INDIANAPOLIS -- The NFL Scouting Combine is more than just the workouts and position drills. It gives the teams an opportunity to meet face-to-face with the draft prospects and ask direct questions to gauge each player's personality and ability to learn.
A year ago, the Eagles met with Oklahoma tackle Lane Johnson, who ended up being the team's first-round pick at No. 4 overall. Johnson was the Eagles' highest draft pick in over a decade. He started all 16 games at right tackle and missed just one snap all season.
On Thursday, general manager Howie Roseman recalled the meeting with Johnson at the Combine.
"Great sense of humor. He sat down with us and he's making jokes about being newly married and having a baby on the way," Roseman said. "He's a Texas guy. He was extremely comfortable with us. Then he went out and tested off the charts.
"You put on the tape and you saw a guy who really had everything in his body, was a tremendous worker. He's smart. His experience playing the quarterback position really gave him a basis for learning the offense so you knew he could learn. The arrow was firmly pointed up."
