Eagles Draft Picks 2014: Jordan Matthews Highlights Video

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted wide receiver Jordan Matthews from Vanderbilt with the No. 42 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Matthews is a tall and strong receiver, but he's also fast. Check out the above video for some of his college highlights. It is easy to see why Chip Kelly wanted to add Matthews to the fold. The Eagles' newest receiver is essentially a new and improved version of former slot receiver Jason Avant.

(Note: if you are afraid you will be annoyed by the music, just turn the volume down before you even start playing the video. I don't want to hear people complaining about the music!)

1) Initial post on the selection of Jordan Matthews.

2) The reactions to the Jordan Matthews pick seemed really positive.

3) Chip Kelly was excited by the Matthews pick. He said Matthews will be the Eagles slot receiver.

4) Poll results indicate that a lot of people are excited about the Matthews pick.

Jordan Matthews scouting report via Vanderbilt SB Nation blog Heart of Gold

Strengths

At 6'3" and 212 pounds, he's a large, mobile target who will match up well against the NFL's new breed of big cornerbacks. He plays faster than he looks on paper (4.46s 40-yard dash) and runs routes with precision. He found a way to build a rapport with each quarterback he had at Vandy and used that connection to repair broken plays and bring new life to the Commodore offense. In simple terms, he was the engine that powered Vanderbilt's offense in 2013.

Matthews may draw comparisons to the man whose SEC and Vanderbilt records he broke - Earl Bennett. However, Matthews is bigger and stronger than Bennett was and should have no problem producing across the field in the NFL. He has a special ability to create separation from his defenders and force open a window of opportunity for quarterbacks to take advantage of. That skill alone should earn him significant playing time on Sundays this fall.

Weaknesses

Matthews was a standout receiver at Vanderbilt, but scouts have questioned his ability to be a true WR1 in the NFL. While his Combine numbers were solid, they fell to the middle of the pack in a draft class that is loaded with explosive receivers. JMatt doesn't have the lateral speed and innate quickness that players like Marqise Lee or Sammy Watkins have. Matthews looks like a polished, but finished, project. Other players with more potential appear likely to leapfrog him at the tail end of the first round.

Matthews has solid hands, but he was still prone to inopportune drops as an upperclassman. A disproportionate of his receptions came on swing passes, which won't be the case at the next level. Losing that aspect of his game may hurt his production at wideout. He also may lack the explosive speed needed to separate from NFL cornerbacks - but 12 career 100-yard games against SEC defenses should help quell those concerns.