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DRAFT

WAR ROOM MOCK DRAFT: ROUND 4 (PART 1)

13 March 2017 DRAFT

So far Eagles have directed all the attention to the offensive side of the ball drafting Dalvin Cook, Zay Jones and Dion Dawkins in the first 3 rounds of the 4th and Jawn War Room mock draft.

Let’s take a look at the options on the top of the board as Eagles prepare for Day 3 of the draft. Ryan and Kelly both reviewed defensive players in order to determine the best value picks for their first pick in the 4th round. Listen to their arguments and vote!

FOURTH ROUND (PART 1) HOWARD WILSON VS. AHKELLO WITHERSPOON:

Ryan’s case for HOWARD WILSON

The first three picks have all gone to the offensive side of the ball, we have failed to address our biggest need. Lucky for us, this draft is very deep at the CB position.

The time is now, we have to take a CB.

Howard Wilson out of Houston is the player we need to take. After missing the majority of 2015 with an ACL injury, Wilson bounced back in 2016 and ended the season with 54 tackles and five interceptions.

Wilson measured in at 6’1″ tall and 184 pounds. He had a solid combining, clocking a 4.57 sec 40-yard dash, a 6.68 sec 3 cone drill, and a 3.94 sec 20yd shuttle. He also had an 119-inch broad jump and a 33.5 inch vertical.

Wilson is a solid cornerback. Scouts have doubts about him being a day one starter, but with time, he can turn into a really good player. Here is one of the many scouting reports on Wilson.

“Smooth athlete with excellent length who has a long history of making plays on the football. Wilson is fast and fluid and he’s willing to do his part as a tackler, but he needs more muscle and more experience before he’s ready to handle some of the physical receivers he will see in the league. Wilson’s size, speed and ball skills will be coveted traits and they give him a chance to become a good NFL starter with time.”

Wilson has very fluid hips and does a good job mirroring the receiver in both man and zone defense. He can get caught trying to jump the route but does a good job deciding when to pull the trigger and jump it. Overall, he is a playmaker at the CB position.

The Eagles need a playmaker at the CB position, Wilson can be that guy.

He needs a little work but can end up being a baller at the CB position. It is time to stop sleeping on Wilson, the Eagles need to wake up and take him.

 

 

Kelly’s case for AHKELLO WITHERSPOON:

Our current roster of CBs is not promising whatsoever. At some point Eagles will need to get the guy they’ve clearly been targeting at the cornerback position all this time.

Ahkello Witherspoon measured in at 6’2″ tall, 198 pounds at the NFL Combine. His size alone is intriguing but there is more to this guy. With fluid hips and speed at his size, he should develop nicely at the pro level.

I looked at Witherspoon’s tape from three games. Although he held John Ross, now notoriously known for his insane speed at the combine, to 4 receptions, 51 yards and a touchdown in the Washington vs Colorado game, his most impressive game tape, in my view, was vs. Utah. It was evident the offense was singling Witherspoon out all game. Yet, this guy hit strong, deflected several good passes and only gave up a touchdown on an insanely good catch.

He has to improve his tackling skills but that can be taught. He is naturally a competitor and in any other draft class, he’d likely be taken much higher.

His teammate Awuzie was normally avoided, putting pressure on Witherspoon to perform during his college career and he showed he was capable. ESPN’s Kevin Gemmell reported after a game-sealing interception by Witherspoon that, “Simply put, what started out as teams trying to throw away from Awuzie has turned into a pick-your-poison scenario for quarterbacks.”

Witherspoon only started playing football in his senior year in high school and proved to be an athletically-gifted, intelligent quick study at the sport. He had 3 interceptions and  finished tied for 13th on CU’s all-time passes broken up list with 28 during his college career, according to the team’s website.

His ball skills, speed and cover ability are something Eagles need in the secondary. Being about to get that value in the 4th round would be a steal.

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