Report: Eagles bring in another cornerback visit

I can’t explain it, but here we are: per Josh Norris of NBC Sports, the Eagles have added another name to their list of Top-30 visits for the 2019 NFL Draft cycle.

And it’s another corner.

DeAndre Baker is now the third corner to visit the Eagles, joining Penn State standout Amani Oruwariye and Houston WR-convert Isaiah Johnson.

There isn’t much of a thread between these three corners. Oruwariye and Johnson were both taller/longer types, but Baker is a shorter and more compact player. Johnson is at his strongest as a Cover 3 corner; Oruwariye is best in man; Baker is best in Cover 2.

Of course, Top-30 visits aren’t always about draft targets. They are information-gathering endeavors that are used to complete cloudy areas on the prospect evaluation sheet — that can include things like background, personality, football intelligence, medicals, and yes, tape and skill level.

For a player like Baker, who multiple sources say has some work ethic and attitude concerns, this could much be the case. The Eagles don’t necessarily anticipate drafting Baker, but do want to have a clear stance on his personality should he ever become available on the waiver wire or via trade in the future.

Baker disappointed a bit at the NFL Combine, with a 4.52s 40-yard dash at 193 pounds illustrating his primary concern on tape: a lack of long speed. His 31.5” vert, 9’10 broad, and 4.27s short-shuttle (Pro Day) all also disappoint, providing further evidence to the fact that Baker wins with instinct and competitiveness, but will struggle with the elite athletes in the NFL.

The Eagles’ continued investigation into cornerbacks does prompt the question: how legit a chance is there that the Eagles draft a corner early in the 2019 NFL Draft?

I still think it’s low, as I said above: Top-30 visits don’t necessarily indicate the team is considering drafting those players at their positions. This is, however, more smoke — this, and the Big Draft Media(TM)’s insistence when mocking the Eagles a Round 1 corner — that could be coming from real fire.

Complete list of known Philadelphia Eagles draft visits

Georgia CB Deandre Baker

Virginia S Juan Thornhill - [Click here]

Houston CB Isaiah Johnson - [Click here]

Houston DT Ed Oliver - [Click here]

Maryland S Darnell Savage (Local) - [Click here]

Boston College OL Chris Lindstrom - [Click here]

Oklahoma OT Cody Ford - [Click here]

Ole Miss WR A.J. Brown - [Click here]

Penn State CB Amani Oruwariye - [Click here]

Arkansas G/C Hjalte Froholdt - [Click here]

TCU DE L.J. Collier - [Click here]

Old Dominion DE Oshane Ximines - [Click here]

Michigan RB Karan Higdon - [Click here]

Florida S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson - [Click here]

Alabama State OT Tytus Howard - [Click here]