Paul Hudrick's second seven-round mock draft for the Eagles in 2016 is here. There are more options with the Eagles now holding the No. 8 pick in the first round. The 2016 NFL draft takes place in Chicago from April 28-30.
First round (8th overall (from Dolphins)): Ronnie Stanley (6-6/312), OL, Notre Dame
I outlined the realistic possibilities for the Eagles at No. 8 when the trade with the Dolphins became official. When I put out my first-round mock draft 2.0, Stanley fell to the Eagles. It's certainly possible that the Ravens will snag Stanley at No. 6, but Ozzie Newsome has had so much success by drafting the best player available (in this case Oregon's DeForest Buckner), regardless of need. In the Eagles' case, Stanley could be both. Really, this is almost a can't-miss situation for the Eagles with the options they'll have. Much more so than picking at 13. If Stanley is gone, Florida corner Vernon Hargearves would be a fine pick. The Eagles could then spend a later pick on an interior lineman. Don't sleep on Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott here, either.
Third round (77th overall): Bronson Kaufusi, (6-6/285), DE/OLB, BYU
Kaufusi is huge. He is also extraordinarily athletic, spending some time at outside linebacker and dropping into coverage. It wasn't always pretty for him in space, but he was productive as a pass rusher, registering 10 sacks and 18½ tackles for a loss during his senior year. He's a little bit of an older prospect, having spent two years on a Mormon mission.
His athleticism was on display during the combine where he ran a 4.87 40. Pretty impressive for such a large human. He needs a little work in the technique department, but he has a ton of physical ability. The more I watch of him the more I like him. He really just makes one move and attacks, which would seem to fit Jim Schwartz's scheme well.
Kaufusi rotating with Vinny Curry, Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham? You may have something there.
Third round (79th overall (from Lions)): Xavien Howard (6-0/201), CB, Baylor
Howard is long and physical, just like last year's second-round pick and presumed 2016 starter, Eric Rowe. He's aggressive — perhaps too aggressive at times. He takes a ton of penalties from being a little too handsy down the field. He also lacks "elite" speed, running a 4.58 40 (he did run a 4.41 at his pro day).
He was productive and showed off his ball skills at Baylor, registering nine picks during his sophomore and junior seasons combined. It's interesting in watching Howard how often Baylor left him on an island without much safety help over the top. He let up his fair share of deep balls because of it. He is excellent at getting his hands on receivers at the line and disrupting the timing of routes.
NFL
The biggest NFL comparison is Byron Maxwell. I know, I know. But imagine a younger version of Maxwell, at a much lower price tag, developed in Schwartz's system. The Eagles have also invested a ton of money in the safety position. A corner like Howard that excels in press coverage should benefit from better play behind him. With the depth the team has at the corner position in 2016, Howard won't have pressure to play right away.
Fourth round (100th overall (from Titans)): Paul Perkins (5-10/208), RB, UCLA
Perkins is extremely shifty. He's not the biggest and may not be an every-down back, but he is a big play waiting to happen.
I can't help but think of what Jamaal Charles was able to do in Doug Pederson's offense in Kansas City. Perkins may never turn into the Pro Bowl back Charles has become, but he was productive and durable despite his size. His numbers went down a little in 2015 (6.3 yards per rush in '14, 5.7 in '15) but he still ran for 1,343 yards this season and his touchdown total went up. He also caught 80 balls during his time with the Bruins.
Fifth round (153rd overall): Jacoby Brissett (6-4/231), QB, NC State
Brissett would have a been a great fit for the previous regime, but I think he can work as a developmental project with the current staff, too. He's tall, athletic and has a big arm. He's accurate on short passes but is a little inconsistent on the deep ball. His biggest flaw is that he hangs on to the ball way too long, way too often, but his escapability can lead to Randall-esque plays.
His completion percentage overall wasn't great (59.7 percent), but he did take care of the football. The Florida transfer threw 43 touchdowns to only 11 interceptions during his time at NC State.
Brissett has elite physical tools. He'd be surrounded by a slew of former quarterbacks on the coaching staff and would have a pair of veterans with him on the depth chart. As a fifth rounder, he'd be under no pressure to start right away. He'll have plenty of time to develop.
Fifth round (164th overall (from Steelers)): Joe Dahl, (6-4/304), OL, Washington State
Dahl is the lone survivor from my first Eagles' mock. There's nothing special about Dahl. His size isn't particularly great and he's likely better suited for the inside. He's a decent athlete but not a great one. He's just a good football player. He played very well as Washington State's left tackle and handled himself pretty well against some of the elite pass rushers in the Pac-12. He helps continue to usher in the youth movement along the Eagles' offensive line.
Sixth round (188th overall): Demarcus Robinson, (6-1/203), WR, Florida
Robinson has red flags galore. He was suspended four times at Florida and his production was inconsistent. He's not a great route runner, his 40 time wasn't spectacular (4.59) and there's word that he "bombed" the interview process.
If you're still reading this, I promise you it gets better. Clearly there are some maturity and focus issues with Robinson. But his size and explosiveness on the football field are intriguing. He flashed big time in the Gators' win over Ole Miss this season hauling in eight passes for 98 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown.
This is a guy Chip Kelly would have never touched, but in the sixth round, he could be a steal if he gets his act together. Also, I can't imagine Howie going this whole draft without taking a Gator.
Seventh round (233rd overall): Kyle Friend, (6-2/308), OL, Temple
A little love for the local kid. Like Dahl, Friend doesn't have ideal size, but he was a very good football player at Temple. He's smart, tough and crazy strong. He also offers versatility with the ability to play guard or center. He was a team captain and was named first-team all-conference. I went back and watched more tape on Friend. His game against Penn State is impressive. The Nittany Lions were a mess this year, but the one thing they did have is an impressive front four, including a potential first-round pick in defensive tackle Austin Johnson. Friend did well to get his hands on his assignment early and showed his strength, especially in the run game.
Seventh round (251st overall (from Cardinals)): Quinton Jefferson, (6-4/291), DT, Maryland
Jefferson has an interesting story. He's been productive during his time at Maryland. During his senior season, he earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors, recording 12½ tackles for loss, 6½ sacks, an interception, and a blocked kick. In the NFL, he's likely just a rotational player in an attacking-style defense. He would seem to be a fit for Schwartz and the Eagles could use some depth at tackle.