Smith isn't the only player currently being projected to the Eagles though. One new addition since the last mock draft tracker update is Baylor offensive lineman Danny Watkins, a college left tackle who lit up the Senior Bowl as a guard who is very strong at the point of attack The balancing act with Watkins is that he has a lot of upside since he's only been playing football for four years. But on the flip side, he's already 26 years old, so there's a question as to his long-term impact.
But even with a hole at right guard right now, it would be a surprise if the Eagles took an interior lineman in the first round. Roseman indicated earlier this week that there are a lot of quality interior linemen available throughout the draft, so a first-round guard may not be in the cards - at least with the 23rd 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 (Brian Baldinger) | Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor | April 20 |
| Comment: Andy Reid likes taking linemen, and the Eagles need to protect Vick more than they did last season. They played musical chairs at right guard, and Watkins steps in as the starter. He has great hands, and you have to pass protect first in Philly. | ||
| NFL.com (Bucky Brooks) | Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin | April 22 |
| Comment: Andy Reid would love to address the Eagles' vulnerable secondary with this pick, but the top three cornerbacks are already off the board. By selecting Carimi, he addresses the suspect play at right tackle with a big, physical blocker with excellent skills in the run game. | ||
| NFL.com (Charles Davis) | Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado | April 18 |
| Comment: Questions abound about Smith, but not about his on-field abilities. A bit of a gamble for the Eagles, but they need a CB with his size and speed | ||
| ESPN (Todd McShay) | Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado | April 20 |
| Comment: Smith is neck-and-neck with Amukamara from a talent standpoint and is on the rise as teams get more comfortable with his character and their ability to keep him focused. He would be a steal at this point and step in right away opposite Eagles CB Asante Samuel to help upgrade a pass defense that allowed a franchise-record 31 touchdown passes in 2010. | ||
| ESPN (Mel Kiper) | Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin | April 6 |
| Comment: In Carimi they get a guy who loves to run block and will sustain those blocks. But he can also take on great pass-rushers, and has shown enough that it figures he could fill in at either tackle position early, potentially starting on the right side with the goal to become a starting left tackle. | ||
| Herald Star (Brent Sobleski) | Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado | April 24 |
| Comment: If one were to rate the draft purely on talent and natural ability, Smith would find himself in the top ten without question. The questions he does possess are attitude related. A strong locker room like Philadelphia should be able to reign in Smith's talents. | ||
| Sports Illustrated (Peter King) | Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor | April 18 |
| Comment: Philadelphia would consider pass rushers Aldon Smith and Adrian Clayborn here. But Andy Reid has an affinity for O-linemen, and Watkins is the kind of tough player Eagles fans will love. | ||
| FoxSports.com (Adam Caplan) | Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado | April 14 |
| Comment: This selection is really about taking the best player available at the position of need. There are no other players here other than Smith and possibly Akeem Ayers who make sense. The Eagles could get a developmental guard later on. | ||
| FoxSports.com (Peter Schrager) | Muhammad Wilkerson, DL, Temple | April 20 |
| Comment: Capable of playing the five-technique defensive tackle spot in the 3-4 or the DT position in the 4-3, Wilkerson did both in his three years at Temple. A former hoops star from Linden, N.J., he's a run stuffer inside with pass-rushing capabilities. | ||
| Los Angeles Times (Sam Farmer) | Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa | April 23 |
| Comment: Brandon Graham's knee injury puts his 2011 season in question. Clayborn could complement Trent Cole. | ||
| ProFootballTalk.com (Evan Silva) | Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado | April 19 |
| Comment: A legitimate top-15 talent with shutdown ability, Smith's character concerns won't cause him to slip past an Eagles defense that may be one right cornerback away from a Super Bowl appearance. Smith is a true man-to-man, "press" corner with enough physicality to also fill hard in run support. | ||
| WalterFootball.com | Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado | April 19 |
| Comment: The Eagles have the ammunition to trade up to Nos. 10-12 for Amukamara if they love him enough. Meanwhile, Smith has all the talent in the world. He has character issues, but Reid likes giving second chances to talented players. Cornerback is a huge need, and I'll be shocked if Philadelphia doesn't address the position in the first two rounds of the 2011 NFL Draft. | ||
| CBS Sports (Rob Rang) | Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin | April 18 |
| Comment: Carimi, the Outland Trophy winner at left tackle, projects best on the right side in the NFL. Selecting a right tackle with enhanced pass blocking skills compared to current backup King Dunlap would be wise, especially considering he'll be protecting the blindside of the left-handed Michael Vick. | ||
| CBS Sports (Chad Reuter) | Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado | April 18 |
| Comment: Andy Reid is not afraid to take a chance on talented players with a history of off-field issues. | ||
| CBS Sports (Pete Prisco) | Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA | March 31 |
| Comment: They need some help at outside linebacker and this is a kid who plays fast even if he hasn't tested great. | ||
| CBS Sports (Clark Judge) | Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado | April 22 |
| Comment: Dmitri Patterson isn't the answer at CB. So who is? Smith is the third-best CB on the board. | ||
