Last Chance
Prospects To Watch For Birds In Round 3
Day 3 of the NFL Draft kicks off Saturday at noon.
After some Day 2 maneuvering that involved three separate trades, the Eagles came away with Iowa DB Cooper DeJean in Round 2 and Houston Christian edge rusher Jalyx Hunt in Round 3 to go along with first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell.
The trades left the Eagles with seven total picks today in Rounds 4-7, including picks Nos. 120, 123, 132, 152, 171, 172, and 210.
Here’s a list of prospects to watch throughout the three-round final segment:
Tarheeb Still, CB Maryland
Still, (6-0, 189) boasts less-than-ideal arm length (29 5/8), so a move inside to nickel is likely in the cards, but the former Terrapin is an uber-athletic, sticky cover man who often stays in the hip pocket of his receiver. A technical cover corner, Still showcases silky-smooth footwork in transition and plays with tremendous anticipation. His rapid processing and route recognition is another plus. I view Still as a nickel/safety hybrid who should enjoy a long career.
Chigozie Anusiem, CB, Colorado State
Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 200 pounds, Anusiem jolted the draft community with a banner pro day in front of 28 teams, including a 4.34 40-yard dash, 37.5-inch vertical, 10-foot-2-inch broad jump and an arm length that measured in at 32 3/8. Anusiem parlayed his performance into at least five 30 visits, by my count. The Cal transfer is a bully on the perimeter and plays a physical brand of football. Anusiem, in his two seasons with the Rams, showcased plus ball skills — registering 12 — through just one interception. You’d like to see him come away with some of those deflections. Whoever is in need of an athletic press-man corner, Anusiem is the guy.
Sione Vaki, S, Utah
A two-way player at Utah, doubling as a running back, Vaki qualifies as one of the more intriguing prospects in this draft class. Vaki is a hard-nosed defensive back, at his best moving forward as opposed to laterally or playing in space and is well-versed in open-field tackling. He’s also quite good at using his eyes to deceive opposing quarterbacks. I’ve been told that teams are split 5o-50 as to whether Vaki is better suited to played safety or running back at the next level, thought the former Ute has said he prefers defense. At his pro day, Vaki, who can do a bit of everything for a team — including returning and covering kicks, and playing receiver or running back — was presided over by Eagles safeties coach Joe Kasper, who led his on-field workout.
Trey Taylor, S, Air Force
A 2023 Jim Thorpe Award winner and first-team All-Mountain West selection, Taylor accrued 74 tackles, four passes defended, three interceptions (1 TD), and a half-sack in his final season with the Falcons. He managed to parlay his production into an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl. Taylor, a cousin of former Ravens great Ed Reed, thrived as a downhill, heat-seeking missile early in his career, but developed an all-around game over his final two season with the Falcons. I was immediately drawn to Taylor’s on-field leadership and communication and physical manner in which he plays the game. Placed in the right system in the pros, Taylor’s full potential will be unlocked.
Mark Perry, S, TCU
Initially beginning his collegiate career at Colorado under Mel Tucker, Perry made the move to Fort Worth, Texas, for his final two seasons, transferring to TCU. A 6-foot-1, 213-pound backend enforcer, Perry produced a 4.38 40-yard dash, 37-inch vertical and 10’11″broad jump last month at the Big 12 Pro Day. An explosive athlete with length, plus movement skills and a high-level football intellect, Perry, who earned high marks after a week of showcasing his talents at the East-West Shrine Bowl, carries appeal for playing in multiple systems over his career. He’s also logged snaps at cornerback, nickel, and both safety spots. Perry is a highly enticing prospect whose eye-popping athletic testing, along with invaluable versatility and scheme adaptability, warrants more attention.
– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.
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