwan) | Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon | April 15 |
| Comment: "Chip Kelly coached him and needs a guy like Jordan for the new 3-4 defense. Mike Vick is a short-term answer at QB and Nick Foles should be in a different offense. The Eagles could miss on Geno Smith, but could come back later for EJ Manuel." | ||
| Iggles Blitz (Tommy Lawlor) | Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma | April 12 |
| Comment: "Johnson is an easy explanation. He steps in at RT early on. That allows Todd Herremans to move to OG. Johnson started at RT for Oklahoma in 2011 so the position isn't totally new to him. He played LT in 2012 and can slide over there should Jason Peters have any complications. Johnson is a great athlete and perfect fit for Kelly's offense." | ||
| NFL.com (Matt Smith) | Ziggy Ansah, DE/OLB, BYU | April 17 |
| Comment: "There isn't a lot of tape out there, but you can't deny what you see when you watch him play. He's an impact player, and if the Jags can take Jordan at No. 2, the Birds certainly can take Ansah at No. 4. Eric Fisher will get a long look, but ultimately Ansah is a player who can change the game." | ||
| NFL.com (Akbar Gbajabiamila) | Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M | April 1 |
| Comment: "Chip Kelly's NASCAR offense is about to hit the NFL, and the Eagles have many of the skill positions covered. But in order to get the offense going, the quarterback must be protected. Joeckel fits the need. This would give the team a stellar pair of bookend tackles in Joeckel and five-time Pro Bowler Jason Peters (expected back from injury)." | ||
| USA Today (Nate Davis) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | April 16 |
| Comment: "It makes sense to connect Oregon pass rusher Dion Jordan to the Eagles given new coach Chip Kelly's familiarity with him from their days together in Eugene, Ore. But Philadelphia has already invested in free agent linebacker Connor Barwin and has some intriguing candidates to start opposite him in the team's new 3-4 defense. But they really need help on the D-line, and Lotulelei can play anywhere along the three-man front." | ||
| CBSSports.com (Clark Judge) | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | April 15 |
| Comment: "I know it's too high for him, but the Eagles can't survive with Michael Vick." | ||
| LATimes.com (Sam Farmer) | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | April 6 |
| Comment: "Philadelphia isn't going to spend all that money to hire Chip Kelly, then leave the cupboard bare at quarterback. Michael Vick is at best a short-term solution." | ||
| Philadelphia Inquirer (Zach Berman) | Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon | April 11 |
| Comment: "I think this will be Fisher or Jordan. With Fisher off the board, the Eagles go with upside and versatility. Jordan is unlike any player on the Eagles' defense, and Chip Kelly has seen the size athleticism first hand." | ||
| Philadelphia Inquirer (Jeff McLane) | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | April 11 |
| Comment: "With Jason Peters and Todd Herremans aging and coming off injuries, Chip Kelly strengthens his offensive line." | ||
| CSNPhilly.com (Geoff Mosher) | Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama | March 27 |
| Comment: "Milliner, easily the most coveted cornerback in the draft and a prospect who has been described as "special," brings to the Eagles what they've lacked for several years at cornerback: toughness, outstanding instincts and elite coverage skills. Despite the free-agent additions of corners Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher, Milliner could start from Day 1 and become the building block of new coordinator Billy Davis' defense." | ||
| Houston Chronicle (Lance Zierlein) | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | April 12 |
| Comment: "I was told to 'plug Geno in here' by a league source and I usually listen when this guy speaks. Kelly's offense probably won't ask the QB to run as much as people would like to believe, but I do think his offense will try to stretch the field and play up-tempo which is something that Geno Smith is used to." | ||
| Sports Illustrated (Peter King) | Dion Jordan, LB, Oregon | April 17 |
| Comment: "Chip Kelly bypasses the strong tackle market and a need at CB to pick an old friend at Oregon. He'll fill those other spots later." | ||
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