2017 Draft Thread

[PhillyPhreak54]

And I just landed there

Pump!!! Love that dude

[ice grillin you]

hes ok but i dont understand trading up for him....hes weird in that hes a small back but not fast and doesnt have great hands

[ice grillin you]

players drafted so far

temple 3
bucknell 1
villanova 1
penn st 1

[Eagles_Legendz]

Everyone they drafted this year has a pedigree at least.  I still wouldn't have taken Barnett but it hasn't been a disaster of a draft.

[ice grillin you]

they still have two more picks today but by my up to moment count the eagles i believe have taken exactly three OL in the last five years

[EJ72]

Sounds like Philly has had a pretty solid draft overall. It's not easy to nail every pick but I think your front office has done a decent job.

[Eagaholic]

Everyone they drafted this year has a pedigree at least.  I still wouldn't have taken Barnett but it hasn't been a disaster of a draft.

This is why I'm fine with the Barnett pick. I would have liked them to get a better value, maybe trade back 3 or 4 spots and still get him, but he went where he should. I agree with the pedigree and that he has been consistently good doing the same thing at the same position. He doesn't have a fantastic ceiling like the guys with one great breakout season, but when they have so many holes and have drafted so badly in the first couple of rounds recently, I'd rather have a high floor with good pedigree and body of work than a great ceiling risk/reward guy.

[ice grillin you]

from a scouting report on the eagles last pick...did they draft patton oswalt

Body consists of stubby legs, short arms and a very soft middle with excess weight.

[Don Ho]

Sounds more like Archie Bunker

[Don Ho]

Sorry Rome

The Eagles attempted to trade up for Cook in the second round, an NFL source said. But, for whatever reason, they didn't pull off the exchange. [...] It was unclear where exactly the Eagles had tried to jump for Cook - who some draft analysts expected to go in the first round - and if they had decided the price was too steep. But they would have needed to hurdle at least three spots if they wanted to block the Vikings, who traded up seven slots for the productive tailback.

[PhillyPhreak54]

My buddy told me the Dallas reporters said that Pumphrey was their target at 133

[ice grillin you]

http://www.espn.com/blog/philadelphia-eagles/post/_/id/20871/eagles-had-eyes-for-dalvin-cook-but-vikings-jumped-them

[smeags]

went down Friday ... took my lil guy and niece. had a bunch of fun. got there just in time to take some of it in before trotter came out for pics. got right in line and and only had 10 people ahead of us. trotter loved that my lil guy knew he was the axe man.

I rolled out right after the eagled took jones. all in all, I think city did itself proud on this one.

[ice grillin you]

pete prisco

Philadelphia Eagles

I really like the choice of pass rusher Derek Barnett in the first round. He might be the best pass rusher in this class. They took a risk with Washington corner Sidney Jones in the second, but it could be a big-time payoff if he comes off a torn Achilles tendon healthy. They added some young weapons for Carson Wentz in the later rounds. Fifth-round receiver Shelton Gibson can fly.

Grade: B+

mel kiper

Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox led the Eagles in sacks last season with 6.5, and there was a clear directive to get an edge rusher for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in the first two days of the draft. Derek Barnett fits that bill as the first-rounder Philly got in the Sam Bradford trade with Minnesota. Barnett, who had 33.0 career sacks at Tennessee, will join the rotation with Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry and free-agent signing Chris Long.

Philadelphia had issues in the secondary last season, too, and one of the best things for a porous pass defense is a stellar pass rush. The Eagles took a step toward that on Day 1, then boosted the back end on Day 2. Sidney Jones could be a steal if he recovers fully from the torn Achilles he suffered at his pro day in March. Though he's optimistic about returning in 2017, he might be better served by a redshirt year. If healthy, he's a top-15 talent with good ball skills and the ability to handle big wideouts. Rasul Douglas was a ball hawk in 2016 with eight interceptions, but he doesn't have high-end speed (4.59 40).

Mack Hollins is a special-teams demon and former walk-on with some big-play ability. Donnel Pumphrey set the FBS career rushing record with 6,405 yards and is probably a part-time back. Elijah Qualls has a load of talent and ability but inconsistent tape.

Philly needed to shore up its defense and it did that pretty well. It's not a home run class, but the Eagles got better.


todd mcshay's favorite eagle pick

Mack Hollins, WR, North Carolina (pick no. 118)


In Joe Douglas' and Andy Weidl's first draft, it was very important for them to find building-block players. Their first two picks -- DE Derek Barnett and CB Sidney Jones -- fit that mold. They both have outstanding football character. Hollins, a former walk-on, also embodies the type of player the Eagles are looking for, and he was a great value. Yes, he has some durability concerns, but at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds with big-play ability, Hollins was a late-second/early-third-round talent, and the Eagles got him at No. 118 overall. Hollins plays like an absolute maniac on special-teams coverage and will at the very least be a good red zone threat.

washington post

hiladelphia Eagles

Analysis: Some draft analysts question the athleticism of first-round DE Derek Barnett. But he was an extremely productive pass rusher in college and the Eagles must hope that translates to the NFL ranks. Second-round CB Sidney Jones suffered a torn Achilles' tendon at his pro day and it's not clear when he'll be able to play. Perhaps in part because of that, Philadelphia went with another cornerback in the third round, Rasul Douglas. Getting DT Elijah Qualls in the sixth round was an excellent value. Grade: B-

usa today

Draft picks: Derek Barnett (No. 14 overall), Sidney Jones (No. 43 overall), Rasul Douglas (No. 99 overall), Mack Hollins (No. 118 overall), Donnel Pumphrey (No. 132 overall), Shelton Gibson (No. 166 overall), Nathan Gerry (No. 184 overall), Elijah Qualls (No. 214 overall)
Day 1 grade: A
Day 2 grade: B+
Day 3 grade: A
Overall grade: A-

The skinny: Even though the Eagles gave up their 2017 first-rounder for quarterback Carson Wentz, they were a beneficiary of Minnesota's need for a quarterback, as they got back into the first round by trading Sam Bradford last year.

The way Wentz played this year showed they didn't really miss Bradford. They got the second-best pure edge rusher in the draft in Barnett at No. 14.

In the second round, Philly got a first-round value in Sidney Jones, who might have to half-redshirt the year as he recovers from injury but will be a good corner down the road. Rasul Douglas is another long corner who will be on the field right away.

Mack Hollins is very good downfield receiver, and a very good special-teamer as well. That's the prototypical fourth-round pick.

He and Shelton Gibson (fifth round) add receiver depth. Pumphrey's electric with the ball, not unlike veteran Darren Sproles (though not as thick and powerful). Elijah Qualls was a fine selection in the seventh round.

My take: It's interesting to see Reuter point out Mack Hollins' ability as a "very good special-teamer." That seems to be a theme with that selection, which further validates the pick given Philadelphia's interest in always focusing on special teams. It's a forgotten side of the ball in today's NFL.

sports illustrated

On the "needs" list for Philly headed into Thursday were a pass rusher and cornerback. Check and check. The Eagles nabbed DE Derek Barnett in Round 1, a safe and steady option off the edge, then doubled down on Day 2 with CB Sidney Jones (who's rehabbing an Achilles tear) and Rasul Douglas. If Jones gets back to 100% at any point, he has Pro Bowl potential. The offensive run in Rounds 4 and 5 was intriguing. WRs Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson both can stretch the field, which QB Carson Wentz would like to do more; RB Donnell Pumphrey essentially could be Darren Sproles 2.0.​

Grade - B+



Chad Reuter, NFL.com

"Even though the Eagles gave up their 2017 first-rounder for quarterback Carson Wentz, they were a beneficiary of Minnesota's need for a quarterback, as they got back into the first round by trading Sam Bradford last year. The way Wentz played this year showed they didn't really miss Bradford. They got the second-best pure edge rusher in the draft in Barnett at No. 14. In the second round, Philly got a first-round value in Sidney Jones, who might have to half-redshirt the year as he recovers from injury but will be a good corner down the road. Rasul Douglas is another long corner who will be on the field right away.

Mack Hollins is very good downfield receiver, and a very good special-teamer as well. That's the prototypical fourth-round pick. He and Shelton Gibson (fifth round) add receiver depth. Pumphrey's electric with the ball, not unlike veteran Darren Sproles (though not as thick and powerful). Elijah Qualls was a fine selection in the (sixth) round."

PFF

"Barnett was one of the nation's most productive players over the last three seasons, finishing among the top three edge defenders in overall grade in both 2015 and 2016. He's stout against the run and he's continued to improve as a pass-rusher ... While Barnett is not a classic athlete on the edge, he knows how to beat blocks and he has enough to burst to challenge the edge at the next level.

"While 2017 may be a 'redshirt year' for injured Jones, it's another first-round talent added to the Eagles' defense. Jones has the size and movement skills to play press man coverage and he allowed a passer rating of only 42.1 when targeted last season. The Eagles went back to cornerback with Douglas in the third as the 6-2 corner brings a solid zone defender with press man coverage potential. Douglas breaks on the ball well and he was one of the best playmakers in the class last season with 10 pass breakups and eight interceptions on 93 targets.

"Hollins has the game speed to stretch the field, as evidenced by his 20.6 yards per reception and 20 touchdowns on only 81 career receptions at North Carolina. He has the long strides that get on cornerbacks in a hurry and he could add an immediate deep threat to the Eagles' offense. Pumphrey was a record-setting back at San Diego State and despite his size, he broke through first contact on 39.6 percent of his rushes, the fourth-best mark in the draft class. Gibson adds another potential deep threat as he caught 58.6 percent of his deep targets, fourth best in the draft class. Gerry has starting potential at safety (*Note that the Eagles will use him as a linebacker) as he ranked second in the nation in both 2014 and 2016 with coverage grades of 90.1 and 90.7. Qualls used his quickness to rank 17th in the draft class with a pass-rush productivity of 8.8."

fox sports

Dieter Kurtenbach, FOX Sports

"The Derek Barnett pick was solid, if not spectacular - he'll help right away. Sidney Jones won't, but he has first-round talent. Rasul Douglas is a boom-or-bust player, but I like him in that system, and Mack Hollins has a chance to be special. Donnel Pumphrey projects as Darren Sproles' replacement, and Shelton Gibson and Elijah Qualls are great third-day values."

[Rome]

I still think the Eagles should have gotten more value out of 14 than Barnett.  I mean if you're willing to roll the dice with Jones in the second, why not take Conley instead of Barnett?   Is Lurie really so petrified of bad optics that he passed on someone who hadn't even been questioned much less charged?   Howard is a great tight end.  He would have been a more inspired option there.  So would Jonathan Allen. 

I don't hate the safe pick.  I'm sure Barnett is worthy of it.  I just think if you're going to dare to be great you don't play it safe with someone like him. 

I really like the rest of the draft picks.  I would have liked Conley in the first followed by Cook but Jones is more than an adequate alternative there. 

Solid B for me.