By John McMullen
PHILADELPHIA - 1 (4) - Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma; 2 (35) - Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford; 3 (67) - Bennie Logan, DT, LSU; 4 (98) - Matt Barkley, QB, USC; 5 (136) - Earl Wolff, SS, North Carolina State; 7 (212) Joe Kruger, DE, Utah; 7 (218) Jordan Poyer, CB, Oregon State; 7 (239) - David King, DE, Oklahoma
Top Picks Analysis: The Eagles quickly went about defining the up-tempo Chip Kelly offense by drafting Johnson, the athletic Oklahoma left tackle in the first round as well as Stanford movement tight end Ertz in the second. The Eagles went through their first OTAs under Kelly last week and one thing was abundantly clear, the former Oregon mentor is going to push things and play basketball on turf in Philly. That means conditioning and athleticism are going to be paramount, and Johnson, who can run a faster 40-yard dash and leaps higher than some wide receivers, is a good fit in the City of Brotherly Love. Ertz, meanwhile, is one of the new breed of tight ends who can create mismatches but isn't all that strong as an in-line blocker. Run-stuffer Logan is a hard-working two-down player.
Best Value Pick: Some thought Barkley was the most NFL-ready quarterback throughout this process, but a perceived lack of arm strength sent what was once a top-five prospect tumbling to the first pick in the fourth round. For some, anticipation and accuracy are a lot more important in today's NFL than being able to throw the ball 70 yards down the field. Barkley remains a better pro prospect than the only quarterback taken in Thursday's first round -- Florida State's E.J. Manuel.
Questionable Calls: There were solid decisions throughout but if you want to get picky, Johnson was not the fourth best prospect in this draft. That said, it's not like Philadelphia could have moved down and still got him, Detroit would have sprinted to the podium at No. 5.
Summary: Call it the Oklahoma sandwich for Philly. They started by taking the Sooners' Johnson with the No. 4 overall pick and finished by taking OU defensive end David King with No. 239. It's the stuff in between that will make the difference, however. Ertz is a perfect fit for what Kelly wants to do offensively while, Logan needs to push the overrated Isaac Sopoaga at nose tackle. Getting potential contributors on the edge (Utah's Kruger) and corner (Oregon State's Poyer) late in the draft ups the grade.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Undrafted rookie free agent signings: Iowa State LB Jake Knott; Stony Brook RB Miguel Maysonet; Arizona C Kyle Quinn; Oregon DT Isaac Remington; LSU WR Russell Shepard; Alabama DL Damion Square; Iowa OL Matt Tobin; TCU RB Matthew Tucker; LSU P Brad Wing
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