Philadelphia Eagles Draft: Final Seven-Round Mock Draft

Round 4 (#118 overall): Cameron Sutton, CB, Tennessee

Another Schwartz athletic fit, Sutton is an oft-forgotten man in this thick cornerback class. Not so for the Philadelphia Eagles, who double-dip in search of their starting CB2.

In man coverage, Sutton shows excellent mirroring skills, nice physicality at the line, and sufficient burst. His ball skills and disruptive ability despite uninspiring length (30″ arms) really pop out on tape, and his willingness to play physically drastically improved from the 2015 season. I don’t want him following the Dez Bryants and Odell Beckhams of the league around the field, but the Terrence Williamses and Sterling Shephards? I can get down with that.

Zone coverage is the concern. While his click-and-close is solid, the recognition and anticipation from a mental standpoint could use some improvement. NFL coaching will do him well in that aspect of the game, as he does have the encouraging athleticism to succeed in short zones.

Oh, by the way, special teams experience? You know Philly will be down for that.

Long speed is the big concern with Sutton (4.52s 40-yard dash). That’s in the 37% for cornerbacks. If he can’t develop in zone coverage, he’ll regularly be outdistanced when playing man. Keep your fingers crossed.

Alternate Realities:

1) How The Mighty Have Fallen: Ahkello Witherspoon, Colorado. I was on the Ahkello hype train when it was chug-chugging along in Round 3, but have politely stepped off now that it’s steamrolling into Round 2. Another all-Combine player, I’d be more receptive to the Eagles investing in an unpolished athlete later on Day 3. Mental strides are needed for Witherspoon to succeed in the NFL.

2) They Be Reachin’: Shaquill Griffin, UCF. A fun tape study given his love of contact and nice ball skills, Griffin tested far better than the tape revealed. Though his numbers project him favorably in any scheme, he struggled to carry wideouts down the field, and his mental processing likely isn’t at an NFL level. I wouldn’t be too upset with this pick, cause he’s pretty similar to Sutton–just…worse.

3) Please, Dear God, Not: Howard Wilson, Houston. A player I mocked to Philadelphia as a Round 4 selection in the past, Wilson’s Combine performance and Pro Day antics have soured me on his stock. An oft-injured, inexperienced, and apparently temperamental corner could prove disastrous for a team who has dealt with, you know, oft-injured and temperamental corners before.

4) The Dark Horse: Jeremy Cutrer, Middle Tennessee. An amazing young man who battled through incredible hardships in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Cutrer’s evaluation comes down to one major question mark: can he add more mass to a 6’2, 168lb frame? Tape shows length, ball skills, competitiveness, twitch, recognition, everything–but if he can’t add mass, he’ll be relegated to off-man, deep-third coverage. No matter what, you can’t help but root for him.