Cloudy Future for Boykin?

Let me start by saying this: Brandon Boykin is a great player, losing him would be a tremendous blow to the defense.

Now just stick with me here. I think there is legitimate reason to be concerned about his future in Philadelphia based on two issues; opportunity and money.

Let's first look at the issue of opportunity. Chip Kelly has been firm in his stance on keeping Brandon Boykin on the inside. He views outside corner as a completely different position than inside corner, once comparing them with outside and inside linebacker.

At 5-9, Boykin bends every size and length rule in Chip Kelly's toolbox. But Chip is likely comfortable with Boykin manning the slot based on his performance and the size of the average slot WR. The Wes Welker's and Danny Amendola's of the world won't overwhelm Boykin with their size. Is Chip comfortable matching up Boykin against the more physically imposing outside receivers of the NFL? I do not know.

Improving Batting Average in the Draft

Howie Roseman took over a major leadership role in the NFL Draft starting in 2012. A draft class which included Fletcher Cox, Mychal Kendricks, Nick Foles and Brandon Boykin.

It was the first draft I can remember that didn't include a head-scratcher, i.e. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, Curtis Marsh, Danny Watkins.

In 2013, Roseman followed that up with another strong performance, drafting promising players Lane Johnson, Zach Ertz, Bennie Logan, and Earl Wolff.

On paper, the Eagles 2014 class is earning solid grades, but it's premature to call it a success.

I wanted to delve deeper into Roseman's draft strategy to see if it he hit some lucky home-runs the past couple years or if this draft success is sustainable.

Philadelphia is picky. There's certain boxes each draft pick needs to check before Roseman and Kelly are comfortable pulling the trigger. There will always be exceptions, but it's a reliable rule of thumb.

Level of Competition:

Continuity and Chemistry

The Philadelphia Eagles are the class of the NFC East.

On paper, the New York's secondary looks good.

On paper, the Washington's offense looks more explosive.

On paper, Dallas' defensive line looks ... well ... it just looks awful.

There are two things lacking from Philadelphia's division foes: continuity and chemistry. And those things matter, and matter a lot.

Dallas Cowboys (8-8 in 2013)

Dallas is returning just 15 of 22 starters from 2013, five of the defense's front-seven are new faces. The defense has its third defensive coordinator in three years. Plus, the Dallas Cowboys are relying on a rookie and two players coming off major knee injuries for their primary pass-rush (Demarcus Lawrence, Anthony Spencer, Henry Melton).

UDFA Targets

Ok, the NFL Draft is complete, and I'm pretty surprised at the quality players still available.

It's not easy to just go sign a talented UDFA. Each team gets a pool ($80,000, I'm pretty sure) and must evenly distribute it among prospects.

This means each team can likely only bid on one or two high profile player and still have enough to fill the roster.

Having said that, let's take a look at the top players still on my board that Philadelphia could target very soon:

ILB Christian Jones (6-3, 240)

Teams must know something we don't. I understand he failed a drug test, but so did Zach Mettenberger, Timmy Jernigan and Telvin Smith, and they all happened to get a phone call on draft day. The athletic, versatile ILB surely has the talent to be drafted.

OLB James Gayle (6-4, 259)

Marcus Smith bolsters the pass-rush, but Gayle would add even more talent. He was a three-year starter for VaTech and offers athleticism off the edge.

Safety Rankings

There are three skills I look for in safeties to gauge if they fit what Chip Kelly wants: range, physical tackling, and man coverage ability.

Players like Calvin Pryor and Deone Bucannon aren't on my draft board because their skill-set doesn't translate well to the NFL under those three criterion. Both players will struggle in man coverage vs. slot receivers, something Chip asks his safeties to do, ask Patrick Chung.

Here's my top ten:

1. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (6-1, 208)

Clinton-Dix is a tall, long center-fielder who has good instincts. He may not lay the lumber, but he's a reliable wrap-up tackler. He has a skill-set that translates well to man coverage. Clinton-Dix can play overaggressive at times, and should add some bulk to his frame. His speed doesn't time well, but he plays fast.

2. Terrence Brooks (5-11, 198)

2013 Draft Rewind

When watching film and reading various scouting reports, I always want to be inside Chip Kelly's mind to know exactly what he's looking for.

We all think we have an idea what Chip wants, but there's no way to be certain. A good way to get a good grasp is to take a look back at the scouting reports of the 2013 Draft Class.

1st Round: OT Lane Johnson (6-6, 303, 4.72 40)

- He's a freak. Johnson posted a ridiculous 40-time, 34" vertical, 118" broad jump, and 7.31 second 3-cone drill. He has great feet, and moves to the second level with no problem. Johnson shows good power in the run game, and uses his long arms to keep the defender from getting into his body. Johnson has that nasty attitude scouts look for in linemen. He has huge upside.

- Johnson isn't a polished prospect, and should get stronger. His technique could use some refinement, and he needs to add weight to anchor against bigger defensive linemen in the NFL.

WR Rankings

The WR position has been linked to the Eagles more than any other position group. Peter King came out today with a report that Howie Roseman has made calls to teams in the middle of the draft with interest in moving up for a receiver.

Here's my top ten receiving prospects. Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans are excluded from the list because they will be picked out of the Eagles' realistic range.

1. Odell Beckham Jr. (5-11, 198)

He's only 5-11, but Beckham has long arms, a strong build, and big hands. He's a very athletic (4.43 40 and 38.5" vertical jump) and versatile player. Beckham creates separation with sharp route running and good burst. He is a smooth mover who can turn a short pass into a huge gain. His strength is a concern (7 bench reps at Combine), and his hands can be inconsistent. Beckham was dynamic at LSU, but only recorded 12 career TDs.

Overview of RB Position

There is a lot of debate out there about whether Chip Kelly will grab a running back this weekend. I don't think the Eagles will target a RB in the first three rounds, but the RB position isn't coveted like it used to be. There's a very good chance that talented players fall. In a run-first offense, Chip could always use another body in his talented running back stable.

All-around backs:

1. Tre Mason (5-8, 207)

Mason gets up to top speed quickly and can make people miss with good start-stop ability. Mason runs downhill and offers a threat in the passing game. He's a very complete back, even offering skill as a blocker. He has athletic traits (4.50 speed, 38.5" vert). He does dance a little instead of taking what he can. Mason also could secure the ball better in traffic.

My Top Five Weapons

Chip Kelly could use more weapons. Not because he doesn't have enough on the Eagles roster, but because Chip can never have enough offensive playmakers.

This is a unique ranking that I've never done before. These players are versatile, situational space players, similar to Darren Sproles. If Chip Kelly was willing to give up a 5th round draft pick for a running back north of 30, he appreciates the role.

1. Dri Archer (5-8, 173)

Archer has athleticism that's hard to believe. He ran a 4.26 40 at the combine, although one coach had him timed at 4.16. He also possesses a 38" vertical jump and wowed scouts with his sudden change-of-direction. He played a versatile role in college, spent time at RB, WR and was a dynamic returner. While Archer has good hands, he won't make contested grabs over the middle. He offers little as a blocker and is not a polished route runner at this stage.

The Issue of Depth

When most fans and Draft Analysts look at a team's roster, they check the starting lineup and single out weaknesses. There's nothing wrong with that, but there is a bigger picture in mind.

Depth is important. There's almost always going to be drop-off when a starter goes down, but the deep teams can still play good football and win games.

If Jason Peters were to go down, Allen Barbre would step in and the offensive line unit would still be strong.

If Bradley Fletcher injures his knee, newly-acquired Nolan Carroll has starting experience in the NFL.

If Nick Foles suffers a concussion, Mark Sanchez can step in and win a ballgame.

But, if Connor Barwin were to suffer an injury, who could adequately fill his role? I can't think of anybody.

3-4 OLB Rankings

Here's my edge rusher rankings and where I'd be comfortable drafting them. Two things to keep in mind here: Khalil Mack and Jadeveon Clowney are not included. There is no chance they make it close to 22, and the Eagles aren't trading up into the top 10. Another thing is these rankings are based on fit in Philadelphia, not as a general outside linebacker prospect.

Before I begin, here's my idea of what Chip Kelly is looking for in a 3-4 ROLB. Connor Barwin is the jack-of-all-trades player at LOLB. He does everything pretty well but isn't a dynamic edge rusher. The other outside linebacker spot is reserved for an explosive force around the edge. Chip is looking for length and athleticism, which is a common theme.

1. Anthony Barr (6-5, 255) - First Round

Barr is long, extremely athletic, and moves well in space. He's been productive in the past two years at UCLA, and has a good burst off the snap. He immediately provides the defense with length and pure athleticism. He is a bit raw and is more of a speed rusher than a polished product. He has no ceiling. Barr can be an elite player.

3-4 ILB Rankings

Here's my rankings of 3-4 inside linebackers and where I'd be comfortable drafting them.

Before I start, I wanted to go over what I think Chip Kelly looks for in his ILBs. Chip isn't looking for a 260 pound downhill thumper. He is looking for long, rangy players with impressive movement and coverage skills (i.e. Kiko Alonso). So the short, stocky run-stuffers aren't on my draft board.

1. C.J. Mosley (6-2, 234) - 1st Round

Mosley pairs elite football knowledge with an impressive all-around skill-set. He's a good tackler, can cover downfield, and can take on blocks. There is mileage concern with Mosely, Alabama runs a very demanding program and he has had some nagging injuries.

2. Ryan Shazier (6-1, 237) - 1st Round

Shazier is explosive. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah compared him to Arizona ILB Daryl Washington, and I can see it. He has a 42 inch vertical and ran a 4.38 40 at his Pro Day. Shazier was extremely productive in college as well, making a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. There are concerns about taking on big offensive linemen and navigating through traffic at 237 pounds.

'14 Draft Class Equipped with Bonus Picks

The Eagles only have six selections in next week's NFL Draft, but Howie Roseman has essentially equipped the team with three bonus picks.

Bonus picks sound imaginary, don't they? Well they are. But the idea is real.

The team added three players last off-season with complete knowledge that they would not contribute to the team in 2013.

OT Michael Bamiro (6-8, 340lbs)

Bamiro is a monstrous tackle who had unique circumstances which led to him dodging the NFL Draft and the NFL's Supplemental Draft. He was a college player who basically became a free agent. 22 NFL teams were represented at his private workout. An NFC Personnel Director went on record to say Bamiro would've been a 5th or 6th round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The Perfect Eagles Draft: First Edition

Every Eagles fan wants the draft to shape up perfectly for Chip Kelly. With only six selections, the Eagles need to bat a high percentage.

Sure, trades are likely to happen. But if highly-touted players fall, Chip Kelly will be content on grabbing six talented guys.

Here's my first edition of the perfect Eagles draft.

1st Round Selection - OLB Anthony Barr

Barr provides pure athleticism that the defense needs. He's a productive speed rusher off the edge, and his upside is through the roof. He could definitely become a more physical player, but he would bolster the pass-rush immediately.

Barr would not only add size and athleticism, but he improves Trent Cole's effectiveness. Less snaps for Cole is a good thing at this point in his career.