Morgan Burkett
As football fans cross one more football-less week off the calendar, the looming late April NFL draft marks the most action we will have had since the Patriots thrashed the Rams in Superbowl LIII. This series will be an intro for those looking to get a grasp of some of the better options that will be available for the Birds during the selection process. As always, draft projections are never perfect, and even the most thorough analyses can let future Pro-Bowlers slip through the cracks. So, if you feel that I’ve missed someone, gotten it wrong, or would just like me to do a write-up of your favorite under-the-radar prospect, let me know in the comments below!
Heading into the 2019 NFL Draft, Philadelphia holds seven selections. Following free agency and the assignment of compensatory picks, their haul is as follows:
| First Round | Pick 25 (25) |
| Second Round | Pick 21 (53) via Baltimore |
| Pick 25 (57) |
| Fourth Round | Pick 25 (121) |
| Pick 42 (138) Compensatory | Pick 42 (138) Compensatory |
| Fifth Round | Pick 25 (163) |
| Sixth Round | Pick 25 (197) |
CORNERBACKS
The analysis surrounding the Eagles' cornerback group is one of two minds. The secondary, full of bumps, bruises, and battle wounds, undoubtedly held the Philadelphia defense back in 2018. At times, even before the injuries took their toll, the play was downright awful. However, the youth movement which took charge in the second half of the season trickling into the playoffs showed more than enough promise to leave hopefuls with a sense of comfort moving forward. So the question is, does the group need more time or more playmakers?
Draft pundits have resoundingly argued for the latter, repeatedly throwing a bevy of cornerbacks down the throats of fans in mock draft after mock draft. Those more in tune with the team have -- in my opinion correctly -- argued the opposite: the coaching staff and front office are happy to move forward relying on the talent they have in house. This is a list which includes two starters coming off of injury in Jalen Mills and the newly re-signed Ronald Darby. The current satisfaction with the group does not omit the possibility of selecting a corner (or safety) in the draft. Instead, it likely means cornerback specifically will not be a primary target for the Eagles in the early rounds. The prospects presented here offer solutions for both sides of the argument.
Continued on the pages below.
Byron Murphy – Washington
Walter Football Rank: 3
CBS Rank: 2
DraftTek Rank: 2
Draft Wire Rank: 1
The Draft Network Rank: 1
Range: First Round
Size: 6'0", 175 lbs
Breakdown: Murphy is a cover corner with excellent fluidity, quickness and speed. Very polished for a two-year starter, he has the ability to play man or zone but wasn't required to press very often in college.
Pros: Very instinctual corner. Has a great feel for what the offense is trying to accomplish. Quick, balanced feet with fluid hips. Good burst and speed, Active in run support and hits like a bigger player.
Cons: Lacking the length to consistently disrupt passes. Generally played off and frame does not suggest he would be imposing at the line of scrimmage. Will lose some physical matchups due to size.
How he fits: In a relatively weak class of corners, Murphy may be the best of the bunch in a few years time. There's a reason he has popped up beside the Eagles' name on multiple mock drafts. Schwartz will love his sticky coverage and willingness to come up and tackle. Nevertheless, his shortcomings in press-man could be a big problem unless the team is willing to move him inside to cover the slot. That's not a terrible idea, but will Howie want to spend a first round pick on a nickel corner? My guess is no.
Signature play:
DeAndre Baker – Georgia
Walter Football Rank: 1
CBS Rank: 3
DraftTek Rank: 4
Draft Wire Rank: 3
The Draft Network Rank: 4
Range: First Round
Size: 5'11", 180 lbs
Breakdown: Baker isn't the most athletic corner in the draft but has fantastic technique and doesn't back away from a challenge. He is best in press where he can use his physicality to disrupt receivers.
Pros: Physical and competitive on every play. Active hands, both in press and at the catch point. Very disruptive with the ball in the air. Long arms. Tries to get his hands on every pass. Great press technique, does not over commit. Does well to limit downfield release. Intelligent corner, which helps him mask some athletic limitations.
Cons: Long speed is average. Change of direction is limited by hip fluidity. Shows up in off-man coverage on quicker receivers. Can get grabby. Zone coverage is inconsistent. Much better close to the line than deep thirds. Can hold his own in run support, but not a standout. Some questions concerning his attitude.
How he fits: Schematically he fits like a glove. He's strong, physical and plays with an edge. Being the top corner in college football last season, he may be outside of the Eagles' price range. Although he needs to be in the right scheme to succeed, he's still at the top of many scouts' cornerback boards. There aren't a whole whack of teams in need of first-round corners, the average class will make Baker's ability a premium. Personally, I don't love the idea of taking a corner at 25, but if Howie disagrees, expect his target to be the Georgia playmaker.
Signature play:
Amani Oruwariye – Penn State
Walter Football Rank: 6
CBS Rank: 8
DraftTek Rank: 3
Draft Wire Rank: 4
The Draft Network Rank: 3
Range: Second Round
Size: 6'1", 204 lbs
Breakdown: A long corner with great ball skills, Oruwariye has the physical tools to eventually become the best corner in the class. He loves to lurk and make breaks on the football and as such is better suited to a zone scheme than man.
Pros: Long and rangy. Good in off and press man and dangerous in zone. Aggressive in coverage with great ball skills. Great burst to the football in off coverage and zone.
Cons: He can get his feet tangled in his backpedal. Long speed is not top-end. Not a forceful tackler. Can get caught jumping routes in zone coverage. Size and strength lend to press, but technique needs some work. Less polished than the other corners at the top of the class.
How he fits: Oruwariye could fit fairly seamlessly in any scheme, but his physical makeup does match what Schwartz covets in corners. The Eagles have already had him for a top-30 visit and it seems they have been doing their homework on the guy. It was a week of highs and lows, but ultimately he was the top corner at the Senior Bowl, where the Birds are always on the lookout. Right now it seems like he'll go in the top of the second round, which would leave the Eagles on the outside looking in. Maybe they value him as a first round talent, or maybe they see him falling.
Signature play:
Julian Love – Notre Dame
Walter Football Rank: 5
CBS Rank: 6
DraftTek Rank: 7
Draft Wire Rank: 7
The Draft Network Rank: 6
Range: Second Round
Size: 5'11", 193 lbs
Breakdown: Love is a bump-and-run guy who loves getting up in the face of his opponents. His overall athleticism and technique are average, but he overcomes this with intelligence and competitiveness level with the football in the air.
Pros: Great mirroring ability. Well-timed jams, excellent balance, and good hand placement make him tough to beat in press. Not afraid to be physical. Won't bite on the ball and head fakes. Smooth footwork. Has great ball skills, holds the record for PBUs at Notre Dame. His success stems from his long arms and fantastic timing which should translate well to the NFL. Good blitzer. Solid, if not an overly forceful tackler. Well spoken, intelligent.
Cons: Doesn't have great quickness. Long speed is a concern. Off man and deep thirds will not be his strong suit -- more due to athleticism than intelligence. Even though press is a forte, he doesn't have the size nor strength to simply overpower bigger receivers. Struggles to disengage from blocks and won't make many tackles for loss on the perimeter. Can come in with his eyes down on tackles and whiff.
How he fits: Of the corners, I've detailed in previous articles that I think Love has one of the best fits. I say this not only for his skill set but also his value. He's somewhat of an overlooked commodity in this year's draft despite having the production of a top corner. This is mostly due to scheme fit. He does not have the long speed many teams require of their number one corners, but Philadelphia likes to force the ball out early. While the Eagles will need to give him help in off man and bail, his press ability fits right in with what Jim Schwartz wants to do. His tackling isn't where Philly scouts will like it to be either, but there seems to be obvious room for improvement. I would love to be a fly on the wall during his interviews to see how his competitive edge comes off in conversation. If he can prove he has an edge and some nastiness, this pick could be a home run for the Birds with their
second second-round selection.
Signature play: Struggled to find quick clips of his press coverage, but this is a great example of his footwork, fluidity and ball skills.
Abdurrahman "Rock" Ya-Sin – Temple
Walter Football Rank: 4
CBS Rank: 4
DraftTek Rank: 5
Draft Wire Rank: 5
The Draft Network Rank: 9
Range: Second Round
Size: 5'11", 190 lbs
Breakdown: A strong, physical corner, Ya-Sin's name is reverberating around draft rooms despite being a small school prospect. He's unpolished but has the physical tools and demeanor to intrigue scouts.
Pros: NFL ready body. Physical with a great compete level. Strong and physically imposing in coverage at all points of the route. Good ball skills and tracking. Uses his length well. Solid in man coverage, especially close to the line of scrimmage. Good break on the football in off coverage. Willing and dependable tackler. Notably a quick learner.
Cons: Top heavy player with confusing footwork. Can trip over himself, take missteps and over complicate his steps. Level of competition will be questioned, despite performing well against top talent. Only played one year at the FBS level. Was not regularly asked to play zone and footwork failed him too often when he was. Anticipation and feel for route concepts is still developing. Average athleticism.
How he fits: It's telling that Draft Network Analyst Benjamin Solak compares him to now-Miami Dolphins CB Eric Rowe. He was a Chip Kelly pick, but his skill set still matches a lot of tasks the current Eagles defense will ask of him. The main component in the comparison is an upside. With Rowe, it never quite translated to success. There is still that risk with Ya-Sin. NFL draft experts would have you believe he's a "rock solid" high second round, maybe even first round talent -- don't take the bait. His upside is that of a first-round corner, but his day one projections put him right in the window of Philadelphia's second-round selections. Still, I think there are better fits -- not necessarily because of skill set, but because of the time the Temple product will need to develop. It's never a bad thing to add young promising talent to your secondary. However, with so many encouraging players of that ilk already on the roster, a selection spent on Ya-Sin seems more like indulging a secondary concern (
no pun intended) than a primary need. His physicality matches the attitude of the defense and his strengths match the team's needs. Howie generally likes to see more college production from his selections but has also shown he is willing to bet on potential. If he falls to 53,
he won't, I am all for it.
Signature play:
Joejuan Williams – Vanderbilt
Walter Football Rank: 11
CBS Rank: 10
DraftTek Rank: 10
Draft Wire Rank: 11
The Draft Network Rank: 10
Range: Third Round
Size: 6'2", 208 lbs
Breakdown: Williams has rare length at the corner position and supplements it with good ball skills and physicality. His speed and quickness will be called into question when considering his ability to start at the NFL level. Although, he ran a relatively impressive 4.55 at his Pro Day.
Pros: Big, strong, physical press-man corner. Uses his length when the ball is in the air. Surprisingly smooth for his size with good footwork. Very competitive. Good route recognition and does not bite on fakes very often. Solid tackler with wide radius. Comes downhill in run support and will fight blocks.
Cons: Not very convincing in space. Click-and-close is not a forte. Can lose the football with his back to the quarterback. May have done some convincing on his long speed with a good 40-time, but agility and change of direction are still below average. Struggles against adept route runners. Needs more consistency with press technique.
How he fits: If this were 2016, I have no doubt that Williams would be at the top of the Eagles cornerback draft board. On paper, his size, mentality and skill set are picture perfect for the Philly defense. However, I thought the same of Rasul Douglas, and we've all seen how that's turned out. There may be some titbits hidden behind the scene on Douglas' development, but by his performance on the field, he seemingly deserves a lot more playing time than he's been given. I think the real story here is that modern football is much more suited for smaller, more agile corners even in press-man situations (Avonte Maddox proves this point). There may be a longer article needed to completely explain this point. Simply put, I think we've seen Philadelphia's needs change and Williams' slow breaks on the football and sluggishness in space might take him off Howie's radar despite physically fitting the bill. That being said, if Williams is still kicking around in the fourth round then I expect the Eagles to pull the trigger without too much hesitation. He knows what he's about -- a long, strong press corner -- and he does it well.
Signature play:
Justin Layne – Michigan State
Walter Football Rank: 35
CBS Rank: 5
DraftTek Rank: 8
Draft Wire Rank: 9
The Draft Network Rank: 5
Range: Third Round
Size: 6'3", 185 lbs
Breakdown: A converted receiver, Layne is still learning the nuances of the position. He's a quick learner and shows a ton of promise, but will need to develop before being thrust into a starting role.
Pros: Rare length at the corner position and uses it well. Makes every catch difficult on the receiver. Physical. Ball skills match that of a former receiver. Tracking and high pointing the football are an asset. Uses his hands well in press coverage. Has a good understanding of route development in man coverage. Confident and physical tackler.
Cons: Much better matching and mirroring in man than reading in zone -- comes with the territory of a converted receiver. Long legged and therefore lateral quickness, break on the football and change of direction are limited. Hips can also be rigid.
How he fits: He's a work in progress, but Layne could be a diamond in the rough for any team that drafts him. For reasons why the Eagles won't spend a selection on him, see the blurb on Ya-Sin. Adding another DB to wait in the wings might not be the most cost-effective move in this draft. However, Layne can be had for a cheaper price than Ya-Sin and that makes a world of difference. He projects as a third-round selection, which is again problematic for the Eagles. It's a real possibility Philadelphia trades back from one of their second-round placements. In terms of scheme fit, there won't be many better late second day options than Layne for the Eagles.
Signature play:
Michael Jackson – Miami
Walter Football Rank: 29
CBS Rank: 18
DraftTek Rank: 13
Draft Wire Rank: 10
The Draft Network Rank: 17
Range: Fourth Round
Size: 6'1", 200 lbs
Breakdown: Jackson is a physical, downhill player and a reliable tackler. With good length and ball skills, it is his feet and agility that leave something to be desired.
Pros: Patient close to the line of scrimmage, does not over-commit. Competitive and strong. Good football IQ and understanding of routes and concepts. Forceful, confident tackler and a huge factor in run support. Great 40-time (4.45) for his size.
Cons: Fairly rigid athlete, will get lost in coverage against smooth receivers. It is mostly due to messy, inconsistent footwork. Doesn't recover well. Can give too much cushion and does not have the footwork nor the burst to compensate. Can get grabby.
How he fits: A downhill run defender with solid press technique is always a good option for Jim Schwartz' defense. His flashes definitely pique the interest of scouts and he was considered a possible first rounder heading into the 2019 season. If the Eagles are to select a corner, a player like Jackson in the 4th round would be my preference. He has great special teams potential and can work his tail off to challenge the other young guys in the DB room. His edge is something that you can never have enough of in the NFC East. It's a physical division with fantastic running backs and Jackson would be a great backup to add to the group.
Signature play: One example of his patient, physical coverage and another of his textbook tackling.
Final Analysis
Will the Eagles Draft a Corner? Good question. I don't think there's a wrong answer here. Spending a first-round selection on a corner feels like a miss in my humble opinion, but if BPA happens to be a corner (likely Murphy or Baker) then I'm all for it. The reality is, corners simply take a back seat to the defensive line in Jim Schwartz' defense. All things being equal, if there is a corner and a defensive lineman available, expect Howie to turn his attention to the big men in the trenches. If the Eagles are to spend resources on the secondary it's more likely to be a safety than corner.
What Round? It's a shame the Eagles don't have a third-round selection. It seems to be the perfect place to pick up a corner in this class of prospects. There are certainly teams who have a dire need for a top class cover man, but most franchises will be content to pick clean the bones of the first two rounds. With a third-round selection, the Eagles could add their name to that list. As it stands, Philly will have to hope a top corner falls in the second round or wait until the 4th or 5th round to pick up a corner. The latter seems more likely to me seeing how smitten the front office seems with their young band of defensive backs. It's still a possibility the Birds don't take any corners at all. More young options with a lot to learn isn't exactly what the team needs at this point in time. If they feel light going into the summer, they could easily add one of the veteran corners still on the market. I think they feel their current starters (Mills, Darby, Maddox) are fairly entrenched.
