Eagles trade up in the 4th round to grab the USC signal caller. College. The big surprise of the first round involved West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith dropping out of the first round, despite projections just a few weeks ago that the Eagles were interested in him with the fourth overall pick in the draft.

Personally, I would have selected defensive tackle Star Lotulelei with the fourth pick, but I have no problem with the Johnson selection. I know initial word is the Eagles plan to use him as a DE/OLB hybrid, which is how he was deployed in college, but I wonder if the long-term plan is to eventually get him into the 280-290-pound range and playing 5-tech full-time. -- is the best TE in this class for Chip's offense, and the TE with the highest upside in general; if the Eagles were going to address the position, he would've been my top choice. Blocking has good moments and bad; inconsistent overall, but not for lack of effort. His production is minimal and, this might come as a surprise to you, but I would've preferred Tristan Okpalaugo (who remains unsigned as a UDFA) at this spot. Won jump/50-50 ball for TD catch to tie game vs. Oregon, but will short arms (smaller catch radius) and average vertical manifest themselves at NFL level? With the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected offensive tackle Lane Johnson out of the University of Oklahoma. But the Eagles instead added another weapon for Kelly's new offense, as Zach Ertz will compete with veteran Brent Celek for the starting tight end job. He has excellent size, standing 6'7 and weighing close to 280 pounds.

Obviously Chip felt differently, and I get the feeling he has a better idea than I do of what TE would ideally fit his offensive vision. Second, the Eagles need to do everything they can to turn their franchise around from the disaster in 2012, where the team lost 11 of its final 12 games, effectively ending the Andy Reid era after 14 seasons. I don't think Ertz plays as fast as his 4.68 40-yard dash; not stiff but not especially elusive after the catch, though he does run hard, lowers his shoulder to initiate contact and fall forward. Deep drop with pump fake before barely overthrowing Marquise Lee deep down sideline, play takes 10 seconds. 4. When it became clear that both Fisher and Luke Joeckel would go within the first three selections, I started to consider Johnson as a potential target. Instincts are questionable; bites on play-fakes and sometimes take poor angles/missteps. Quick off the line with initial burst; he's a superb route runner who sells fakes and displays suddenness at the stem, which will be necessary to create separation at the next level. Some draft picks are surprising, such as the Eagles grabbing Stanford tight end Zach Ertz in the top of the second round. Played all types of coverages at Oregon State, but appeared most comfortable and aware in zone -- where he could read QB and slide into position -- which is where he's best suited to excel in the pros. He is extremely athletic, having been a junior college quarterback just two years ago, and should be a more than ideal fit in Chip Kelly's new offense. Expectations were high that the Eagles would grab their potential franchise quarterback at the top of the second round, although nose tackle and defensive back still existed as pressing needs. I don't know, I felt this was an issue of time and situational mismanagement -- nothing drives me crazier. Physical player who can pack a punch and is a smooth, natural, gifted athlete. Oklahoma. King's height/weight/speed combination -- as well as the rest of his workout numbers -- always caught my eye. Please? I imagine Wolff is going to compete for playing time immediately, given the relative uncertainty at the safety positions -- Kenny Phillips' knee, Patrick Chung's inconsistency, Nate Allen's regression, Kurt Coleman being Kurt Coleman. I think the best way I can sum up Barkley is thusly: His physical skill set is such that he needs to be perfect -- and needs his surrounding cast to be perfect -- in order to succeed.