The guys at SBNation.com have been running mock drafts since before the season ended and for the most part the Eagles have taken an offensive lineman. Usually it's Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin. This time, that's not the case. At #23, the Eagles take a corner.
Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado. Asante Samuel has a reputation as a freelancer, and the team can do a lot better than either Ellis Hobbs, Joselio Hanson or Dimitri Patterson across from him. Smith is a big, smooth athlete that could end up being the second cornerback off the board come April.
Mel Kiper has Smith rated as his #3 corner behind Patrick Peterson and Prince Awakamura. What makes Smith intriguing is his size. At 6-2, 205 he'd easily be the biggest corner on the Eagles and could finally be a guy that could match up with bigger WRs in the NFC East. Plus, if the six foot Trevard Lindley develops into a contributor the Eagles would have some real size overall at corner. Last year the Eagles were lining up the 5-10 Asante Samuel & Dimitri Patterson along with the 5-9 Ellis Hobbs and Joselio Hanson.