Philadelphia Eagles-Only Seven Round Mock Draft

2.) OL Daryl Williams – Oklahoma

Nov 22, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle Daryl Williams (79) before the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Barring an unexpected tumble by one of the top players in the draft, many have projected the Eagles to focus on their secondary, wide receivers, and offensive line in the early parts of the draft. Having already addressed the secondary and with what I would perceive as a preference to allocate resources to the offensive line in lieu of players on the outside by Chip Kelly, I have them prioritizing that position for round two.

Without the book-end tackle that usually features the top of every NFL Draft, the theme of this year seems to be focusing on this players with the potential to be able to start their career on the inside before eventually moving to the outside. Many of the prospects projected as first round targets don’t quite have the polish to hold down such an important position at this stage in their career. That said, the talent is often there with most of these players and it’s more a matter of coaching them up once they arrive in the NFL.

In this projection, Kelly nabs another Oklahoma Sooner to, hopefully, serve alongside Lane Johnson as the team’s right tackle of the future. Williams has the size (6’5″, 327 lbs), experience in an offensive line-intensive system at Oklahoma, and the benefit of being a late rising star in the pre-draft process.

Though the depth may not be there, the Eagles offensive line is a great environment for a young player to learn without dealing with too much pressure. Lane Johnson had to have been the least-scrutinized 4th overall pick (at least until he was busted for PEDs) in recent memory. Playing on a line that includes veteran talents such as Jason Peters and Jason Kelce can go a long way in building and sustaining confidence for a young offensive lineman. This is one of those selections that may not have the sizzle, but could put Eagles fans minds at ease for the future of the right side of the line.