2017 NFL Draft Rumors: Christian McCaffrey is the player the Eagles really want

With only hours remaining until the 2017 NFL Draft, a rumor has emerged that the player the Philadelphia Eagles really want is ... Christian McCaffrey. This from Eric Galko of Optimum Scouting:

Teams that want to move up in the top 10 want to do so for Christian McCaffrey. I slotted him to the Philadelphia Eagles at 14, with the idea that they might need to move up. He’s the player they want and have wanted for much of the draft process. I think there's a greater than 50/50 chance McCaffrey goes to the Eagles, despite his recent buzz.

Galko originally reported McCaffrey is one of five players Philadelphia is targeting at pick No. 14.

This isn’t the only report connecting McCaffrey to the Eagles. Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com is saying Howie Roseman, who has final say on Philadelphia’s picks, really likes the Stanford talent.

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey’s biggest fan in the Eagles’ front office is the most important fan he could have — Howie Roseman.

Roseman loves McCaffrey, and thinks he is the next Brian Westbrook. Roseman saw Westbrook first hand when the running back was in his prime, and Roseman first made his way onto the football side of things in 2002, right when Westbrook was drafted.

In addition, earlier this offseason it was reported the Eagles are one of the teams showing the most interest in McCaffrey.

The Eagles haven’t drafted a first round running back in over 31 years, so it’d be pretty surprising to see that change this year. I wouldn’t expect it.

But I wouldn’t hate it. McCaffrey is a really talented player with no red flags when it comes to injuries or character concerns or athletic limitations. He’d give the Eagles a big boost in the running game and the passing attack.

Picking McCaffrey very well might not be option for the Eagles at No. 14. There’s a lot of talk he could go off the board in the top 10, especially to the Carolina Panthers at No. 8.

In addition to the McCaffrey stuff, Galko had some other Eagles notes. First on Gareon Conley.

From asking around the last 48 hours, I’d be very surprised if any team spent a first-rounder on Gareon Conley, but almost everyone I spoke with believes he’ll be picked on Friday. The Cowboys, Eagles, and Packers are his most likely destinations.

And then a nugget on Dalvin Cook, too.

The Buccaneers have been looking to trade out because they know Dalvin Cook has no suitors between No. 19 and No. 28. The Packers at No. 29 may be in play if he’s there. Cook also has interest from the Eagles, and he’s the No. 1-rated running back for the Redskins. If the Bucs do trade down, the Giants want to insure themselves of a top three offensive tackle, and the Seahawks want to go offensive line in Round 1. The Broncos almost surely will go offensive line at No. 20 unless none of the top four are there.

Again, it feels like no one knows what the Eagles are doing for sure. Tonight can’t get here soon enough.