NFL Mock Draft 2017: Eagles end up with a top cornerback prospect

There are only 59 days until the 2017 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 27. Let’s kill some time with our weekly Mock Draft Monday series from now until then.

SB Nation’s Dan Kadar mocked a wide receiver to the Eagles in the first round last Monday. This week, the theme of Kadar’s mock is all about finding flaws with the top 32 picks. NFL prospects will be under the microscope this week as the NFL Combine begins. Here’s Philadelphia’s selection.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Minnesota Vikings): Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

Alabama secondary players have struggled at times with the transition to the NFL. Is Humphrey the norm or the exception?

Humphrey is the second cornerback off the board in Kadar’s mock behind Marshon Lattimore at No. 12 (the Eagles’ original pick, now owned by the Browns).

The 20-year-old Humphrey measures in at 6-1, 198 pounds. In his two years at Alabama, Humphrey recorded 81 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 13 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and one defensive touchdown. Not bad for a redshirt sophomore.

Here’s an NFL.com scouting report on Humphrey. Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith (who was drafted while Joe Douglas was in Baltimore, by the way) is listed as his pro comparison.

Talented height-weight-speed prospect who comes from NFL bloodlines. Might need time for his technique to catch up with his traits. Coverage inconsistencies could cause him to struggle against quality competition early on, but his mental makeup and recovery talent should help him pull through. Has the instincts and run-support skills to become an early starter for a zone-cover defense, but it will be hard for teams looking for a lockdown, man corner to pass on all of those physical gifts early in the draft.

Pro Football Focus is also very high on Humphrey’s potential.

A redshirt freshman a year ago, Humphrey earned a spot as a starter on the Alabama defense, playing nothing like you’d expect from a freshman and finishing the year with our eighth-highest coverage grade among cornerbacks in all of college football. Not bad for his first year on the college field.

He graded well against the run, but it was in coverage where he truly stood out, grading negatively in five games, but only twice below -1.0. Tough to throw on, Humphrey allowed just 31 receptions from the 62 passes thrown into his coverage, going for 539 yards and two touchdowns, while breaking up seven passes and picking off three more. Even better, he improved as the year went on, allowing just 80 receiving yards over the final five games of the year, including just 28 yards in two playoff games.

Drafting a cornerback in the first round makes a lot of sense for the Eagles. Philadelphia needs a lot of help at the position and there’s expected to be a lot of good cornerbacks available this year. It wouldn’t hurt for the Eagles to double dip at the position.

You can find Humphrey’s individual game film on Draft Breakdown. Here’s a highlights video for your leisure.

So, what do you think of this week’s pick?