Throughout most of this year's pre-draft process to-date, one player has been linked to the Eagles' 15th overall pick more than any other - Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly. Kuechly, officially listed at 6-3, 237, is seen as a potential fit for the Eagles as a middle linebacker. Of course, that doesn't mean there's necessarily any fire to that smoke - after all, remember that this time last year Wisconsin offensive tackle Gabe Carimi was the flavor of the month for the Eagles.

However, this time around, the Kuechly-Eagles marriage could make sense, at least according to NFL Network's Mike Mayock.

"I think he's the best inside linebacker in this draft by far," Mayock said of Kuechly on a conference call. "He's a natural three-year junior, he's got more production than you could ever imagine, he's never been hurt, no significant injuries, he's clean off the field, he's got intelligent instincts, and he's a better athlete than people think. I think people will say, 'Oh, he's an inside linebacker from Boston College so he can't run.' Well, he can run. I put on five or six tapes at least of this kid and every once in a while he's going to get enveloped by a big body, but his instincts are so good, his ability to move under or over a block are so good, and his playmaking and instincts are so good. Think about Sean Lee (of the Dallas Cowboys), I think that's the best comparison. Sean Lee went in the second round to Dallas but has become a Pro Bowl (caliber) inside linebacker, and I think this kid is very similar and has none of the knee issues that Sean had and is a slightly better athlete."

Now, the Eagles could always sign a linebacker in free agency, rendering the perceived draft need at the position void. But if the team is looking to pick up a young middle linebacker early in the draft, Kuechly is the only prospect worthy of selection with the 15th pick according to Mayock.

"If he's not there, I think you've got a little bit of a problem inside," Mayock said. "Dont'a Hightower will be there I'm positive. I don't think Dont'a Hightower from Alabama is worthy of the 15th pick of the draft and I don't think there's any other inside linebacker worthy of that pick. So from my perspective, if it's not Kuechly at 15 and you're looking inside, I don't see an inside linebacker. Some people like Vontaze Burfict from Arizona State, I'm not a fan at all. So I think you'd be better off dropping down in the second or third round (for an inside linebacker) at that point."

The other position which Mayock believes the Eagles will keep a close eye on in the first round is defensive tackle, which he called "the deepest position in this draft."

"I think Kuechly's a special player and I think Kuechly can help solidify what's happening on that defense," said Mayock. "He's going to get everybody lined up in the right place. He's going to play well. I think he starts day one and I think he really solidifies what's going on up front there. Now, having said that, at 15, there could be two or three explosive defensive tackles sitting there. Jerel Worthy from Michigan State, I thought he threw around the Wisconsin offensive linemen, and those Wisconsin offensive linemen can play, and I thought he dominated the front of that game. He doesn't play as often as I like, but he's got special abilities. This Dontari Poe from Memphis is 350 pounds and he's got a physical skillset that reminds me of Haloti Ngata. Don't think he's Haloti Ngata, okay, but he's that big and he's got those kind of movement skills but he's so raw it's scary. He might not make a tackle year one, he's one of those guys. If I'm the Eagles and Kuechly's there, that might be a slam dunk for me because I know what I'm getting and I'm plugging a huge hole."

Worthy is officially listed as 6-3, 310, while Poe is listed as 6-5, 350. Both Worthy and Poe are underclassmen, as is LSU's Michael Brockers, another defensive tackle whom Mayock considers tempting. When asked to identify the best players who could potentially "slide" to the 15th pick, Mayock namechecked Brockers, Worthy and a potential offensive playmaker.

"I think a Jerel Worthy from Michigan State could be there at 15, I happen to like him a lot," Mayock said. "I think he could be there at 15. We already talked about Kuechly. I don't know what's going to happen to DeSean Jackson, if DeSean Jackson was not a Philadelphia Eagle, I think you'd have to be looking at (Baylor wide receiver) Kendall Wright, who's a similar type of guy. And if Michael Brockers was there, which I doubt, if Michael Brockers was there, you talk about someone sliding down a little bit, I would jump all over him. They'd be the kind of guys I'd be thinking about."

With about two and a half months remaining before we find out who will end up as the 15th overall pick, it's certainly all speculation at this point. But for now, Kuechly, Brockers, Worthy, Poe and Wright are names to remember.