By Peter Gleason
If the Eagles want to snag an elite wide receiver in this April’s draft they might have to move up the way they did last year to steal QB Carson Wentz.
Things could change dramatically after the combine, but it appears that two wide receivers are head and shoulders above the rest in this draft class: Clemson’s Mike Williams (above) and Western Michigan’s Corey Davis.
Landing either one would be a coup for the Eagles, who would love to find a real outside No. 1 receiver instead of trying to use Jordan Matthews in that role.
The Eagles have moved up and down this draft as a result of the Wentz and Sam Bradford trades, but right now they have the No. 14 pick in the first round. If they’re lucky, one or both of those receivers will fall to that spot, in which case you can ignore this section.
More likely, though, one will go somewhere around the No. 10 pick. At that point, teams will start looking to make a move. As spread formations become more prevalent across the league, there is going to be a higher demand for top wideouts, and odds are good that some team will want to make a move for Williams or Davis.
That’s why it will be important for the Birds to trade up. Going from 14 to 10 or so might not sound like much, and in fact that’s one of the reasons the Eagles should consider such a deal — it likely won’t cost them much in draft capital.
