A lot of draft analysts release a mock draft that attempts to forecast the first round. Some go a step further and delve into the second round. The Sporting News has issued its Top 100 selections and Comcast SportsNet's Jared Sherman analyzed the Eagles' selections. The Eagles have five picks in the first three rounds, remember, with two in the second round and two in the third round.
* No. 24 - Maurkice Pouncey, C - Florida*
Sherman wrote that "with Jamaal Jackson's status for the start of next season up in the air, and the shaky play of Stacy Andrews and Nick Cole at RG the Eagles need to address the interior o-line."
No. 37 - Nate Allen, S - South Florida
"This would be an ideal situation for the Eagles who desperately need to find a partner for Quintin Mikell," Sherman wrote. "Allen is big enough to make a difference in the box and fast enough to track receivers down the field. Allen would be a great alternative if the Eagles can't trade up for Tennessee's Eric Berry."
* No. 55 - Jermaine Gresham, TE - Oklahoma*
Surprised by this pick? So is Sherman.
"For one, the Birds have a lot of needs and TE isn't one of them. Two, I feel Gresham is the top TE in the draft and won't be there this late in the game. And finally, the Eagles already have Cornelius Ingram coming back from a knee injury, and Gresham is coming back from knee surgery that kept him out the entire 2009 season," Sherman wrote.
No. 70 - Geno Atkins, DT - Georgia
"The prototypical Andy Reid DT, Atkins is short, squatty (6-1, 286), and very strong. Trevor Laws hasn't been able to make an impact behind Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson and it may be time to get them some real help," Sherman wrote. "Atkins won't put up big sack numbers but is very good in tight spaces and quick to the ball carrier."
No. 87 - Daryl Washington, OLB - TCU
"Getting Washington this late in the draft would be quite a coup. I think he's an early to mid-second round value," Sherman wrote. "Washington has all the physical tools to be an impact WLB, but just needs good coaching to put it all together. Plays hard on every snap."
Let the speculation fly. The draft is just a week away.
-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 11:00 a.m., April 15
