The Philadelphia Eagles were one of the most inconsistent team in the NFL last season, but after bringing in new head coach Chip Kelly, the franchise is hoping for a quick turnaround and one of the best ways to do that is through the draft.
According to Philly.com, the team will host a number of players that could go in the top 10, including Alabama corner Dee Milliner, Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, as well as Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel, who could be a perfect fit for Kelly's system. The team has the number four pick and there are a number of players that could be available to them, including left tackle prospects Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher, who will both visit the team this week.
The Eagles have been doing their due diligence on every top prospect since they have a top five draft, including with quarterback Geno Smith and BYU defensive end Ziggy Ansah, who were with the team on Wednesday. Although the Eagles kept Michael Vick and signed Dennis Dixon and have Nick Foles on the roster, there still is a chance they will take a quarterback, especially if Smiths lips past the Jaguars and Raiders at two and three.
Other players that are scheduled for visits and workouts include Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, Oregon linebacker Dion Jordan (who played for Kelly in college) as well as Fisher. All the players are considered to be the top part of the draft class and since the Eagles have needs on both sides of the ball, they are keeping their thoughts close to the vest on who they will select.
Despite the fact that they have a number of quarterbacks, Smith could be the pick for the Eagles, as he seems well suited for Kelly's new system that he is bringing to Philly. According to ESPN.com, Smith took 96.7% percent of his attempted passes from the shotgun and istol formations, which is something that Kelly does often, including last season when every pass Oregon threw was from those formations.
Last season the Eagles had issues on both sides of the ball and went just 4-12 and missed out on the playoffs again, which resulted in the firing of long-term coach Andy Reid. The team ranked 13th in the league in both passing and rushing yards per game and were 23rd in rushing defense, allowing over 125 yards on the ground per game.
The offensive line will be a big priority for the team after struggling in the running game and if Fisher or Joeckel are available they will likely be the pick, considering they each have number one overall talent. The team has Jason Peters on the roster, but he is getting older and after having issues on the offensive line over the past few seasons, that could be the pick. Floyd is also quickly moving up draft boards and if the Jags pass, the Eagles could benefit.
The team will hope to use the draft to bring in players that fit Kelly's system and that can add depth on both sides of the ball. The Eagles lost 11 of their final 12 contests, including a 42-7 drubbing from the New York Giants in Week 17.
