Eagles Wake Up Call: Three-Round Mock

The NFL Draft is three weeks away. To mark the occasion, here’s my stab at what the Eagles will do with their first three picks (assuming they don’t deal them all the way).

1) Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

I was between Collins and UCONN’s Byron Jones. Either way, I’m thinking the Eagles go defensive back here.

Collins has the measurables (6-1, 203, 4.48-40) they’re looking for and the tools necessary to excel on this level. The main concern with him is that he only started 10 games in college. There’s not a very large sample size to go off. But as we know, Kelly is not afraid of a little risk. The upside will be too much to resist.

Mike Mayock put Collins second in his cornerback prospect rankings behind Michigan State’s Trae Waynes. The Eagles reportedly had him in for a visit this week.

2) Nelson Agholor, WR, USC

“It’s another year where there are some really good receivers in the draft,” Kelly said at the owners meetings. “I think probably the one position in the draft that has the most depth in the draft is wide receiver.”

Said depth gives the Eagles some flexibility. Like last year, there should be some good value outside of the first round should they pass on a wideout at No. 20. That said, you don’t want to wait too long to grab one of your top targets.

Sheil did a great job of explaining why Algholor (6-0, 198) fits the bill. Versatility? Check. YAC ability? Check. Willing blocker? Special teams contributor? Beat up on Oregon when Kelly was the coach? Check, check and check.

Kelly recently traveled to Tampa to work him out.

Will Agholor make it all the way down to 52? Maybe not. Last year they moved up to grab Jordan Matthews. Perhaps they go a similar route this time around.

3) Daryl Williams, T/G, Oklahoma

A friend and former teammate of Lane Johnson, Williams (6-5, 327) was named first-team All Big 12 this past season. He played mostly right tackle for the Sooners but could move to guard in the pros, at least early on.

Jeff Stoutland is in need of reinforcements. Todd Herremans is gone, Jason Peters and Evan Mathis are both 33, and there are no sure-fire solutions currently on the roster. The Eagles were hoping to invest in the offensive line last May but the draft didn’t fall their way in that respect. It’s unlikely they come away empty-handed for a second year in a row. Kelly could go with Oregon tackle Jake Fisher in the first round. If not, Williams is a name to keep in mind.

WHAT YOU MISSED

A look at how Kiko Alonso, Mychal Kendricks and DeMeco Ryans could end up splitting time.

After signing a pair of players on Tuesday, the Eagles had RB Cedric Peerman come to Philadelphia for a visit.

Jon Gruden works out Marcus Mariota, Brett Hundley and Bryce Petty for his 2015 edition of Gruden’s QB Camp.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Reuben Frank of CSN Philly compares LeSean McCoy‘s and DeMarco Murray‘s 2014 numbers:

McCoy does historically have a higher percentage of negative runs than Murray, but the difference is not that big.

And the numbers for most of last year will definitely surprise you.

Generally, however you compare Murray and McCoy, Shady has either 3 or 4 percent more runs for no yards or fewer than Murray.

He also has far more long touchdown runs, too.

Last year, Murray actually led the NFL in negative runs, but he also led the NFL in attempts, so it’s not that surprising.

In 2014, McCoy ran for no gain or less 22.1 percent of the time, and Murray did 18.4 percent of the time.

Over the past two years — a span in which McCoy and Murray are the NFL’s two leading rushers and took turns leading the league in rushing — McCoy ran for zero or fewer yards 19.9 percent of the time and Murray did 16.4 percent of the time.

Les Bowen of the Daily News looks at the newest Eagle, DB E.J. Biggers:

The Birds like versatility, but Biggers’ best chance to make the team would seem to be at safety, where the Eagles have not been able to sign a replacement for Nate Allen, allowed to leave in free agency to the Raiders. Chip Kelly was believed to be very interested in Patriots safety Devin McCourty, but McCourty ended up signing back in New England before the market opened.

The Eagles are expected to come up with a safety at some point in the NFL draft, which starts April 30, but this is not considered a strong crop of safeties, and the only surefire first-rounder, Alabama’s Landon Collins, might not be versatile and athletic enough for the Birds’ scheme.

COMING UP

We’ll catch you up with all the latest draft buzz.