After months of analyzing tape, crunching the numbers and projecting the picks, the 2013 NFL Draft is finally here. The experts have weighed in, and as always, our collection of 41 writers revealed no clear pick for the Eagles.
West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, Oklahoma tackle Lane Johnson and Oregon linebacker/defensive end Dion Jordan were the most popular picks in our final Mock Draft Tracker, each garnering seven selections. Next up was Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, who picked up six nods.
The list contains many of the usual staples, including Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner and Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher. For much of the offseason, Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel was the experts' most popular pick for the Eagles, but on draft day he finds himself with only one selection.
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 22 |
|
Comment: "More inclined to believe they'll trade up from their Round 2 pick to get him later in Round 1, but can't reflect that here." | ||
| ESPN (Todd McShay) | Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma | April 21 |
| 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) | Ziggy Ansah, OLB/DE, BYU | April 24 |
| Comment: "New coach Chip Kelly would love to take on former Oregon charge Dion Jordan, but Ansah is a better fit as a potential 5-technique." | ||
| 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) | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | April 23 |
| Comment: PROJECTED TRADE WITH SAN DIEGO: "Smith has been criticized, but I myself think he's a pretty good player. Moreover, with his athletic and passing ability, I think he can fill a system need for new Eagles coach Chip Kelly. There's a chance Smith might not be there at No. 11, but I think the Eagles can still afford to trade with the Chargers, because even if Smith is gone, Philly can try to move down a few more spots and get EJ Manuel." | ||
| 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) | Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma | April 22 |
| Comment: "The offensive tackles are going to fly off the board fast and even if both Joeckel and Fisher are still available at the fourth pick, Johnson might be the best fit for Chip Kelly and his offense. Johnson is just scratching the surface of his potential at tackle." | ||
| CBSSports.com (Rob Rang) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | April 21 |
| Comment: "Chip Kelly is known for the fast pace of his offense, but if the Eagles are to improve in the NFC East it is their defense that will need to improve the most. With Philadelphia expected to make the transition to a 3-4 scheme, it needs help up front, which the powerful Lotulelei can provide. The Eagles are one of three teams currently picking in the top 10 who have both worked out Lotulelei and invited him to visit their facility, NFLDraftScout.com has learned." | ||
| CBSSports.com (Pete Prisco) | Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon | April 24 |
| Comment: "Speed is badly needed in their new hybrid defense, which is why Jordan would be a great fit. He would re-unite with former college coach Chip Kelly." | ||
| Optimum Scouting (Eric Galko) | Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida | April 15 |
| Comment: "While I prefer Sheldon Richardson over Sharrif Floyd as a prospect, Floyd seems to be more highly viewed by NFL teams, and can step in and play the 5-technique spot on day one opposite Fletcher Cox." | ||
| NationalFootballPost.com (Russ Lande) | Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia | April 17 |
| 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 22 |
| Comment: "This feels like a spot ripe for trade (if the Raiders don't move out ahead of Philly anyway) given the presence of Luke Joeckel on the board. Someone could hop up ahead of Detroit and nab the big left tackle. But for right now we're going to give the Eagles the talented Utah defensive tackle." | ||
| 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 24 |
| Comment: "The Eagles are building a 3-4 defense and need an OLB with pass rush skills. Jordan played for Chip Kelly. If they take Jordan I would expect them to re-enter the first round late and grab a QB. Either Geno Smith or EJ Manuel could be the choice." | ||
| Iggles Blitz (Tommy Lawlor) | Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma | April 24 |
| Comment: "Johnson is a great athlete. His Combine workout would have been solid for a running back or linebacker, but it was phenomenal for an offensive tackle. He ran faster in the 40-yard dash than Anquan Boldin did at the Combine. Johnson is also strong, agile and explosive. His arms are 35 inches long, giving him an ideal frame for the offensive tackle position. Don't think of Johnson as a finesse athlete. He has a big-time mean streak. He loves to run block and wants to bury his opponent in the ground. Johnson has excellent potential and could develop into a Pro Bowl player." | ||
| 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 22 |
| Comment: "Chip Kelly knows he can't win with Michael Vick. So who's next? You're looking at him." | ||
| 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) | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | April 22 |
| Comment: "Fisher, the offensive tackle from Central Michigan, fills a need and has value. There's also a good track record for top 5 offensive tackles. Since 2010, 11 have been picked. Seven became Pro Bowlers." | ||
| Philadelphia Inquirer (Jeff McLane) | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | April 22 |
| Comment: "The Eagles will take that the best available player on the board and that will be Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher. That being said, I don't think Fisher will be there on Thursday. If that is the case, the Eagles will do whatever it takes to trade down. If they can't find a partner I think they'll take Oklahoma T Lane Johnson." | ||
| 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, DE/OLB, 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." | ||
| Yahoo! Sports (Greg Cosell) | Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon | April 22 |
| Comment: "This is where the defensive player that intrigues me the most comes off the board. That's Oregon DE/OLB Dion Jordan. I was fortunate to be on the field at the Scouting Combine, and to watch this 6-foot-6, 250-pounder move was a revelation. He looked like a wide receiver. On film, he was naturally athletic, very smooth and fluid, and surprisingly explosive given his length. At Oregon this past season, he primarily played in space, which he did exceptionally well. I had to study a lot of games to get a feel for his pass rush skills. They were impressive, and I believe he will become a very good edge rusher in the NFL. He showed the ability to get low and bend the edge with the needed flexibility to succeed against quality NFL offensive tackles. There's much to like about Jordan, and he's just scratching the surface. Want a comparison? How about Jason Taylor." | ||
| Philadelphia Daily News (Les Bowen) | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | April 22 |
| Comment: "I would try to trade down with the Jets at 13, because they really need Dee Milliner now. I would want to pick up a second and something else (I don't even know if the Jets have a second, and I'm not sure they know, but if they do, I want it). If nobody in the top 15 or so covets the fourth pick enough to make me draft-pick rich, then I'm gonna take Fisher." | ||
| Philadelphia Daily News (Paul Domowitch) | Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan | April 22 |
| Comment: "With Jordan off the board, I think there are two considerations for the Eagles here. One obviously is Fisher. The other is Star Lotulelelei. Guess you could throw in fast-rising OT Lane Johnson of Oklahoma as well. Lotulelei has the kind of versatility Chippah likes. Could play nose tackle and the 5-technique end spot. But I think No. 4 is just a little too high for Lotulelei, and I have some reservations about taking a 3-4 defensive lineman that high. Fisher is my selection. Can play right tackle this year, Herremans moves to left guard and Mathis moves to right guard." | ||
| Blogging The BEast (Jimmy Kempski) | Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon | April 23 |
| Comment:"While the Eagles' new coaching staff has been unwilling to put a label on what kind of defense they're going to run this year, the overwhelming thinking is that it is going to be some sort of 4-3/3-4 hybrid, similar to the one run by the Seahawks ... He's 6-foot-6, 248 pounds], very athletic, and extremely versatile. He can rush the passer, but his real value was that Oregon moved him all over the field and asked him to drop into coverage quite a bit, where he also excelled. The Eagles add a “do-everything” player to their front 7, and can continue to build around him and star-in-the-making Fletcher Cox." | ||
| [ESPN.com (Dan Graziano) | Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah | April 23 |
| Comment: "I went with Lotulelei, in part because I felt No. 4 was too high for Johnson but mainly because the buzzword since Chip Kelly took over has seemed to be "versatility," and I think Lotulelei's appeal is just that. He can play defensive end or even nose tackle in 3-4 sets, and I think he can play on the line even when they use 4-3 looks." | ||
| Rotoworld.com (Evan Silva) | Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma | April 23 |
| Comment:"While the Eagles' new coaching staff has been unwilling to put a label on what kind of defense they're going to run this year, the overwhelming thinking is that it is going to be some sort of 4-3/3-4 hybrid, similar to the one run by the Seahawks ... He's 6-foot-6, 248 pounds], very athletic, and extremely versatile. He can rush the passer, but his real value was that Oregon moved him all over the field and asked him to drop into coverage quite a bit, where he also excelled. The Eagles add a “do-everything” player to their front 7, and can continue to build around him and star-in-the-making Fletcher Cox." | ||
| [NFL.com (Mike Mayock) | Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma | April 25 |
| Comment: "He's the freakiest tackle I've ever seen in my life, and because of what Chip Kelly does -- up-tempo, maximize snaps, throw the bubble screens, throw the tunnel screens -- he needs a great athlete at left tackle." | ||
Make sure to follow us on Twitter @EaglesInsider
