Eagles Draft: Eagles Select Brian Mihalik

has been absolutely dominated by defense. After the Eagles making Nelson Aguilar USC wide receiver their first pick twentieth overall, they've gone defense the rest of the way with four players, three cornerbacks, and they've thrown a trade in there as well, taking a fourth round pick this year, turning that into a third round selection in twenty sixteen, a deal done with the Detroit Lions earlier. So we kind of wonder what's going on. Let's get some names, some possibilities maybees

for you. As the Eagles about to get on the clock here, you go to the Fancve with Bo Wolf and Greg Go. So, guys, do you have a couple of names for us? Do we? Ever? Dave, We've got a big list of names. My number one name here is going to be a Lonni Fua, the BYU outside linebacker six five two thirty four worked out for the Eagles. Tested very well at the combine. Had the best three cone in shuttles for any of the outside linebackers, third

best among all linebackers. Jordan Hicks was second. By the way, I think he could be the guy here. You also think another same position going defense again, Tony Washington from Oregon. Do it not just because he's from Oregon. I was really intrigued by this player six three two forty seven, very athletic, straight line fast at Oregon. Obviously Chip knows him. I'm sure he recruited him. Played that sort of outside linebacker position where he did a lot of things, which

is what they asked there outside linebackers to do. Played in space splits, really looked the part. So Tony Washington is a player I'm surprised actually has not gone off the board at this point in the draft. A couple other names dave at different positions. At tight end, a position we've talked about. Casey Pierce from Kent State has

worked out for the Eagles. Wide receiver R. J. Harris from New Hampshire is a possibility, and then You've got the usual cast of crew of offensive lineman and safeties that we've been talking about, but nobody those positions specifically linked to the Eagles in the pre draft process. And what you're looking for here is we've talked about measurables, something that you really jumps out at you and the Eagles.

That's why fo Yeah, and the Eagles all along the way to pick is Brian Mehellick, a defensive end from Boston College. So that's interesting because I really thought the Eagles at this point with with the depth that Dick nine, interesting that they would go d line. I think they're very deep, very strong, young talented. What can you tell us about Mehleck, Well, all I can tell you is that it says that he's six nine. Let us seem like some measurables. Otherwise, I got nothing for you on

Brian May. Yeah, he's one guy I can't say I've seen. Sorry, I can't. I can't make it up. It's that well, we know he's tall, we know he's slender, and we know he played for Boston College and started there. And other than that, Chip Kelly will be along to meet the media, and we also know this the Eagles made six draft picks, five of them on defense, and that tells you a whole lot. We went into the offseason, you're talking about how the defense had to get a

lot better. And Chip Kelly, offensive coach in this twenty fifteen draft, goes five square at defense. You're five five picks at defense. To end things out, he is not a one side of the ball coach, that much is clear. Yeah, he's certainly aware of the fact that the defense let this team down at certain points last season. The secondary, of course, as we've bemoaned, all the players over twenty yards led the league. That's why we have three corners on this team now from draft day, and I guess

Brian Mahalak will help that. That defensive line, what for my money, is the best, our second best three man defensive line in the league along with the New York Jets. You know, he's got length, he's got he seems like a guy who could possibly you know, have the skills to long lever strong levers two gap in this defensive line. You know, I think Dave made an interesting point about what Chip Kelly did in this draft, because other than Aglare,

it was all defense. So I think when let's look ahead a little bit bow to how we think that Chip Kelly wants to play. First of all, I think he'd like to be in a situation which hasn't quite happened yet, where he runs eighty plus plays a game on offense. And I think the reason that he would really like to have the two backs Murray and Matthews, which they have, is because I think he wants to run the ball fifty percent of the time, which in

the NFL is a very high percentage run game. But I think that's what Chip wants to do, which is why the two backs are really important. And I think he believes he can scheme the run game just like he can scheme the pass game. So what he needs to address is his defense, and I think he again I'm just speculating, but clearly by what he did in this draft with five defensive players and Agalar, the focus

has been one hundred percent almost on defense. So I think he feels that his offense can be effective efficient, which it has been over two years in putting up yards and points relatively speaking to the rest of the NFL. So now we need to firm up the defense because if we're going to score twenty seven thirty points a game. The thing we don't want to have happened is to lose games thirty five thirties. Well, that's that's well said. And Dave, I guess Brian Muhalak at six nine a

rich Man's Alejandra Villa. Indeed, and I'd say I'm writing my column for Philadelphi Eagles dot Com here and I trying to find ways to kind of describe chips philosophy. Is the first year that he's running the show. And we learn a bit about Chip Kelly here. A coach who obviously we talked about here thinking defense, a coach also was thinking about the future, right He's he added a draft pick for next year, gave up a fourth

round pick this year looking to next year. A coach who we all think of Chip Kelly as this riverboat gambler, this gun slinger. Well, other than that trade to Detroit and then moving up for Eric Rowe, the Eagles stayed put in their other with their other picks, letting the draft come to them. So it's not a Chip Kelly is a I think we labeled. We put him in

a box too often. He's really extraordinary and to me, has shown that he is able to approach this game and approach his first personnel weekend in the draft in a lot of ways, in a variety of ways to

get the players that he wanted. And one of the interesting points to me there is the fact that he was willing to trade out of the fourth round get that future third round pick, as you said, having that eye on the future, He's not just trying to just win now heading into the twenty fifteen season, Now that he does have that personnel control, it's clear that he's

taking the long term view for this Eagles team. You know, And I think back historically, and I'm certainly not saying that the Eagles are going to be the San Francisco forty nine ers of the eighties, but I remember when Bill Walsh was there early in his tenure, they took three defensive backs in one draft. They already had Ronnie a lot and they took three defensive backs or they

already had white hits. Excuse me, Ronnie Lott was part of the draft, but they took two others in later rounds and that became one of the best secondaries in football for a number of years. Through the eighties that helped them win super Bowls. And I think it's interesting how some teams take the approach that when they have a perceived weakness, they really go heavy in a draft, and it seems that it's always easy to say it was the best player on their board. But I don't

think it's a coincidence that there were three defensive backs chosen. No. But I also don't think that the Eagles were hoping to come out of this draft with no offensive lineman. I think it's clear that they held true to their board because they didn't at some point reach just to take the next offensive lineman right the board. But they stay true that they wanted those corners. I mean, they

wanted corners with length, and those guys were there. But the time came, no question, And you will never know the answer to that specifically, because I think in any draft, clearly they traded up to get Eric Rowe. And my guess is they had Eric Rowe, as I know some teams did as a late first early second round plan.

Chips said that he said it was a trade back target in the first round for them, right, So Eric Rowe was someone they wanted to go get he did make the point about Jordan Hicks being here and everybody else was here, and there's no reason not to take him at face value. But I think if you really wanted to address your whole you also could have looked to trade to do that if there was someone you

really wanted. So I don't think they went into this draft like you said, saying we're not going to address the old line. But I don't think it's purely random that they came away with three defensive backs that clearly

fit their profile. Yeah. Absolutely, As you said, Dave, defense the focus for the Eagles after the first round, back to you in the Expinity studio, all right, With that seventh picked Eagle seeking Brian Mallick from Boston College, and we had a little special announcement one of a guy who named Tim Lopez, who is near and dear to everyone who comes into a Novicare complex. We see him every day, we rely upon him. He made the pick

with a little help from Bill Bubba Bergie. Hi, I'm Bill Bergie of the Philadelphia Eagles, and I'm here to introduce Tim Lopez, who is the grille chef of the Philadelphia Eagles, for to announce our next pick, with the twentieth pick of the seventh round, number two thirty seven overall, the Philadelphia Eagles select Brian mccallock, defensive end from Boston College. We got delicious, nutritious food ready for you at the novocare man, come on down, I'm on down, and that's bachelor.

Is something that Tim Lopez uses with absolute perfection. Thank you very much, Bill, and thank you very much. Tim. We'll learn more about mister mahollock when head coach Chip Kelly meets to media. Now, let's bring it, bring it real. To our draft expert, Tony Poline Draft Insiders dot Net. He's in New York City. He's been watching this draft for many months. Tony Poline, what do you think about this defense? Defense, and more defense. I think we knew

it all along. I mean really, we figured that the Eagles were gonna go with the speed receiver, guy who can stretch the field. They got that in round one. And you knew they wanted bigger cornerbacks. They wanted to fortify the middle of the field. I think they've done a good job of that. Well. I don't think we knew that the Eagles would go wide receiver and then five straight defensive players. We have not been able to find a whole lot of information about Mahowick. Can you

tell us a little bit about him? Yeah? Absolutely. He actually looks like an NBA center onto the field. I mean he's massive. He sticks out to you on film. Sort of an underrated, under the forgotten about guy in the scouting community, which is said, he's a high motive player, hustles to make plays. Could be used at defensive tackle. You could use him as a two gap band when you line up three when you use three man lines.

Not the greatest athlete, but not the greatest playmaker, but someone who's gonna occupy the blockers and allow teammates to make teammates to make plays on the ball. I'd be very surprised if Mahollock's not on the active roster come September. Well, it's interesting when you look at the Eagles roster, and we're very familiar with the roster. You know, Taylor Heart, a fifth round draft pick, has added a bunch of weight and strength to his body. He's pushing for a

playing time. Brandon Baar had a very nice season last year in his role of Eagles deep, young and talented upfront. So I mean, if Mallock makes the roster, he's gonna have to beat out some very talented players. Hey, but you can never have enough good defensive lineman. I mean teams you know are struggling to have one or two. The more depth you can end up there, the more sub packages that you can use. That's a good thing. All right, So let's talk about the sixth round with

Shepherd and Evans. Added your thoughts on those two players, which give the Eagles three defensive backs drafted. Yeah, Decary Shepherd is a solid cornerback. He's been struggling with a severe hamstring injury since January, but if you watch the film, he's got excellent ball skills, can effective facing the action as well as in man coverage. Not the biggest guy, but I think a potential dimeback at the next level. Randall Levans, He's an intriguing prospectives play both cornerback and safety.

Had a great pro day, has shown flashes at Kansas State, but never really pulled it together. He's the sort of guy that if he makes the team, it's ays a dimeback, but he must earn his wage primarily on special teams, has the athleticism to develop for the future. Tony, Let's talk about the draft. As you look at the six picks the Eagles have made, do you like what the Eagles have done? Well, you know, you knew they're gonna want to fortify their defensive secondary. They did that in

free agency. I think they've done it. In the draft. They added another piece on offense, they added a good defensive linement. So overall, and I don't think any of these players were reaches. You know, you're not saying that any of these guys that they took in the first round in the second rounds could have been had later on in the draft. So I think overall they got good value. They've got players that could help them well now as well as moving forward in the future. Tony.

By our account, and this is unofficial, the Eagles have seventy three players on the active roster. Obviously, every team gets up to ninety players, and so the Eagles in theory that would be very active in the post draft period. In general, good group of players. Are there a couple of names out there might get to the post draft period who are really heads and shoulders above others. Well, there's always some guy, one or two players that slips down.

I think they should be able to get some receivers is undrafted free agents. Still a decent amount of running backs out there if they're looking for a situational player, and some linebackers as well. How about the offensive line, Tony, We all have been wondering why the Eagles have not addressed the offensive line, and Chip Kelly comes back and says, well,

we've only lost one and that's Todd Harriman's. But we kind of look at the offensive line and see that there's some age with Jason Peters, some age with Evan Mathis, and your feelings on the offensive line, the crop post drafty post draft, most of those guys. If you watch the fourth round, there was a big run on the offensive line, but but the tackle in the guard position

and it really thinned out. So they may bring a few undrafted free agents in once the seventh round is over, but I don't see any big names out there all right, Tony, could you give us system an immediate reaction grade to what the Eagles have done. I'm gonna I'm gonna be conservative, I'm gonna say because it's all on paper, right now, I'm gonna say it's anywhere between a B to a B plus. I leaned towards a B. I like Agalar, but I think he's more of a second a second receiver.

I like Eric Row a lot, but you know he's not the He's not a polished prospect yet, there'll be some bumps in the road. I think a lot of the other guys that they they selected are more situational role type players who can also play special teams. You need those types of guys. It wasn't an art shattering draft, but it's one of those selection players that will help here and there. You know, may not, may make plays

that don't show up on the statuet. A more conservative, conservative approach than perhaps you're expected from Chip Kelly, not moving around as much as a lot of people out there thought. You know, that makes for good headlines. But you know, you've got to let the draft come to you. And I like the fact that you know he traded

picks now for future selections. That's always that's you know, that's what the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick haven instantly done if they want a lot of Super Bowl So you know, you just don't trade for the stake of trading. You only trade if you're targeting a player like they did with Eric Rowe, and it's good value there, it's a good deal. Tony Pauline, Draft Insiders dot Net has always stellar work for our Draft Central show here.

We thank you so much for joining us throughout the weekend. Thanks for having me, Dad, Tony Pauline, thanks so much. And we'll take a break right now. When we return, Tip Kelly we'll have his end of draft press conference. We'll wait for that as we continue on Eagles Draft

Central presented by Deeton Watson. An absolutely gorgeous, gorgeous day in and around Lincoln Financial Field on this Saturday, day number three of the twenty fifteen NFL Draft, and we thank you so much for joining us throughout these three days of the draft. Eagles Draft Central presented by Dietson Watson. We've been live with the old chair. Comes let you

be Nerve Center in Philadelphia. Dave Spiero Eagles Insider with you now going to the fan cave and bringing in bow Wolf and Greg Cosell as we wait for Chip Kelly. Some thoughts here prior to that guy's Greg, I hate to even ask you this question because I just asked Tony, but do you have an instant grade? We live in this instant analysis world any general folks, Well, I can only tell you. I'm gonna have to watch the table now. I can only tell you how I evaluate the players.

And for instance, I'm a little higher on Jacorey Shepherd than Tony Pauline is. I think Jacorey Shepherd in time, because he's so inexperienced, has a chance to be in a quality starting outside corner in the NFL. I don't think he's limited to sub packages. He may be early in his career, but I don't think that that will be the way his career plays out. So I think he's a very solid pick based on my evaluation of the player, and I think that's what you have to do.

You have to evaluate the player. Uh. My guess is that the Eagles had him rated higher than a sixth round pick, as I would have too if I actually put grades on every single player. So I think the Eagles actually drafted pretty well based on my evaluations, and that's the only way I can do it. Are there players greg that you didn't think maybe as highly of as the Eagles did some players who you know, Look, the Eagles are trying to fit players into their system.

Other players that the Eagles drafted, you just didn't nob should go there, no, because they really they only drafted six players, so you know, didn't You don't know anything about Mahalok so he than you thought, right, right, right. I don't know anything about Mahalic and I'll be the first to admit it. But you know, Aglar is a player that I would not have rated quite as highly. But I understand Chip's point of view on Aglar because

Chip was looking for a certain kind of receiver. You know, someone like Rashad Perriman, who is available at twenty does not fit exactly what Chip wants because I think he sees him purely as an outside the numbers big receiver, and Chip wants a multidimensional receiver who can line up in different places in your formation. So I understand the thinking behind Nelson Aguilar, and I think therefore it becomes a very good pick in the minds of Chip Kelly.

Eric Rowe was a corner I really liked. I watched him early in the process and really liked Eric Rowe, who was your favorites. Here comes Chip Kelly up to the podium. Guys, I'm sorry, we're gonna going to the auditorium right now. That's good issue. This first time you've had this, uh this set up with you and that kind of had to go there. As far as decisions,

I just thought it was very orderly. You know. I think we spent a lot of time in the last whatever a couple of months so that you know, I really it's the thing that says you're really not making decisions when you get to the draft. The decisions have been made before. So I went through a lot of scenarios and last a couple of weeks. If this is there and this is there and that's not there, which direction do we had? And then um, you know, kind of fell the way we thought it was gonna fall.

There was a couple of guys, you know you I hope he makes it a couple more picks, But realistically when they got picked, it was kind of we we did. I think our scouting staff did a great job of slotting where we thought they were going to get picked. Um. But I thought it was really orderly, very very organized.

That I thought Ed and his group did not sending Yet did you do you feel different than the last two years as far as I think, you know, I did the same things in terms of my evaluation of the film, being able to go to pro days, going to private workouts and all that, But I just didn't have final say. So that was my question. How's role different? How is in there advising us? Was that the whole time? You know, we had our same group in there and a lot of bouncing ideas off of a lot of

trade talks. We go here, go here, what you'd asked for? So did you have to lean on him a little bit? Or did you feel like two years of being attracting pretty much knew a lot of show. I think we understand it. But again I didn't run the show. I just had the final decision. So my role has never really changed. Just if it comes between player A and player B, then you gotta break the tie. So now I don't I don't look at it. I wouldn't say

it was either of those. I just think it's you know, you're trying to make logical decisions in terms of what you've done, and you've got to really rely on the work you've done up until it. I don't think it's a it can't be a reactive type thing. I think you need to just say, can't get kind of get caught up in it. And you know, I think we

made a really good decision. Um, there are people we wanted to take and forth, but when you have an opportunity to get a third round draft pick in the following year, I think it's a it's a smart decision. You know, if you're not ready for it, not playing for it, didn't go through those scenarios. Maybe you say I really like this guy, and I think you can kind of get married to that, but then you show change yourself. So today, do we wish we had a fourth pick? Yeah, next year we go into the draft

and we know we have an extra three. Then we're really excited about the decision we made the year before. So now you know, and it's good that we can talk about him. I think, um, Brian is he's got a skill set that it's it's kind of when you look at it, you know, one of those guys when you spit things through and just say height, weight, speed kind of off the charts. He's six eight seven, he weighs three hundred pounds. He's a thirty four inch vertical jump.

He ran four eight eight and he's a productive player. He just played you know, wide defensive end in a four three defense. He hasn't been a two gap player, but we feel with the physical skill set he has that we can convert him to a four technique. You know, and we also have some prior knowledge. Billy McGovern was on staff with him before Ryan Day was on staff. Mike Dawson was there, so guys that have coached him can kind of talk about his work ethic and what

he's willing to do. But he's a you know, if you want the prototype for big people beat up little people. I think he's obviously the biggest person that we've we've we've drafted a brought in since since we've been here. So was that a value pick or was that a spot you want to now it's it was again the highest guy on the board at that point in time, you know, for how we fit in terms of and I think Ed said the best We're always gonna take the best players that fit our system. He doesn't fit.

He's not a four three, you know, a four three defensive linement. He's a three four defensive linement. So you know, there's a certain amount of teams that he fit and he's that you know, ideal, you know, if you could put one together, that's what it is. Now it's he hasn't played it, so there's a there's a projection there. That's why he got drafted where he got drafted on defense. How do you feel about the defense? We've got more

players on the defensive side of the ball. But then the next thing is and it's it's like anything, we gotta get out in the field and we got to get working and you know, try to try to see what those guys bring, uh and get rolling from that standpoint. So now we got certain positions, but we're moving on that already as I was walking out of the room.

We we've moved towards free agency and just you know, do they not get picked in the in the the following picks with the rest of the draft, and then when that you know, in that final draft picked is made, when mister irrelevant is picked, then after that it in. But we've got that very organized, very detailed in terms of what direction we're going. Then it but what it turns into is that that person is now available to all the other thirty one teams in a league, so

you know, really who presents the best opportunity. So, um, there's a little bit of recruiting that goes on. There's the same salary pool that's available to every team in a league, so you know how we allocate it and how we do that. But I think Ed and his group upstairs are doing a really good job. I got that organized and we're ready to roll after that last

picks understand challenges a guy that might as t was. Yeah, there is a little bit, but I think you know, with as and knowing how to teach it, and we do. We do have some taller, longer guys in that position. That's what we're looking for. Um, and he's really you know, if you could a six eight seven, three hundred pounder, you know that that's got that explosion in him a little bit. It's it'll be an interesting transition as he goes from a four three defense to a three four.

But I you know, we think there's a big upside there. And you know, we know his work ethic because there's guys in our staff that have actually were on his staff and college. So we're excited about the opportunity to get a chance to work with him. Yeah, I went up to his pro day and then we had him in for a Top thirty visit. So, now, what do you like most about what you put together? I like our you know, just from the two weeks of the

exposure to the guys we have there. As their attitudes, you know, I think they've been outstanding when we've had them in the classroom and had a chance to meet with them, and then getting the feedback from what our guys in the weight room have said, you know, and really as a staff, I think we're all really excited to get out on the field and actually start to work with them again. But I think we got some guys that you know, and you just look at how

they did it. We traded for Sam the following Sunday. He was here and has been here every day since, you know, we traded. We signed to Marco. He's been or every day since. You know. Guys that that came in, they're working, they're they're really putting all their time in and uh excited to kind of get our hands on them. We finally get to work with them on Monday. Three of your offensive linemen thirty four. I mean, does that factory into how you look at that that position as

a whole, Yeah, it does, you know. And again there were guys that we really wanted in this draft, but you know, in each round they were taken before we had an opportunity to pick. So you know, we we're gonna stick to our board and I've talked about that when it crosses you know. But again, I think you look at our line, you know, in terms of being able to go play this season. I think we're excited about the group we have to go play this season. We do have to address it as we move forward

in the future. And then maybe there's one or two or three four guys that we sign here that are undrafted guys that will have an opportunity like Matt Toven that's come in here and made our team as an undrafted guy. Now that's kind of where what the direction we're gonna go when it with at least this year or so. I think that I don't I mean, I don't put a number on it, but I know he's a unique individual in terms of what he can do

and what his body is like. And uh um, I don't know, I know it's definitely one because the way he's working right now, there's absolutely no question that he'll he'll be the top tackle in the in the game this year, you know, and we'll just see continue. But you just can't predict the future. You don't know what happens from an injury standpoint if he were to uh

to have one. But um, you know, I feel solid in terms of what we have this year, but we really have to address moving forward what we got to do with that position to have an idea of how this offense is going to function? Or do you have an idea now of how Sam's going to project? I mean it's a combination of both. I mean, we wouldn't have traded for him if we didn't think he fit in terms of what our vision is for what we're

trying to do. But we still need to see him out in the field, and we've got plenty of time. You know, it's the beginning of May here, so um, there's there's a lot of time before we open up with Atlanta, So I don't feel comfortable in that. How many players did you have on your draft board and how much did that draft board change from whenever it was first put together until this week. I don't know the exact number. I couldn't tell you that. Um, and it always changes. I think as as as you gain

more information. It's probably not really finalized till probably a couple of days ago, you know, when there's a lot of things a lot of times. You know, you had some guys that went to the medical recheck at Indianapolis just last week, so you know, hey, this guy was now we take him off the board just because medically he didn't get cleared by our doctors and our trainers. So, um, it really was you know, wasn't really finalized till probably

last weekend. Was that a decision that was made this weekend? Previously it was a hard decision. It wasn't a hard decision, no, you know, and we just I mean it's a very you know, really, I don't think we should be talking about draft picks. I think two people have lost their lives and I think that's a little bit more important than that. So, uh, we weren't really thinking about the draft at that point in time. With him at them,

you know, who wants to come play. I think when you visit with most prospects, I think you get the feeling that they want to come play for you because I don't. You don't get too many guys that go to a visit or you get an exposure to them that try to turn you off because there's only thirty two employees out there in in this game, so you know,

usually you're going to get the best for him. But we also understand what we're looking for and get a good feel, you know, And it's I think it's like anything. Maybe when a kid has an opportunity to pick a college, you get a feel when you're on the campus for the first time that I think I fit in here really well, and you know, you get to kind of get the same vibe. So um, you know there's there's there's something too that that that there's an attraction because

we always talk about it. There's tangibles and intangibles, you know, and some of the tangibles are non negotiable in terms of how we're looking at height, weight, speed. You know, if a guy runs four right and the forty, we just can't draft him. If he's a wide receiver or

defensive back, that just doesn't fit. Um. But there's also in tangibles to go along with you can also run four two, but we just you know, there's it's kind of give and take, and that's kind of how you you come down to your final decisions and then you hope you're right and they hope you're right. You know, Marcus Smids team web site, it's bigger, shows better. H I haven't seen him in the weight room. We're not

allowing the weight room, so I haven't. You know, that's a question for Josh Hanks and Sean Halls for excuse me to just as I've said since it begin, just more consistent play. There's been times when he's flashing, he really excited what he does, or we just needed from a more consistent basis from him. Right now, you got through the major decision making phases of the off season. You're now do you think you're more talented team as you're staying in Honestly, I don't know, nor does I

think it matters. I think what matters is when we put that team on the field and in August, that's what I mean, in actually September now when we open up against Atlanta, because there's a lot of things that can happen between now and then. So our goal, though was work you know, we finished with ten wins the last two seasons and that's not good enough. So we're always going to be striving to make this a better

a better team, and a better organization. And that's what that's what we've been charged to do, and that's what we're going to try to do. How close did you get to us? Didn't at all? There was We weren't close at all. Yeah, no, I mean it was we weren't. We weren't close at all. You know, I know what was reported, but we weren't close at all to any deal or trade or player talk or anything in terms of dealing with dealon talk at all. Now, we we

weren't close to any trade talk. It's I mean we've if you guys know how much organizations talk about trading players. I mean it's every day. Hey, are you interested in such and such? Yeah, well, we're not interested in trading or are you interesting this guy? Yeah we are. You know, we're looking for this. Okay, we're out of that, you know, I mean, it goes on a lot, so we're there discussions, Yeah, there's, but there's probably discussions with everybody on Miami's roster, everybody

on our roster. That's why when I'm being honest when I say is everybody available, Yeah, everybody's available at a price, But most of the time the price will never ever match what we want, you know, so it's never going to happen. You mean, he's got two suspensions. We didn't have any discussions. We had but a brief discussion in February and then that was it. So the discussions didn't end the other day because we weren't even having a discussion.

The last time there was ever a conversation I think sometime at the combine, and we weren't. It wasn't moving anywhere then, so it was over. We've met the three of the guys here. You obviously behind importance and one character um, and do you feel like talking to people on the league that is something that maybe you place

more emphasis on than other teams now. I mean, I think everybody has their own little model in terms of what they're looking for, but I don't think we're unique in that aspect in terms of how we approach it. So I'm sorry, I'll go back here. We've talked about that before. I think it's to us, it's not a I mean, it's something that you look at to me

because it's a sign a commitment. Have they set out and done something that they've invested in and then said, hey, you know, I follow through with it and I did it. So I always look at it as a positive. But it's not a deal breaker, you know. Obviously a Nelson situation. Nelson graduated early, um, you know, but the most I think the rest of them do. I think Jakory did um, I think Randall graduated in December. I know Eric has I think Jordan Hicks graduating three and a half year

and is working on a master's degree. So I mean that's just another you know, kind of a way to evaluate players in terms of commitment, uh, you know, the ability to stick to stick two things, to set out and make goals and kind of stay stay with those goals. Um. So in signing in signing Miles awesome and then and then we're sending defender for Chris Bowls for two decisions we haven't asked you about went into both of those.

We we you know, we thought Miles obviously a talented player in the production he had with the Cowboys, but then you really look at the season he had last year with his forty seven catches in Cleveland, and you know, go and watch all forty seven catches on tape. There's contested balls. Uh, just a widely veteran knows how to run routes. It's got outstanding hands, catches the ball away from his body. Is a physical player, has both played

inside receiver and outside receiver. Um, you know that we just thought the value for getting him, you know, on a one year contract. It was just a win win. I think he wanted to be here. We wanted to

have him here. Um. I think we got a guy in you know, an older presence because we are young at the wide receiver spot that that's been in this league for a long time, has been around for a while, you know, and you put him and Cooper as the veterans in that room, and then you had guys like, um, you know, Jordan Hoff now Nelson, all those guys throw him into it that we feel pretty confident, you know, in terms of what we have. We think we got a nice mix in there. So I thought he fit

really well. So and in Chris's situation, we talked to him about, you know, extensively where we were and what a role was, and we did have a role for him, but I also think he felt like he wanted to, um see if he could fit in somewhere else, because we do we are a little bit tough, heavy at that position and I understand that, so UM, but did we want him back? I would have take Chris back

in a second. Chris would have made this football team and we would have carried four running backs in three tight ends if Chris was still here as well as how important is that? It's not an end all beal, but it certainly is a We look at it as a positive. You know, anytime when we're looking at linebackers now, we want three down linebackers. We don't exclusively say first and second down linebackers can't play for us. But in an ideal world, you want a guy that you don't

have to take off the field and third down. UM. Ideally a guy that can play inside and outside. You know, the ability to play inside and coverage in the secondary and play outside and coverage in the secondary. UM is a positive. Is it is it the end of it? If he can't do that, we're not going to take them. No, But I think the versatility, we just look at it as a positive. The same thing we do with wide receivers, are the inside outside receivers are exclusively an outside receiver.

If you're exclusively an outside receiver and you're the best in the game, then you know we're gonna make that work too. So but I think the versatility, we look at it as a positive one extension. Um, I'm not gonna I mean, I don't think it's fair to anybody to discuss contracts in terms of where we're gonna go or what our thought processes. But I really like a lot of our guys here, and I hope most of

them stake here so throughout this process. And this weekend, well, I missed the first part I heard Edge job with the job you know, his first time last three months and this weekend. Yeah, I think the thing that struck me about ed right from the beginning, you know, when I was kind of charged with you you need to go find somebody that to put this thing together, is

just how detailed oriented he was. And uh, you know, my first meeting with him, and he brought me up to speed exactly what had gone on in the fall in terms of the scouting process and where everybody was and kind of where we are and what we're looking at and how things are being done. Um, you know, it's really just kind of taken aback at how detailed oriented Ed was and how organized he was. And that's really what we needed, you know, because I'm not I'm

not available in the fall. I watch a lot of tape on Saturdays, but that's just me watching tape. I don't know much about, you know, the backgrounds or any of those things. But that struck me. And then when I had an opportunity to go around a country and interview a lot of guys, I always felt like I would interview Ed last because I'd seen everything and then

be able to compare him to it. And again he blew me away in terms of his organization, how detailed oriented he is, how intelligent he is, and then kind of his vision of how we can move this thing forward and how we can make it better. So, you know, he hit the ground running, you know, as we got together that first day after he got hired and you know, organized the scouts and it really integrated our scouts and our coaches. I thought the group of them did an

outstanding job. And if you watch how well our scouts and coaches work together, um, it's it's unique, I think in terms of how we do it. But as we look at it is we're trying to make the Eagles the best team out there, you know, and it can't be personnel department against coaches, coach against personnel. You guys, coach, we pick. We're on the same side and all we want at the end of the day is the same goal is we want to win a championship. This city

deserves it, and that's what we're gonna do. And we're gonna leave no stone on turn until we get that done. And that's what this operation is all about. We're not satisfied with ten wins. I don't think anybody satisfied with ten zwins, and will continue to do what we have to do to make sure that we don't win just ten games. We won eleven, we win twelve, we win thirteen and hopefully bring this city what it deserves, that's

a championship. We mentioned that thinks me a little different in terms of I guess everyone has a voice at the table. Can you walk through the process when you do win? Coaches and scouts meet talked about players. I'd like to, but I really don't want to share that, but I think everybody's voice is hurt, and I think everybody's allowed to have their own opinion, and we want people to not be on the same page as us, because you know, that's that's not what we're looking for.

We're looking for everybody to see it from a different view. Everybody has a different set of lenses. Everybody has a different set of perspectives based upon their experiences in terms of what they bring. You know, we've got guys that have done in different ways and that's what we want to do. You know. The only answer I don't accept is when someone says, why do you do it that way? Because we've always done it that way. Give me a reason, and you know what, there's a lot of things we've

changed since it's taken over. It's like, you know what, that's a really good idea. Let's see if we can move in that direction, because we all believe that's going to make us better. So I think we got a bunch of um I touched on it earlier. I think we got a bunch of coaches and scouts that are that are really growth minded and not fixed minded, and we're going to continue to do whatever we can to see if we can make this thing work. We'll go three one two three, So everybody, let's not let's we're

all come by all we're having a great time. Okay, this is a conscious decision coming in, like we need to get back. We Yeah, And when your needs match the board, then that's when you're in good shape. When you your need crosses that talent line where you're pushing

a guy. And I think for us, fortunately for us in terms of what we really needed to fix, um, you know, I look at running back there there this was an outstanding draft for running backs, but we didn't have to go take a running back because of what we did in free agency. Um, as we looked at it, it fit, but there was no one here that we felt like we just kind of went, you know, we really have them here, but let's push them up into this round and let's select them because it's at a

need position. So I think it just worked for us in terms of how we selected them, and we'll see when we get them on the field. Actually, or are there spots you feel you still need either vetterman guys who were war each ray to supplement are at we'd like to get a couple of alignment in here, you know, specifically to talk about that position. Just we need four at least just because we're down, you know what I mean. We got twelve. We usually like bring sixteen in our

in our ninety. But that's that's a prob I already forced here as we look at the undrafted guys and see where we can put together from that, and then if then we'll look at some other avenues. We're always going to look at other avenues. You know. Now once you set the ninety, you're gonna have to replace those guys. You have to let some people go. But you know, I think really the one priority position there. The other thing is tight end. I would say we didn't we

didn't get another tight end. We lost James Casey here in the offseason. You know, we're really excited about where Trey Burton is, um, but we'd still like to get a couple of tight ends here to be able to compete with Brenton and Zach. So how would you say this draft? What? UM? I don't know. I wasn't here a couple of years ago. So oh, I was gonna get out of the question by saying twenty twelve. I have no idea. It was an hair list and I

could have walked off, right. I think every class is different just because of what's in that class, you know, And I think that's the unique thing about the draft. You know, what a first round pick. You know, if you look at the draft when we were in the draft my first year here, you know, the three of the first four picks off the board were offensive tackles. I don't think an offensive tackle went to twelve this year.

There were really no quarterbacks in that draft. I think as you as you look at how it played itself out. So I think every draft class is a little bit unique based upon what's available, and I think that's what separates it. It's sometimes it's not by that's what that organization wants and that's what they need, is it? You know, you you can't force the issue. And I think that's the one thing we tried not to do in this draft, is to not force the issue. But I think every

draft is kind of unique, you know. And that's the one thing. Everybody's always looking for, that elusive quarterback, and there's that's why there's so many quarterbacks drafted in the first round that don't end up making it because everybody wants that position. But you know, in this draft, I think it was clear cut and everybody looked at the same way. They were two, you know, and what the next one's like or the other one's like, I don't know.

So thanks guys, you got you got, And that is Chip Kelly is post draft analysis Eagles with six picks and we are finished here on Philadelphia Eagles dot com. Thanks so much for joining us here on Eagles Draft Center. We've got the post draft period covered for you as well more coverage throughout the night and the weekend, so stay tuned to Philadelphia Eagles dot com. Thank you so much for spending time with us for the three days

of this draft. I'm Dave SPIDERO. Have yourselves a great Eagles night, everyone,