As everyone knows, the 2015 NFL Draft has come to a close. Whether you’re satisfied with what your team did during that time or not, we will analyze every team’s draft in the days to come. Today, the Philadelphia Eagles are under the microscope. They filled several holes with their draft choices, but they also left a few holes that needed to be addressed. The main focus was apparently Marcus Mariota, and with him not falling into Chip Kelly’s lap, the members of the war room in Philadelphia had to go into immediate “plan B” mode. Here’s who they selected:
1st Round, 20th Overall – Nelson Agholor, WR (USC)
2nd Round, 47th Overall – Eric Rowe, CB (Utah)
3rd Round, 84th Overall – Jordan Hicks, OLB (Texas)
6th Round, 191st Overall – JaCorey Shepherd, CB (Kansas)
6th Round, 196th Overall – Randall Evans, CB (Kansas State)
7th Round, 237th Overall – Brian Mihalik, DE (Boston College)
Philadelphia Eagles 2015 NFL Draft Review
Best Player – Eric Rowe
At 6’1″ and 205 pounds, Rowe can match up against the bigger receivers on the outside. He played safety for three years before making the transition to cornerback. He possesses great versatility on the defensive side of the ball and he was exactly what the Eagles needed. This man was a great pickup in the second round, as he definitely has first round talent.
The Head-Scratcher – Jordan Hicks
Why did the Eagles draft a linebacker in the third round? Marcus Smith has been developing as a pass rushing outside linebacker since the draft ended in 2014, so this pick does not make sense. There were more significant needs in the third round than another developing outside linebacker.
The Surprise – Jordan Hicks
Nobody expected Philadelphia’s third-round pick to be an outside linebacker. Some fans and analysts are still trying to wrap their heads around this pick. Kelly is becoming famous for doing things that aren’t expected, and he went down that road again here.
The Steal – JaCorey Shepherd
This is a no-brainer. The steal of the Eagles’ draft and possibly one of the biggest steals in the entire 2015 NFL Draft is JaCorey Shepherd (Kansas). This man allowed a 38.6 completion percentage when the ball was thrown his way throughout his tenure at Kansas. He is a major talent that Kelly found in the sixth round and he should develop into a solid player.
Most Likely to Turn Heads at Training Camp – Nelson Agholor
Agholor, the 20th overall pick, is a carbon copy of Jeremy Maclin. Ironically, that’s the man he was chosen to replace too. At 6’0″ and 198 pounds, he is exactly the size of Maclin. He’s regarded as a precise route runner and he ran a faster 40-yard dash time than Maclin. He sports excellent hands and he should make an immediate impact in Kelly’s scheme.
The Rest – Randall Evans and Brian Mihalik
The selection of Randall Evans did not make much sense. Evans will need a significant amount of coaching to refine his technique. The only real positive he has is that he possesses the athleticism to fit into multiple coverages. However, there were better cornerbacks for Philadelphia still on the board when he was selected. Brian Mihalik has phenomenal size at 6’9″ and 296 pounds, but he lacks athleticism. That’s a huge downfall for a member of a Chip Kelly defense and he is going to fight for a roster spot in training camp.
Bottom Line
The addition of Nelson Agholor in the first round made a few fans leery of Chip Kelly’s decision-making, but after the selection of Eric Rowe, everything slided into place. Five of the six draft picks were on the defensive side of the ball, and the defense looks stout and rebuilt.
The only thing that should concern anyone with this draft is not taking any offensive linemen. The last real option, La’el Collins, is off the board after going to the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. It will be interesting to see if this omission plagues the Eagles down the road.
Overall Grade: 8.5/10
Check out our other draft reviews here.
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