Maybe the Eagles won’t have to spend big on a free agent after all.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper has released his latest NFL Mock Draft, and he has Clemson’s Mike Williams falling to the Eagles at No. 14 overall, a dream scenario for the Eagles who are in desperate need of help at wide receiver.
Kiper writes:
Wide receiver has been a position of frustration for the Eagles, and it’s imperative they add at least one more reliable pass-catcher next year, or they risk slowing the development of Carson Wentz. This is a spot where the Eagles could be considering another position (tackle comes to mind), but the value isn’t there in some cases, and with Williams it definitely is. He’s a great, big target for Wentz to work with.
Williams, 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, finished last season with 98 catches for 1,361 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Here is more on Williams, via CBS Sports:
STRENGTHS: Tall, filled out frame with developed muscle tone — has added 40 pounds of bulk since high school. Flexible body control to effortlessly turn and adjust to the ball with a defender on his back. Strong-strider and accelerates well in his routes to trample corners. Large catch radius, using his length to pluck above his head or extend for diving grabs. Quick reflexes and sticky hands to make catches away from his body look easy. Trustworthy in contested situations, showing toughness, focus and finish. Uses his body to shield corners from the ball. Enough hand strength and wiggle at the line of scrimmage to beat the jam, using his upper and lower halves in unison. Functional strength shows as a receiver and as a blocker, eliminating defenders from perimeter run lanes…One of only three players in school history with multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Finishes his career ranked third in the Clemson record books in touchdown receptions (21) and 100-yard receiving performances (nine).
WEAKNESSES: Lacks elite long-speed or the separation quickness to easily create spacing at the top of routes. Needs to sharpen his footwork in/out of his breaks to better hide his patterns — NFL corners will pick up on his route tells. Will have the occasional focus drop through his hands. Room to improve his efficiency from receiver to ballcarrier. Will brace for contact and needs to show more power to finish with the ball in his hands. Uses his length and power to fight off press, but needs to improve his jam technique. Several fumbles on his film, fighting for extra yardage without protecting the ball. Medicals need examined after missing almost the entire 2015 season with a fractured bone in his neck (Sept. 2015).
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Eliot Shorr-Parks may be reached at eshorrpa@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @EliotShorrParks. Find NJ.com Eagles on Facebook.
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