Eagles To Host DB Jaylen Watkins

The Eagles are bringing in University of Florida cornerback/safety Jaylen Watkins for a visit, according to an NFL source. He is expected to arrive in Philly on April 2.

Watkins (6-0, 194) is the brother of Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who is projected to be a top-10 pick. Jaylen started nine games for the Gators this season — three at cornerback and six at safety. He finished the year with 52 tackles and seven passes defensed. The Cape Coral, Florida native had three interceptions while with the Gators — all of them coming in 2012.

Watkins ran a 4.41 40-time at the combine.

Here is NFL.com’s take:

Strengths

Nice size for a cornerback. Good fluidity and movement skills. Alert in zones. Flashes some playmaking ability. Versatile — lines up as a corner, safety and nickel defender and plays on all special teams.

Weaknesses

Thin-framed, small-boned and short-armed with minimal muscular development. Lacks ideal size and strength for a safety and quickness and burst for a corner. Average press strength to re-route receivers. Allows separation at break points — late to transition out of his pedal. Too grabby. Selective hitter — shows up in spurts. Not a physical tackler. Tends to propel his shoulder into ball carriers and needs to do a better job securing tackles.

He is projected to go in the second or third round, according to CBS Sports.

Chip Kelly likes versatile players that can line up all over the field. That is part of the reason why the team was interested in signing Malcolm Jenkins. Seems like Watkins could potentially bring that element to the table as well. He also played some special teams while with the Gators.

Here is some footage of Watkins from a 2012 game against LSU, courtesy of DraftBreakdown: