We know that the Eagles will be hosting Temple defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson in a couple of weeks, but now we know that they will also be hosting Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Pea next week.
This is an Eagles kind of guy. He’s undersized and coming off of a knee injury.
Aaron Wilson of NationalFootballPost.com says the Birds will getting together with the player who set the bench press record at the NFL Combine when he lifted 225 pounds 49 times.
He’s on the small side when it comes to defensive tackles. He stands 6’1″ and weighs only 300 pounds. Paea is a very good athlete for a defensive tackle and he’s very active. He runs down ball carriers and quarterbacks.
Paea had quite a bit to prove at his Pro Day because he had been on the shelf for a few months, since he tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee during the Senior Bowl. Yes, he’s coming off of a knee injury, which will probably make him go later in the draft than 
he would go if he hadn’t gotten hurt.
Paea ran his forty-yard dash in 5.15 and was impressive in his agility work, which validates reports that he’s recovered from the surgery.
He had 43 tackles with 5 1/2 of them being for losses. He had three sacks and the most impressive thing about his performance was 
forcing four fumbles.
The year before he was an All-American with 45 tackles and 10 of them being for losses with six sacks and four forced fumbles.
I encourage you to always pay attention to turnovers when it comes to defensive prospects. The Birds are in need of defensive players who can make big plays by forcing turnovers.
There’s no question that he was a dominating player during his college career, but will he be a dominating player in the NFL with his lack of size and his injury history.
As you can tell, I won’t be thrilled to see the Birds drafting another undersized defensive tackle, who is coming off of a knee injury.
Paea would be a solid pick at #54, but is not a first round talent.
The last thing the Eagles need is another undersized pick coming off of an injury. Maybe they’ll try turning another undersized end into a strong side linebacker and call it quits after a few seasons of training to see it bust. Forever looking for the number of picks / bargains than the high quality game changer.
This is sure to be an Eagles pick, after all, irritating their fans, stubbornness in philosophy in the face of draft failure, and getting a bargain, are as reliable Eagles habits as the rising of the sun.
Previous to his kneee injury during Senior Week, was probably a late 1st Round Pick (#23 thru the #30th Selection) Most Scouts/NFL Draft Obeservors have graded him down to a mid 2nd Round Selection (#40th thru the #50 Overall)
He is obviously very athletic, quick off the ball, but has played in a realtively weak Pac-10 the last couple of seasons against some mediocre OL/RB/QB’s ..
He remeinds me a lot of how Trevor Laws was coming out of College.. I would stay away from him for Eagles need to get bigger in the middle of their Defense and not smaller..
Paulman – I couldn’t agree more but would have to amend your description to say “was” very atheltic and quick off the ball. Nobody knows if he will ever be again. Its likely to take 2+ years to get him to his 100%, whatever that is, and all the rehab in world won’t change the fact that he’s undersized. We all know how they love their fastballs and can probably send that Eagles pick in to Tagliabue now.
It is these articles that make me wonder why I ever read your stuff…how dare you make such a simple unfounded statement…
Undersized? He broke the record for the most weight lifted at the combine… EVER! He put up 11,000 pounds! that is 5.5 tons!!! Do you understand that? So why isn’t this article titled “Eagles hosting the strongest man to ever work out at the NFL combine”?
You wanna know why – because you are an underdeveloped sports writer, who is lucky to have a slice of celebrity to fall back on!
To MaybeTheyCan,
Paea’s injury was not a major ACL Tear, (he did tear his lateral meniscus) so he should be back by this fall and close to a 100% by October with proper rehabbing,training,etc etc..
the litfing 225 thing is overrated. If I am not mistaken, Broderick Bunkley did that at the combine and what has that turned into for us? Ddin’t mamula also do it at the time of his combine? You can be as strong as an ox but if you can”t play you can’t play.
This Paea is a very good player who can get after the QB, I just think he would be better suited for a team like the Colts,Seattle,Bronoces where the interior of their DT’s rely more on quickness more than strength and size.. The Eagles will get bigger across the DL under Washburn, at least at the DT position.. at least I hope so…but make no mistake, this Steven Paea is a very good player with a bright future ahead of him..
Dude was the PAC 10 D player of the year – first team all american and voted top D Lineman by the Offensive lineman…..
he is 303 pounds and can move – – – can his frame handle an extra 15 to 20 pounds. One of the strongest players ever….
I agree sitko – why the slant?
Navy and Sitko, but this is the Philly media. Why would positives/accomplisments be factored in at all? It’s negatives first, negatives, second, negatives, third, and then, admit that there may be some redeemable qualities. Have to pander to the negadelphian audiance that makes up the majoritiy of sports talk radio/website comment sections population.
I’d love to know the percentage of college players entering the draft – say for the past 5 years, who could be qualified as ‘coming off an injury’/surgury. I mean, it really does seem like most of them to me, yet the Eagles get pegged as looking at more players with injury histories than other teams… I’d be curious to see what the stats really are.
G-Man,
Will you have live posting/streaming during the Draft like you did during the Eagle Games. It would be great to have live comments,postings,predictions,discussions back and forth during the Draft.. What’s everyone’s thoughts on this….
G:
How can you possibly tell how he would play off of that injury? Especially this year? I don’t know if he’s a “can’t miss”, but unless he is, pass on him. End of story. Ignore the knee injuries to our peril. To me the difference between DL and OL is quickness and strength. OL can strap on a brace. But DL struggle. If those who would pick him are right, they win, and so do the Eagles. If they’re wrong, and I think they are, right back here next April with the same discussion.