1(26)-Marcus Smith, OLB, Louisville
The best part of
this pick is that he is not a project. During Andy Reid’s draft he would pick
players that he had a crush. They would be expected to play a position that
they did not play in college or their body does not fit. Marcus is 6-4 and 258.
Smith has NFL size, athleticism, and skill. He can play OLB in the NFL because
he can rush the passer, set the edge, and play in space. Smith is not a pure
pass rusher. Marcus Smith does not have to start right away. This is good
because he will have a lot of learn. Cole and Barwin will start the season
dominating the snap count. Smith will come in situationally. Hopefully Smith is
a soon to be Connor Barwin.
2 (42) - Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt
Matthews will be
the one player of the Eagles 2014 draft that will be able to contribute
effectively right away. This
receiver out of Vanderbilt has good size due to his long arms and big hands. Jordan
Matthews is a muscular receiver that has the drive and focus to fight for the
ball in the air at its catchable highest point. This took Riley Cooper a while
to learn. That is a difference between a fifth round pick and a second. Matthews has no injury history and has started
every game in college. Like Kelly’s offense Vanderbilt’s is also a spread
offense. So Jordan Matthews is another good fit for the offensive scheme. Matthews
will be replacing Avant. Maclin and Cooper will be predominately outside.
3 (86) - Josh Huff, WR, Oregon
Chip Kelly knows
what he is getting with Josh Huff because Huff is from Oregon. Oregon players
were both tough and fast. Huff is a player that will do what some players would
not so others will appear to be faster. Kelly knows Huff will play special
teams, block, sot WR, and outside. He is an option at kick return. He is a role
player that will be most effective in the middle of the field. Being 260, he
can take hits and be physical in the middle of the field. He could be the Eagle’s
future Darren Sproles.
4 (101) - Jaylen Watkins, CB, Florida
Watkins is 5-11
and 194. During his college career for the Florida Gators he played S, CB and nickel
corner. At the combine he ran a 40 in 4.41. But he is also agile. The Eagles
will most likely see where he fits at early on in training camp. When it gets
towards the end they will have him learn and stick with one position. He is
best in man coverage. He has the skillset of being a Charles Woodson type of
player.
5 (141) - Taylor Hart, DE, Oregon
Big guys beat up
little guys. This is an adage from Chip Kelly that is almost a cliché within
the Eagles blogosphere. Hart is 6-6 281. Hart is not only big he is athletic,
which allows him to be versatile; something else that Chip treasures. On
passing downs or nickel or dime Taylor can be on the inside of the defensive
line, DT. And for the base defense he play on the outside as a 3-4 DE. He can
be a pass rusher and play 2-gap defense. Hart will be competition for backup DE
spot. This depth will help the Eagles rotate their defensive lineman. Oh and he
fits what Chip Kelly wants so much because he was from Oregon.
5 (162) - Ed Reynolds, S, Stanford
This guy is smart.
Chip Kelly had a theme of picking graduates and not juniors. He wanted players
that committed to their academics. Safety is a position that is often called
the QB of the defense. They have the most to read and interpret before the
snap. A safety has to know whether to backpedal or to move up into the box. The
Eagles were impressed with not only his school brain coming from Stanford, but
his football brain as well. During Kelly’s press conference after the pick, Chip
mentioned that he was impressed by how well he can breakdown film. It is
comforting to know that the coaching staff feels comfortable with Reynolds
running the defense. He is not a captivating player, but Kelly wants a
secondary that will tackle and keep the play in front of them by sticking with
their assignment. He is a basic safety that can play through contact.
7 (224) - Beau Allen, NT, Wisconsin
The Eagles defense
was on the field for the most amount of time last out of the entire NFL. Allen
will allow depth. Jerry Azzinaro, Eagles defensive line coach, will be rotating
his defensive line players more this coming year than last year. Allen is not a
nose pick. He is a nose tackle that will contribute right away by allowing the
starters to rest. When the eagles picked him, other teams were looking forward
to signing him as an undrafted free agent. The Philadelphia made sure to get
him. This pick was a good value and fit. He fits a need that the Eagles needed
at backup NT. He will compete against Damian Square for the backup NT spot on
the roster. Being 6-2 322 he has the size to be effective against the run. He
is a big weird guy.
-Glen
