Eagles Draft Buzz Thread: 4/17

Between now and the draft, we’ll have daily threads with the latest mocks, buzz and relevant links. Check back throughout the day for updates.

3:10 p.m.: In his most recent mock draft, Will Brinson of CBS Sports has the Eagles making a pair of trades to move into the No. 2 slot.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (via MOCK TRADE with Tennessee Titans) — Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon — Chip gets his guy through some fancy draft-day finagling. It theoretically does cost him a lot in this draft if he has to pay an expediency tax to the Browns and Titans, but the thinking here is he loves Mariota enough to push hard once draft day rolls around.

Brinson has the Eagles acquiring the No. 12 pick from Cleveland for Sam Bradford, then using it as part of a package to entice the Titans to give up the second overall pick.

2:12 p.m.: Adam Caplan with some thoughts on the quarterback crop outside of Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston.

Sounds like the QBs might be coming off the board pretty quick.

While Bryce Petty is the favorite to be the 3rd QB picked, Garrett Grayson may go higher than most expect.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) April 17, 2015

Brett Hundley is the “wildcard” for the QB group–still think 2nd, but hard to pin exact area.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) April 17, 2015

And Brandon Bridge is a nice developmental QB late. Worth taking a chance on due to size, arm strength.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) April 17, 2015

11:35 a.m.: Eagles schedule will be available soon:

Our schedule makers are nearing the goal line. #NFL ’15 schedule to be released next week. Day TBD — Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) April 17, 2015

11:27 a.m. NJ.com talked to New Hampshire receiver R.J. Harris about what it’s like to go through a private workout for Chip Kelly.

“Chip put me through an hour-long workout. We started off with flexibility testing. Then we did some stationary catching drills and proceeded to on the move catching drills. We finished up with a route tree. It was a really good workout.”

Harris, 6-foot, 200 pounds, re-wrote the University of New Hampshire record book during his four-year career. Harris accounted for 4,328 yards and 36 touchdowns during his time in the prolific UNH offense, surpassing Dave Ball as the school’s all-time leading receiver.

9:32 a.m.: Don Banks of SI.com has the Eagles selecting Alabama safety Landon Collins.

Sure, I can see how much Philly needs someone to fill the No. 1 receiver role vacated by the departed Jeremy Maclin. I just can’t see any real candidates at No. 20, the way this scenario breaks down. That makes it easy to opt for Collins, given the thin state of the Eagles’ safety depth chart. It’ll be easier to find a quality receiver than a quality safety in rounds 2 and beyond.

Next Best Available Option: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest.

9:25 a.m. Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports put together a two-round mock. He has the Eagles selecting UCONN DB Byron Jones at 20.

Chip Kelly is all about long, explosive athletes and the 6-foot-1, 199-pound (and 32-inch-armed) Jones is a perfect example of what he’s looking for, and at a need position to boot. Jones is instinctive — one scout we talked to compared him to Devin McCourty coming out of Rutgers — with positional flexibility at safety, which he played earlier in his career, and corner. If you watch Jones play in 2013 before a season-ending shoulder injury in 2014, it’s clear he has big-time ability.

And Ohio State WR Devin Smith at 52.

A good fit for what the Eagles need on offense as an explosive burner and on special teams as a gunner.