Eagles Wake-Up Call: The New Top Ten

Vernon Hargreaves. (USA Today Sports)

It’s been four weeks since Howie Roseman said ten players in this year’s draft stand out to the Eagles, and three weeks since we unveiled our first consensus ranking of the top prospects. No games have been played since then, but more film has been poured over, and more information has come out.

To compile this list, we averaged out rankings from the same five sources as before: ESPN’s Scouts Inc., CBS Sports, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Burke and Rotoworld’s Josh Norris. The top half is essentially the same as it was before the updates, except UCLA outside linebacker Myles Jack separated himself and is no longer tied for third with Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa. But the bottom half is where it’s gets interesting.

Somewhat surprisingly, both quarterbacks fell, with only Cal’s Jared Goff remaining in the top-10. North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz wasn’t close to making it, as he fell to No. 13, behind Ohio State outside linebacker Darron Lee and Louisville defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves also entered the top-10, coming in tied at No. 8 with Ole Miss receiver Laquon Treadwell.

Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil is firmly entrenched at the top spot, as three of the five rankings slotted him at No. 1. Bosa and Jack also received one vote each. Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley has one of the smallest ranges of any prospect, as his highest ranking is No. 7, and his lowest is No. 10. Each list has Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott in the top-8, while only two included Goff in the top-10.

1. OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss
Height/Weight: 6-5, 310

Analysis (ESPN): “Tunsil started at LOT in all 26 games that he played at Ole Miss, but he missed time in all three seasons. A knee injury kept him out of the Rebels’ 2013 bowl game. In the 2014 season, he missed two games with a partially torn biceps and the Peach Bowl with a dislocated ankle/broken leg. In 2015, he was suspended by the NCAA for seven games due to impermissible benefits and failing to be forthcoming with investigators. If comfortable with his durability and character issues, Tunsil is the clear-cut top offensive lineman in this draft. He has perennial Pro Bowl potential.”

2. DB Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
Height/Weight: 6-1, 209

Analysis (ESPN): “Ramsey is an elite athlete who also competed on FSU’s track team (2015 ACC Indoor Long Jump Champion 25 feet, 2.75″). Ramsey has exceptional length and rare versatility line up any where in the secondary. Biggest knock right now is his lack of elite ball skills. Ramsey also comes with outstanding makeup. Raised in a supportive and disciplined 2-parent home. Father Lamont is a fire fighter in Nashville. Highly competitive individual that loves the game and with excellent leadership and preparation habits. Team captain. Ramsey is a top-5 player in this class with All-Pro potential.”

3. OLB Myles Jack, UCLA
Height/Weight: 6-1, 245

Analysis (ESPN): “Jack suffered a season-ending knee injury (torn anterior meniscus) in Game 3 of 2015 (BYU). He underwent surgery in late September and was limited during the pre-draft process (no 40 or shuttles but posted a 40-inch vertical jump.”

4. DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State
Height/Weight: 6-5, 269

Analysis (ESPN): “Bosa enters the 2016 NFL draft as an underclassman who dominated the highest level of college football for most of his three seasons at Ohio State. His sack production dipped in 2015 (8.5 sacks versus 13.5 in ’14), while being double-or-triple teamed nearly every snap. But he finished his career with 50.5 TFLs and 26 sacks in 41 games. Bosa lacks elite speed as an edge rusher (seen on tape and in his 4.86 40 at the combine) but the rest of his physical traits range from good to exceptional, and he shows the relentlessness and instincts shared by most top-level NFL pass rushers.”

5. RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
Height/Weight: 6-0, 225

Analysis (ESPN): “Elliott burst onto the national scene during Ohio State’s national championship run during the 2014 season, and in two seasons, he racked up 3,699 yards and 41 touchdowns on 562 carries (6.6 ypc), while also catching 55 passes. In addition to his well-rounded skills in the run game, Elliott shows natural pass-catching ability, and he brings elite toughness to the field as a blocker. Elliott is the top running back prospect in the 2016 class and he projects as a top-15 pick.”

6. DE DeForest Buckner, Oregon
Height/Weight: 6-7, 291

Analysis (ESPN): “Buckner’s ceiling is a notch below former teammate and 2014 first-round pick Arik Armstead (49ers) but he has similar measureables and was a more consistent player during his career at Oregon. Buckner had just 7.5 sacks during his first three seasons but he racked up 10.5 sacks in 2016. He played in all 54 games during his four-year career and totaled 30 TFLs as a fulltime starter the last two (2014-15). Buckner has been durable and productive, and his versatility is appealing for teams that like to be multiple on defense. Buckner is a top-10 prospect.”

7. OT Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame
Height/Weight: 6-6, 312

Analysis (ESPN): “Stanley is a three-year starter who didn’t test as well at the Combine as we had expected but he’s one of the top three offensive tackles in this class when you throw on the tape. He’s an outstanding pass blocker with a prototypical frame and he projects best at left tackle where has the ability to compete for a starting role as a rookie. That said, it’s worth noting that he’s a versatile player who could play on the right side as he played right tackle in 2013 before moving to left tackle for his last two seasons at Notre Dame.”

T-8. CB Vernon Hargreaves, Florida
Height/Weight: 5-10, 204

Analysis (ESPN): “Vernon Hargreaves (HAR-graves) is a coaches son, who comes with excellent football make-up. (His father Vernon II is currently the LB coach for Arkansas.) He has outstanding instincts and possesses the most natural movement skills in the this year’s CB class. He is undersized and can be susceptible to an occasional big play down the field. But he has the aggressiveness and confidence to overcome his lack of ideal measureables, which will allow him to develop into a quality starting CB on the outside. He projects as an early first round selection.”

T-8. WR Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
Height/Weight: 6-2, 221

Analysis (ESPN): “In 39 games as a three-year starter, Treadwell racked up 202 receptions for 2,393 yards (11.8) and 21 TDs. He led the Rebels in catches all three seasons, including 2014 when he played just nine games before suffering a gruesome injury vs. Auburn (fractured fibula/dislocated ankle). Without him, the Rebels averaged just 11.3 points in their three remaining games vs. FBS teams. Treadwell put durability worries to rest with a bounce-back season in 2015 (82-1,153-11). Treadwell lacks vertical speed but is a complete player otherwise. Grades out as a late first-round prospect.”

10. QB Jared Goff, California
Height/Weight: 6-4, 215

Analysis (ESPN): “Goff is an early-entry prospect, but he did start 37 games at Cal, taking the program from 1-11 in 2013 to 8-5 in 2015. In his final two seasons completed 63.8 percent of his throws with 78 TDs compared to 20 INTs (3.9-1 ratio). Goff has first-round physical tools, as well as high-level football intelligence and work ethic, which is why he might be the top QB selected in 2016. But in order to sustain success in the NFL, Goff must improve his consistency with lower-body mechanics (which will lead to better ball placement) and continue to add bulk his frame.”

WHAT YOU MISSED

New Eagles offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski is eyeing a starting spot.

Draft Daily: Joey Bosa, the Ohio State defensive end who could fall in the draft.

Our updated Eagles pre-draft visit tracker.

Morning Notes: Tim on Super ‘Nova, trading up for Carson Wentz and a Jack Conklin comparison.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Tommy Lawlor’s take at Iggles Blitz on what to make of the Carson Wentz rumors.

Let’s start by talking about Zierlein. His father is an NFL O-line coach so he has lots of connections and knows what he is talking about. Lance writes draft profiles for NFL.com. He does a lot of research and gets his share of inside scoops. I completely believe that he’s heard the Eagles like Wentz. I’ve thought for a few weeks that Wentz could be the guy that Pederson really covets.

Trading up for Wentz is where things get complicated.

If he was an Andrew Luck type of prospect, multiple teams would be fighting to get the top pick. Wentz isn’t that good and there are some legit questions with him. The Eagles may still covet him, but they simply might have a lower breaking point when it comes to moving up.

Washington went all out to get RGIII because they felt they had to go get him. The Eagles “want” Wentz. That’s different than going all out. Would the Titans be willing to trade out of No. 1 without a king’s ransom? I think they realize their roster has a lot of holes and one player isn’t going to make them a contender. My guess is that they would take a reasonable offer.

Stefen Wisniewski is hoping his prove-it deal with the Eagles pays off, writes CSN Philly’s Dave Zangaro.

“It’s been tough,” said Wisniewski, who signed his deal on Monday and spoke to Philly media on Tuesday afternoon.

“I was certainly hoping to sign a long-term deal for some good money, and thought I played good enough to deserve that and a lot of people did, but just didn’t work out with circumstances and whatnot.”

Wisniewski waited for that long-term deal to come over the last few weeks, before ultimately deciding his best bet was to sign a one-year deal with the Eagles and try his luck in free agency again next year.

In addition to visiting with the Eagles, he also visited the Steelers and had an offer to return to the Jaguars, who he was with on a one-year deal in 2015, but said Jacksonville was “low-balling” him.

COMING UP

We’ll take a look at Ronnie Stanley in Draft Daily.