Since the end of the 2006 NCAA regular season, I had visions of Patrick Willis becoming an Eagle. Living in SEC territory now for over 3 years, I have seen Willis fly around at linebacker for Ole Miss and terrorize college football's toughest conference. The Eagles, picking 26th, were in good shape to possibly land Willis -- the 2006 Butkus award winner -- unless he really blew up at the Combine. He did, running an amazing 4.49 forty at about 237 pounds. Later, at his Mississippi pro day workout, he ran a ridiculously fast 4.37.
A sampling of mock drafts, such as http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/2007/mockdraft_thompson.cfm?page=2 , suggests Willis is now a top 15 talent, and could land with the Panthers at 14. Another mock reveals just how much Willis' stock has risen, tabbing him to be taken with the 11th pick overall by the 49ers --http://nfldraftcountdown.com/sub/mockdraft.html. Willis is a rare talent these days, a player strong and instinctive enough to play inside linebacker, yet fast enough and flexible in the hips enough to turn and run with backs and tight ends in pass coverage. He is a "tackling machine."
It is questionable if Reid/Heckert/Banner value the linebacker position enough to use a number one pick to fill a need there, regardless of how special the talent is. My instinct tells me that a player like Willis, who could help right away in run support, and who doesn't ever need to come off the field in obvious passing situations, would be the kind of linebacker the Birds would take as a late first rounder. But I just can't ever see the Eagles trading up in round one to pick a linebacker. According to the infamous Jimmy Johnson draft day value chart, it would probably take a package of the Eagles' first and second picks this year to land Willis. Ain't happening.
Which leads to the Takeo Spikes and Al Wilson situation. Spikes has struggled since an achilles injury. Wilson has what some believe to be a serious neck condition. Both are on the downside of very good careers. Wilson would most likely be a fit at Sam or Mike, if he has anything left physically. Spikes could play all 3 LB positions for Jim Johnson, although his best position may be Will. He, if healthy, is a playmaker who is at his best chasing to the ball, blitzing, and attacking in space without a big body leaning on him. Spikes, by all reports, did play better at the end of 2006. If he can be healthy over a full season in 2007, his age suggests he could still have several very productive years ahead -- if he can recapture most of his explosiveness back.
A sampling of mock drafts, such as http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/2007/mockdraft_thompson.cfm?page=2 , suggests Willis is now a top 15 talent, and could land with the Panthers at 14. Another mock reveals just how much Willis' stock has risen, tabbing him to be taken with the 11th pick overall by the 49ers --http://nfldraftcountdown.com/sub/mockdraft.html. Willis is a rare talent these days, a player strong and instinctive enough to play inside linebacker, yet fast enough and flexible in the hips enough to turn and run with backs and tight ends in pass coverage. He is a "tackling machine."
It is questionable if Reid/Heckert/Banner value the linebacker position enough to use a number one pick to fill a need there, regardless of how special the talent is. My instinct tells me that a player like Willis, who could help right away in run support, and who doesn't ever need to come off the field in obvious passing situations, would be the kind of linebacker the Birds would take as a late first rounder. But I just can't ever see the Eagles trading up in round one to pick a linebacker. According to the infamous Jimmy Johnson draft day value chart, it would probably take a package of the Eagles' first and second picks this year to land Willis. Ain't happening.
Which leads to the Takeo Spikes and Al Wilson situation. Spikes has struggled since an achilles injury. Wilson has what some believe to be a serious neck condition. Both are on the downside of very good careers. Wilson would most likely be a fit at Sam or Mike, if he has anything left physically. Spikes could play all 3 LB positions for Jim Johnson, although his best position may be Will. He, if healthy, is a playmaker who is at his best chasing to the ball, blitzing, and attacking in space without a big body leaning on him. Spikes, by all reports, did play better at the end of 2006. If he can be healthy over a full season in 2007, his age suggests he could still have several very productive years ahead -- if he can recapture most of his explosiveness back.
