Eagles Wake-Up Call: Draft Predictions (Part 3)

In the first installment, we gave our takes on what ultimately will happen with Marcus Mariota. Yesterday, we looked at first-round targets if the Eagles don’t move up for the Oregon QB. And today, we each name two players most likely to end up in Philadelphia one way or another.

Sheil:

Adrian Amos, S, Penn State – I expect the Eagles to add at least two defensive backs in the next three days. It’s not a particularly deep or talented group of safeties, but Amos (6-0, 218) seems like a fit. He has good size and adequate athleticism. Most importantly, he’s a scheme fit. Amos has experience playing corner, nickel and safety. The Eagles had him in for an official visit at the NovaCare Complex and also worked him out separately at Amos’ high school in Baltimore. Look for the Eagles to target Amos in the third or fourth round.

Obum Gwacham, OLB, Oregon State – I had to dig deep for this one. When Ed Marynowitz was describing what the Eagles look for in late-round picks, he mentioned raw physical tools and the smarts/work ethic needed to develop. Gwacham (6-5, 246) fits the bill. He is a fantastic athlete who just made the switch from offense to defense last year. Here’s what one scout told NFL.com about Gwacham:

“This guy is going to blow some people away with his explosion numbers and teams will love him in interviews because he’s a genuinely good guy. As a player, he still needs a lot of time to develop and you better set aside time for that and have a plan for him.”

Gwacham seems like a high-character, developmental prospect who fits the prototype from a physical standpoint. He was also one of the team’s 30 official visits. Don’t be surprised if the Eagles add him on Day 3.

Tim: How dare you steal my Obum Gwacham thunder! That’s beautiful. Already looking forward to the, “Great call on Gwacham, Sheil!” tweets Saturday evening.

Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon — Most mock drafts will be lit on fire come 8:15 tonight. This process is fluid and unpredictable and it’s tough to know who will be available come pick 20 (let alone  52, 84, etc.) and how the Eagles might have those prospects ranked. We are confident in the fact that they have Mariota rated quite high, and believe that Kelly is going to make a play for him. Landing Mariota is no sure thing, but at least the interest and effort will be there.

 Shaq Thompson, LB/S, Washington

Is he a safety? Is he a linebacker? How would he fit in Billy Davis‘ scheme? There are questions, yes, but the Eagles seem intrigued and have been doing their homework on him. Thompson was apparently “recruited aggressively” by Kelly coming out of high school. It’s a safe bet that he’s a fan of his versatility. Thompson (6-0, 228) played running back, safety and linebacker in 2014 and was the winner of the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player. He could certainly appeal to the coach’s creative side.

If Thompson makes it to 52, I can see the Eagles grabbing him.

WHAT YOU MISSED

“I try not to worry about anything I can’t control.” Mychal Kendricks talks to T-Mac about trade speculation, his absence and more.

Eagles first-round cheat sheet: Dividing the top 50 players into five tiers. Targets, trade-up options, trade-down options and more.

The Mariota-Eagles dream is not over yet. Great overview here from McManus.

A bunch of rumors surfaced yesterday. We made sense of them all in our draft buzz thread.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Great post by Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice with his big board. He thinks Miami (Ohio) DB Quinten Rollins could be an option on Day 2:

Rollins is a playmaker. During the week of practices at the Senior Bowl, he showed a knack for locating the ball in the air and making plays on it, something Philly fans rarely saw from Eagles starting corners in 2014. In the Senior Bowl game itself, he made a very nice over the shoulder interception. Rollins was a star basketball player at Miami (OH) for four years, and didn’t play football until his senior year, when he had seven interceptions. He didn’t test well at the Combine, which could force a move to safety at the next level, where Rollins should adjust. He has absolutely no issue with blasting receivers and running backs in the mouth.

Jeff McLane of the Inquirer on Mariota:

They don’t know him as well, but if Kelly’s two years with the Eagles have taught us anything, it is that known commodities have an advantage in his eyes. For every other team, Mariota is a projection, in particular because he didn’t play in a pro style offense in college.

“If he’s in Chip’s system he’ll be rookie of the year and a Pro Bowler,” a senior NFL executive said. “If he’s in a traditional system he’s a year or two away from being an effective player.”

COMING UP

Expecting a slow day. No hard feelings if you don’t visit as much as normal. Doubt there will be anything going on.