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Eagles draft picks 2013: Lane Johnson goes #4 overall

The first pick of the Chip Kelly era is on the offensive line.

USA TODAY Sports

With the 4th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft the Philadelphia Eagles select OT Lane Johnson from Oklahoma.

Johnson is the record 3rd offensive tackle taken in the top 4 picks, but just may be the best fit for what Chip Kelly and the Eagles want to do. Johnson is 6-6, 305 pounds and was easily the most athletic offensive lineman in the draft. He actually started his football career out as a quarterback, then moved to TE before settling in on the offensive line the past two seasons.

So as good as he was at Oklahoma last year, there's still a lot of room for improvement as he continues to develop in the position. Johnson started at right tackle in 2011, then moved to the left in 2012. Smart money says he'll be on the right next season with an eye toward replacing Jason Peters on the left in the very near future.

NFLN's Mike Mayock says Johnson is a perfect fit in Philadelphia.

"He's the freakiest tackle I've ever seen in my life," Mayock said of Johnson. "And because of what Chip Kelly does - up-tempo, maximize snaps, throw the bubble screens, throw the tunnel screens - he needs a great athlete at left tackle."

Just how good of an athlete is Johnson?

"His 40-yard dash time was faster than Anquan Boldin," Mayock said. "His vertical at 34 inches was the same as A.J. Green - think about this, this is an offensive tackle at 300-plus pounds. He ran faster than Anquan Boldin, he jumped the same as A.J. Green and his broad jump at nine feet, 10 inches was the same as Steven Ridley. Think about those three things for a 300-pound offensive tackle and put that in perspective of what he can be."

Mayock says Johnson has more upside than both Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel, who went #1 and #2 respectively.

The Eagles have 8 more picks remaining over the last 6 rounds.

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