What They’re Saying About the Eagles

There has been a lot of reaction nationwide about the Eagles’ draft. Praise, criticism, grades and more.

Click here for our first roundup. And here for roundup No. 2.

Finally, here’s one more look at what they’re saying about the Eagles.

The Eagles are 25th in ESPN.com’s post-draft power rankings:

New coach Chip Kelly remains a mystery. Will Matt Barkley be a factor at QB in 2013?

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com gives the Eagles a B:

They did some good things in this draft, but are they things that help right away? First-round pick Lane Johnson will be a special player. It was a nice start for the new regime.

ESPN.com’s Todd McShay says Lane Johnson was the Eagles’ best pick, and he calls Bennie Logan their most questionable:

Quite honestly, he ended up right where we graded him. I see there’s talent there, and the coaching staff loves him. I’m more uneasy with the deification of him during the process. On tape, I saw that he took a lot of plays off. He’d establish himself during a game, work in waves as he’d play hard for three, four, five or six plays at a time at 100 miles per hour. Then, he’d take plays off. He’s the one pick the Eagles had in the first four rounds in which they didn’t hit a home run.

Chris Burke of SI.com has a 2014 mock draft out. He’s got the Eagles picking ninth and taking UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley:

Renowned QB guru Steve Clarkson said that Hundley would have been the top pick in the 2013 draft, had he been eligible. It’s hard to argue, given the skills on this 6-3 QB. Another year like his freshman campaign (3,745 yards passing, 38 total touchdowns) should push Hundley to the draft.

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com gives the Eagles a B+ and calls the Zach Ertz pick the best by any NFC East team:

Ertz is a playmaking tight end with the speed and athleticism to stretch the field down the middle. Barkley might be the future at the quarterback position, despite his status as a fourth-round pick. He is a cerebral signal-caller with the ability to make quick decisions in a fast-paced offense. Earl Wolff and Jordan Poyer are sleeper prospects capable of upgrading the Eagles’ secondary.

Gregg Easterbrook of ESPN.com offers his thoughts on the Eagles’ draft:

So is Matt Barkley the next Todd Marinovich or the next Tom Brady? Barkley dropped from lottery pick, which he would have been in 2012, to fourth round mainly because USC had an off year. Football is a team sport — Barkley didn’t play as well as the previous season but was surrounded by people who weren’t playing as well. If EJ Manuel flames out and Geno Smith falls victim to the Jets’ organizational dysfunction, Barkley could end up the star quarterback of the 2013 draft. Though he is a traditional pocket passer; where will Barkley fit if Chip Kelly implements a zany Oregon-style blur offense?

Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com names Danny Watkins as one of 20 veterans hurt by the draft:

The team’s 2011 first-round pick is headed to the bench. Lane Johnson will take over at right tackle, moving Todd Herremans inside to right guard.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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