Potential Draft Options, Rounds 2-4

With the 2014 NFL Draft quickly approaching, every sports blog and website is guessing what player their team will take when the Houston Texans are officially on the clock on May 8^th.

Many professionals are not looking beyond the first round, though, to the middle rounds which often produce playmakers just as important as, or more so, than their first round counterparts. Here, we will look at a few players that the Philadelphia Eagles could be looking at between the second and fourth rounds.

Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com, after speaking with Todd McShay, reported that Head Coach Chip Kelly’s familiarity with the PAC-12 has a huge impact in Philadelphia’s draft day war room. The trend was evident in 2013 when four of Chip Kelly’s eight draft picks came from the PAC-12(Zach Ertz, Matt Barkley, Joe Kruger, Jordan Poyer).

Much of this obviously is dependent on the direction that the Eagles decide to go with their 22^nd overall pick. However, the Eagles top three positions of need, wide receiver, outside linebacker, and safety, cannot all be satisfied with one pick. Between the second and fourth rounds, the Eagles hold three picks, 54^th overall in the second round, 86^th overall in the third round, and 122^nd overall in the fourth round.

Paul Richardson from Colorado is a lanky receiver who ran a 4.4 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine. With such a small frame at only 6-1, 175, Richardson will have to put on some weight if he hopes to make an impact on an NFL roster. In 2013 at Colorado Richardson put up impressive numbers against decent competition. With 83 receptions, 1,343 yards, and ten touchdowns, Richardson’s senior campaign was surprising after Richardson was recovering from a torn ACL he suffered before the 2012 season.

Richardson has been compared by some to Pittsburgh Steelers’ Emmanuel Sanders. Many believe that he can reach the caliber of Sanders’ teammate Antonio Brown but until Richardson’s hands improve, he will be slighted. Despite his size and questionable consistency in catching the ball, Richardson is projected to be in the second to third round range.

Chip Kelly’s obvious Oregon-driven favor in players he pursues may be evident on draft day again. Josh Huff, 5-11, 206, is another wide receiver the Eagles could have their eyes on. After setting records for receiving yards and touchdowns in his senior season, Huff’s draft stock rose from a late or undrafted player to the third or fourth rounds.

Huff’s best game came against Oregon State when he caught nine balls for 186 yards and three trips to the endzone. The receiver’s best trait is his deceptive strength. At just 5-11, defenders see him as a small slot receiver but Huff has the ability to go over the middle, make tough catches in traffic, and break tackles to make yards after the catch. If Huff gets inside the 10 yard line, there is no stopping him as e will put every bit of effort into reaching the ball across the plain to get six.

The Eagles need for defensive playmakers is obvious. Luckily, the positions they need most, outside linebacker and defensive back, can be had mostly in the second to fourth round range. There are few that the Eagles will have to grab with their 22^nd overall pick or move up to get. The first of these players is Stanford’s Trent Murphy. At 6-5, 250, the Cardinal is lanky but produces numbers. Murphy can move as quick as any defensive end and makes a living in the backfield. His instincts take over on every play and he can track the ball carrier with the best of them. In 2013, Murphy led the nation with 15 sacks while also adding 23.5 tackles for a loss. While Murphy excels in run defense, he doesn’t lack the ability to get his hands on passes. In 2012 and 2013, Murphy combined for 11 batted passes and two interceptions; both of which he returned for touchdowns.

Murphy’s lightweight frame (JJ Watt plays at 6-5, 290) and his lack of explosion off the snap are the two factors keeping the linebacker from being a first round pick. The Eagles could grab him in the second round, it is unlikely that he will fall far from the Eagles 54^th pick.

Another outside linebacker turned heads at Arizona State in 2012 and 2013 by making a similar living to Trent Murphy; hanging around in the backfield. Carl Bradford, 6-1, 243, combined for 39.5 tackles for a loss and 20 sacks in his final two seasons as a Sun Devil. Similar to Murphy, sans the height advantage, Bradford batted down nine passes over the last two seasons.

Bradford possesses great moves to get past offensive linemen with his speed. However, with short arms (30 ¼”), Bradford has had trouble with getting locked up on bigger, stronger offensive tackles. His versatility between the two- and three-point stances will work to his advantage on draft day but with a lot to improve, Bradford is expected to be taken late on day two or early on day three of the NFL Draft.

The Eagles have never had luck with drafting safeties. Dating back to the 1996 draft when the Eagles took Clemson’s “undersized” Brian Dawkins in the second round, Philadelphia has never drafted a safety who was more than serviceable (Quintin Mikell was undrafted in 2003). However, a few safeties may be able to make more than a two or three year stay in Philadelphia. Washington States’ Deone Bucannon, 6-1, 211, was a tackling machine in his last two collegiate seasons. Recording 106 tackles in 2012 and 114 in 2013, Bucannon was always around the football. He also combined for 10 interceptions and nine pass defenses in that period.

Bucannon became known as a big hitter in his senior season and his 4.5 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles support that claim. Some, myself included, have said that his tape resembles that of future Hall of Famer and former Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed. He plays similarly as a centerfield ball-hawk and can lay a hit on a running back in the backfield. Bucannon can play anywhere. His two interceptions in a 2012 game against Oregon are likely still in Chip Kelly’s mind and will be if the 2013 All-American is sitting in their laps at the 54^th pick.

While Bucannon is a more instinctual player, Dion Bailey, 6-0, 200, from USC is more of a cerebral safety. Each has its advantages and Bailey’s awareness, vision, and ability to diagnose a play in fractions of a second may have come from his time as an outside linebacker. His transition to safety was not a difficult one, though, as he accumulated nine interceptions and 15 pass defenses from 2012 to 2013.

Bailey’s presence in the middle of the field was felt by opponents who short-armed many passes knowing that Bailey was in the vicinity. His 14.5 tackles for a loss in the two-year span are also evidence that Bailey’s linebacker instincts have remained and he can make his impact felt anywhere on the field. The Trojan’s play has been linked to San Diego’s Eric Weddle and would be a welcomed addition if the Eagles could take him in the second or third round.

Philadelphia will need to be careful if they wish to take a safety with the 54^th overall pick. The last time they had that pick they attempted to draft the “next Brian Dawkins” in Temple’s Jaiquawn Jarrett. Jarrett was not a scheme fit and has found a nice home with the New York Jets but he didn’t fit with the Birds.

There are many directions the Eagles could go with their 22^nd overall pick, including moving back or out of the first round completely. Whatever they choose to do with their first pick, keep the above names in mind for the second pick. Chip Kelly’s love and familiarity with the PAC-12 will make an impact on his draft day decisions. Maybe one or two of these players will be dawning midnight green come August.

Follow Brenden on Twitter @brendenp2011 or email him at BPeddigree2011@gmail.com.