Even at No. 14, Eagles’ pick worth the wait
One man’s view of the first round
Howie Roseman stated the Eagles were so comfortable with their draft board that they’d be high-fiving each other after making the selection. The entire city and nation will find out tonight.
It’s a shame fans have to wait half the night to react to whichever player the Eagles select in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday. After all, the theme of the draft staged outside the Philadelphia Art Museum on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is “The Future Is Now.” In spite of the wait there will be no shortage of functional players available if the Eagles hang in with the 14th overall selection.
That said, is there any prospect capable of singularly uniting Eagles fans in a positive way as the nation braces for a negative reaction?
Christian McCaffrey? Michael Williams? Haason Reddick?
Howie Roseman stated last week the Eagles were so comfortable with the players on their draft board that they’d be highfiving each other after the pick.
That’s easy for him to say. He won’t be in the middle of scores of critics.
It’s entirely possible no one will remember who the Birds pick first as much as how the fans react to him.
Let’s get on the clock: 1.BROWNS:MYLESGARRETT, DE, TEXAS A& M >> Rarely has the consensus top pick received so much criticism. Heck, Warren Sapp accused Garrett of disappearing in games. Guess he should know about disappearing acts. 2. 49ERS: JAMALADAMS, SS, LSU >> Unless rookie G.M. John Lynch, who starred at safety in the NFL, selects a quarterback or trades down, this would be the statement pick. There’s no finer player in the draft. 3. BEARS: MITCHELL TRUBISKY, QB, UNC >> Playing it safe hasn’t worked for these guys, who quietly tried to get a quarterback last year. Trubisky gives them hope while Mike Glennon takes the hits. 4. JAGUARS: LEONARDFOURNETTE, RB, LSU >> Is this a Tom Coughlin type of selection or what? (Jags get their card in 5 minutes before it’s due). 5. TITANS (VIA RAMS): MARSHON LATTIMORE, CB, OHIO STATE >> The Eagles should have traded up for Lattimore, who’s scary-talented. 6. JETS: O.J. HOWARD, TE, ALABAMA >> Howard and his game-breaking receiving skills deserve better than this, the place talented football players go to die. 7. CHARGERS: MALIK HOOKER, FS, OHIOSTATE>> A steal in that Hooker is the best defensive playmaker in the draft. 8. PANTHERS: CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, RB, STANFORD >> If Howard slips here, Cam Newton will do the dab. McCaffrey’s receiving skills are the perfect complement to Jonathan Stewart’s between-the-tackles game. 9. BENGALS: JONATHAN ALLEN, DT, ALABAMA >> Marvin Lewis can’t believe the choice is between the almost un-blockable Allen and Solomon Thomas. 10. BILLS: MICHAEL WILLIAMS, WR, CLEMSON>> Yep, another Clemson star. Don’t be surprised if the Bills get involved in the quarterback market if they’re uneasy about the Tiger (Sammy Watkins) pedigree. 11 . SAINTS: SOLOMON THOMAS, DE, STANFORD >> Could have traded down until this difference maker fell here. 12. BROWNS (EAGLES): DESHAUN WATSON, QB, CLEMSON >> It’s either Watson, who won the national championship, or Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer, who’s going to be better than Tom Brady, right? 13. CARDINALS: COREY DAVIS, WR, WESTERN MICHIGAN >> Johnny Ross works here, too. But the Cardinals already have a speed guy and Davis has better hands and more depth to his game. 14. EAGLES (VIKINGS): HAASON REDDICK, OLB, TEMPLE >> If they don’t trade up slightly, this is the fivestar play. Turn on the tape. Reddick is a relentless, effort guy that offenses can’t keep out of the backfield. He’s a pass rusher with a chance to be great. 15. COLTS: TRE’DAVIOUS WHITE, CB, LSU >> A quality pick for an Indy defense that cannot add enough help at corner. Gareon Conley also a thought here. 16. RAVENS: JOHNROSS, WR, WASHINGTON >> With Reddick gone they can stretch the offense with Ross’ deep speed or get exotic and choose tight end David Njoko, a projected playmaker. Speed rules. Ross clocked a combine record 4.22 in the 40. 17. REDSKINS: DEREK BARNETT, DE, TENNESSEE >> This is bad news for Carson Wentz, Eli Manning and Dak Prescott in that Barnett is a pure pass rusher with an array of moves. 18. TITANS: DAVIDNJOKUTE, MIAMI>> Njoku (6-4, 246) is your basic basketball-type freak looking for a place to make it happen. He’s quicker than the 4.64 he ran in the 40, has a 37½ inch vertical and with twin 35-inch arms, owns a catch radius they’re still trying to quantify. 19. BUCCANEERS: DALVIN COOK, RB, FLORIDA STATE >> Shoulder issues, more than off-the-field stuff, is why the most talented running back in the draft drops to here. His reckless style could mean a short shelf life. 20. BRONCOS: RYAN RAMCZYK, OT, WISCONSIN >> Already 6-6, 310 pounds, scouts say the junior eligible has the frame to get bigger. He’s as good as it gets for the O-line challenged Broncos. 21 . LIONS: DEMARCUS WALKER, DE, FLORIDASTATE >> Heck, there are 32 teams that could use a disruptive force such as Walker, who is best when he’s moved around. Notched 16 sacks last year despite a bone spur on his foot. 22. DOLPHINS: MARLON HUMPHREY, CB, ALABAMA >> This is a safe pick for the Dolphins, who need a sound, hard-tackling guy with 4.41 such as Humphrey. 23. GIANTS: GARRETBOLLES, OT, UTAH >> This 6- 5, 297-pound road grader can play either tackle and has quick feet. He’s also 25 years old; i.e. Danny Watkins alert. 24. RAIDERS: GAREON CONLEY, CB, OHIOSTATE>> Would have come off the board earlier if not for reports about alleged off-the-field misbehavior. Either way Raiders fans will accept him. 25. TEXANS: PATRICK MAHOMES, QB, TEXAS TECH >> It’s Mahomes or Kizer unless Bill O’Brien wants to go nasty and tab linebacker Reuben Foster. 26. SEAHAWKS: KEVIN KING, CB, WASHINGTON>> King (63, 200) isn’t as smooth as highly regarded teammate Sidney Jones, who tore an Achilles’ tendon. But he’s Seahawks-long and ran 4.43 in the 40. 27. CHIEFS: REUBEN FOSTER, LB, ALABAMA>> A headhunter with two bad shoulders who flunked his drug test at the combine — a perfect second-chance guy for Andy Reid at this point. 28. COWBOYS: JABRILL PEPPERS, DB, MICHIGAN >> What’s there not to like about Peppers, the jack-ofall-trades who, like Foster, was unable to master the combine drug test. 29. PACKERS: T.J. WATT, OLB, WISCONSIN >> The Packers will make a pass rusher out of him unless, that is, they addmiddle linebacker Zach Cunningham. 30. STEELERS: CHARLES HARRIS, MISSOURI >> It sure sounds like Harris and his natural pass rush skills are moving up boards. 31. FALCONS: TACO CHARLTON, DE, MICHIGAN >> While we think Taco is being undervalued, he’s not a makeyou-watch pass rusher per Brandon Graham. He’s more of a developmental guy than a finished Bubba Smith product. 32. SAINTS(PATRIOTS): CURTIS SAMUEL, RB/WR, OHIO STATE >> The next Percy Harvin only without the issues, Samuel clocked a 4.31 at the combine.