Mock Draft Tracker: Eagles Find Their Quarterback

It’s almost that time of year, draft season is upon us for the Philadelphia Eagles and their fans. That means it’s time for everyone’s favorite thing in the world, NFL mock drafts! Oh yeah, I said it. Whether you’re on your way to work or school, eating on your lunch break, checking in on the latest mock drafts is every football fan’s strange addiction.

Although mock drafts are rarely correct, especially at this time of the year, it’s still interesting to gauge the popular opinions of all the experts out there. It’s no secret that heading into the 2016 NFL Draft, the Eagles have their fair share of holes to fill. While many are ready to sign Sam Bradford to a long term contract, others want to spend that money elsewhere and start fresh with a rookie quarterback.

Then there are those that believe it’s time for the Eagles to invest in their offensive line via the draft. Something the team rarely did while Chip Kelly was in town. Let’s not forget that the Eagles’ wide receivers dropped a ton of passes this past season and it’s fair to wonder if the team should address that need early in the draft once again. Now it’s time to dive into the latest mock drafts across the internet and check out who the Eagles may be drafting in the 2016 NFL Draft!

Luke Easterling, Bleacher Report: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

Doug Pederson has replaced Chip Kelly as the head man in Philly, and now the focus shifts to whether or not Sam Bradford will continue to be the Eagles signal-caller of even the near future. The veteran had an up-and-down season in 2015, and Pederson could opt to hand-pick his franchise quarterback with his first draft pick.
 
Paxton Lynch is still plenty raw and struggled against top competition, but there’s no denying the physical tools he brings to the table. At 6’7″, 245 pounds, Lynch is a massive passer with the arm strength and athleticism to develop into a special player, as long as he’s able to refine his game when it comes to understanding defenses and being more consistent with his accuracy.

Dan Kadar, SB Nation: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida

With the signings of offensive tackle Lane Johnson and tight end Zach Ertz to new contracts, and close to one with defensive lineman Fletcher Cox, the Eagles are more so in win-now mode than build. Because of that, the Eagles might not want to use a first-round pick on a quarterback that needs developing. If not, a top-flight cornerback would be a good pickup. Byron Maxwell didn’t have a good start to his Eagles career, and Hargreaves is a much better prospect than former second-round pick Eric Rowe.

Rob Rang, CBS Sports: A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama

The Eagles have reportedly prioritized re-signing current defensive end Vinny Curry, whose burst and agility are a terrific fit in new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme. Complementing Curry with the blue-collar run-stuffing Robinson would go a long way towards rebuilding the Eagles’ defense.

Walter Cherepinsky, Walter Football: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

New regimes mean new quarterbacks. The Eagles are beginning anew after firing Chip Kelly, and much like his mentor, Andy Reid, Doug Pederson will want to begin his Eagles’ tenure by selecting a quarterback in the first round.
 
This, of course, depends on whether or not Philadelphia re-signs Sam Bradford. That certainly could happen, and many here expect it to, but Bradford is going to command a huge price tag this offseason, and a team like the 49ers could throw a ton of money his way.

Ryan McCrystal, Bleacher Report: Jared Goff, QB, California

New coaches want new quarterbacks. And when the new coach is a former quarterback, the odds of him wanting to groom his own franchise signal-caller are even greater.
 
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson doesn’t have the final say in personnel moves, but it would stand to reason that the front office would strongly consider his opinion before selecting a new quarterback.
 
Jared Goff isn’t an elite talent, but he’s arguably the most NFL-ready option in the 2016 draft class given his accuracy, experience and poise in the pocket.
 
The hype surrounding Goff’s draft stock has died down since he wasn’t at the Senior Bowl, but he should regain some momentum at the combine in late February.

It’s easy to see why all of these writers expect the Eagles to show significant interest in drafting a quarterback with the 13th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. I could personally get on board with all of these mock draft selections except for Rang’s decision where the Eagles draft Alabama man child A’Shawn Robinson. Don’t get me wrong, Robinson is a very talented defensive tackle but that’s far from a need for the Eagles right now.

It’s clear that Philadelphia wants to extend star defensive tackle Fletcher Cox’s contract and that will likely get done this offseason. Bennie Logan excelled this past season and should only become more dominant when he’s playing defensive tackle in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s attacking 4-3 scheme. Just think of Logan as Nick Fairley and Cox as Ndamukong Suh during their days under Schwartz with the Detroit Lions.

They compliment each-other very well and should excel side by side in a brand new scheme. Drafting Robinson to serve as a “blue-collar run-stuffing” defensive tackle just doesn’t make sense considering that’s been Logan’s strength since he entered the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus, Logan ranked 14th overall in 2014 against the run among defensive tackles and nose tackles (81 total players). Logan followed that up by ranking 11th overall in 2015 against the run out of 70 total players. It’s safe to say they should be just fine at defensive tackle in 2016 and beyond.

What do you think of who the experts have the Eagles drafting this early in the process? Which players do you personally want the team to draft in the 2016 NFL Draft? Let me know in the comment section below or tweet your thoughts to me at (@Anthony_DiBona). Thanks for reading and be sure to check back here at PhillyInfluencer.com for any and everything going on in the City of Brotherly Love!