Between now and the draft, our draft pundits Ron Burke, Chris Steuber, Jared Sherman and Geoff Mosher will provide their latest Eagles mock drafts. They will make selections for each of the Eagles' six picks, and when they update their selections, their new mocks will be posted.
Round 1, pick 22: CB Jason Verrett, TCU (5-9/189)
Don’t be fooled by his relatively small size. Verrett (4.38 forty) is a tough, feisty player with flypaper coverage abilities. He reads quarterbacks' tendencies effectively and breaks on the ball as well as any corner in this year’s draft class. He is the type of corner that would elevate the Eagles' secondary right away. Verrett played the 2013 season with a labrum injury that required shoulder surgery in March. Assuming he checks out medically, he should be a player in high demand early in the draft process.
An option of a bigger corner may be Virginia Tech’s Kyle Fuller, in the event he is still on the board.
(Mock 3.0 pick: CB Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech)
Round 2, pick 54: SS Deone Bucannon, Washington State (6-1/211)
By addressing the secondary with their first two picks, the Eagles solidify the defensive backfield.
Bucannon may be a bit of a reach here, but the safety position drops off after the second round. Bucannon is aggressive and excels at the physical part of the game. I like that he does everything at full-speed, though he needs to be a better tackler in the open field against quick/fast runners. Bucannon shows an intensity that suggests he will work hard at getting better. He had a poor showing against Oregon but that game is not indicative of his overall production in 2013.
Not great in coverage but will lay a hit when he can. Bucannon strikes me as a player that will give up his share of receptions but also will deliver the big hit that could serve as a message.
NFL
N.C. State’s Dontae Johnson may be a safety option in a later round.
(Mock 3.0 pick: WR Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt)
Round 3, pick 86: WR Paul Richardson, Colorado (6-0/175)
If LSU’s Jarvis Landry (5-11/205) is available, I would be just as open to selecting him in this spot. Richardson is a player that offers value here in the third. His skills might even be second-round quality, but his slender physique could have him taken later than the third.
Wideouts often struggle in the transition from college to the NFL because, on Sundays, they often are going against the best athletes on the field (see story).
Richardson has some encouraging attributes even as he faced troubling circumstances on the field. He tore his ACL in the spring of 2012, yet rebounded well enough to have a highly productive season in 2013. He’s shifty enough to escape jams at the line and plays up to his timed speed (4.4 40-yard dash), which would allow him to stretch the field.
(Mock 3.0 pick: S Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois)
Round 4, pick 122: WR Bruce Ellington, South Carolina (5-9/197)
I may not be doing Ellington justice by slotting him in the fourth round, but in a deep field of receivers I’ll take my chances. The Eagles may not be expecting to go back-to-back with receivers, but Ellington, like Richardson, is a player whose speed (4.45 in the 40) is difficult to resist. Ellington is an exceptional athlete (he also played point guard for the Gamecocks). He gets off the line with explosion and runs fluid routes.
The guess here is that by focusing solely on football, his already-enticing skills might improve dramatically. Ellington also returned kickoffs at South Carolina.
(Mock 3.0 pick: LB Christian Kirksey, Iowa)
Round 5, pick 162: ILB Avery Williamson, Kentucky (6-1/246)
His strength is as a run-stopper. Williamson tackles well and seems to enjoy the physical nature of the position. Could figure as a rotational inside linebacker on expected rushing downs. Not as proficient against the pass. Should be able to contribute on special teams.
(Mock 3.0 pick: ILB Andrew Jackson, Western Kentucky)
Round 7, pick 237: TE Rob Blanchflower, Massachusetts (6-4/256)
Blanchflower was a four-year starter and is the Minutemen’s all-time yardage leader among tight ends (1,164 yards). He played in only a handful of games in 2013 because of a sports hernia that required surgery. Reportedly, the Senior Bowl invitee recovered well enough to work out during a private pro day in late April after being unable to do so during the combine.
On the field, Blanchflower is a gamer. He runs with determination and fights for yards. His ability to settle into open areas of the defensive zone could draw value as red zone target. He also is a willing blocker and was as asset to the UMass downfield passing game in that role.
(Mock 3.0 pick: WR Shaq Evans, UCLA)