By Matt Lombardo | For NJ Advance Media
NFL Draft analyst Mike Mayock of the NFL Network suggested Monday that the Eagles should make it a point to target top wide receiver prospects Corey Davis and Mike Williams in the first round and go shopping for cornerbacks later on.
Given that such a strategy could put the Eagles out of reach for the likes of Washington's Sidney Jones, Alabama's Marlon Humphrey or a pair of Florida cornerbacks Teez Tabor and Quincy Wilson, Mayock suggested that there are some middle-to-later round prospects that could be perfect fits for Jim Schwartz and the Eagles.
Here is a look at the cornerbacks Mayock linked to the Eagles, his analysis and scouting reports on each.
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Cornerback or wide receiver?
It has been widely debated in recent weeks whether the Eagles biggest need resides at cornerback or wide receiver. Mayock suggested that Howie Roseman and the Eagles should take advantage of the deep cornerback class and try to add one of the elite prospects at wide receiver in the first round.
"I think the wide receiver class is good," Mayock said Monday on a conference call with reporters. "But I don't think it's as deep as cornerback. If you're there at 14 or 15, I think the Eagles have to be looking really hard at all three of those potential first-round wide receivers. I think all three of them potentially go between picks 10-and-20.
"I think the Eagles have to be looking at all three. They're distinctly different [players], the Eagles have to figure out their order of preference as far as what style they want. If one, two or all three of those wide receivers are available, they have to know who they want to take. I think they can drop back and get in the later rounds a cornerback. It wouldn't bother me one bit if they draft a couple cornerbacks and I think they could."
Jeff Hanisch | USA TODAY Sports
Which cornerbacks?
If the Eagles follow Mayock's plan, the veteran analyst suggested several prospects that could interest the Eagles in rounds 2-4 at the cornerback position.
"It's so deep at cornerback," Mayock said. "Where is Gareon Conley going from Ohio State? There's a kid named Ahkello Witherspoon from Colorado. People are talking about him going in the fourth round, he's a good football player. Damontae Kazee, if they want to gt a nickel. Cam Sutton from Tennessee. I can get through four rounds of quality cornerbacks and I've never been able to say that before."
Jeff Hanisch | USA TODAY Sports
Gareon Conley scouting report
Conley is projected by many to be a second-round pick, depending on his performance at the NFL Combine and in his Pro Day at Ohio State.
Here is a scouting report courtesy of NFL.com:
Press-corner with experience at both cornerback spots and an ability to fit into a variety of coverage techniques. He plays with good top-end speed and has the ball skills to challenge and defend passes on any level. He can step in right away in zone coverage, but could struggle to match patterns from a pedal. He will likely be targeted by teams seeking long cornerbacks who can crowd and trail receivers down the field. He has the talent to become an early starter, but he must improve in run support.
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Gareon Conley highlights
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Ahkello Witherspoon Scouting Report
Here is a scouting report on Witherspoon, courtesy of Pro Football Focus:
Any time the height “6-foot-3″ is listed next to a cornerback’s name, scouts are going to take notice. With Witherspoon, the numbers jump off the page in the early going, as he appears much-improved since last season, so there’s all the more reason to notice of the long cornerback. He’s allowed only six of 25 targets to be completed into his coverage this season for 93 yards, and 45 of those yards came on a screen pass that wasn’t all his fault.
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Ahkello Witherspoon highlights
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Damontae Kazee Scouting Report
Many analysts view San Diego State's Damontae Kazee as a Round 3 or Round 4 cornerback prospect. Here is a scouting report of Kazee, via CBS Sports:
Kazee lacks ideal size and speed for the outside, but he's athletic enough to play man coverage and possesses the awareness, downhill closing speed and competitiveness as an open-field tackling ability to project well inside as a nickel corner. His knack for making his own big plays (15 turnovers caused over his career) is certainly intriguing as well.
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Damontae Kazee highlights
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Cam Sutton Scouting Report
Tennessee cornerback Cameron Sutton is projected by many to be a middle-round prospect whose size could force him to play slot in the NFL.
Here is a scouting report of Sutton, courtesy of NFL.com:
Man-cover corner with feet to mirror and match off line of scrimmage. Responsive to route keys from wideouts. Decent instincts looking to jump hitches and wide receiver screens. Desired fluidity of movement with ability to open and run from backpedal. Confident in coverage and rarely penalized. Good acceleration to ball raking across catch point when he gets there. High school wideout with soft hands and smart angles to the ball. Finished career with 37 passes defensed including seven interceptions. Allowed just three touchdowns during career. Praised by coaches for competitive character and selfless, team-first attitude. Worked his tail off to return to field after fracturing ankle in mid-September. Punt-return talent; career average of 14.9 yards with three touchdowns.
Video via YouTube
Cam Sutton highlights
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Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardo975.
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