ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr has graced us with his third NFL mock draft of the year and Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert has risen to the top spot. Kiper says that the expected rookie wage scale that will likely be part of the new CBA makes the first overall pick more valuable since the contract that player will get won't be prohibitive. That means that by grabbing the top QB in the draft, Carolina either holds a major trade chip or they get themselves a potential franchise QB. This could also make Jimmy Claussen a trade chip in the coming years.
Next he's got the two big DTs coming off the board with Nick Fairley to the Broncos and Marcell Dareus to the Bills. Cam Newton is the second QB off the board at #4 to the Bengals while Texas A&M OLB Von MIller goes #5 to the Cardinals.
As for the NFC East teams. He's got the Cowboys taking CB Prince Amukamara, the Redskins making an interesting pick of WR Julio Jones & the Giants going offensive line with Mike Pouncey. For the Eagles, his pick his unchanged from his last mock, with the Birds taking Wisconsin OT Gabe Carimi.
Philadelphia should be targeting the line on both sides of the ball. They could also consider secondary help, but might consider that a slight reach here. In Carimi they get a guy who loves to run block and will sustain those blocks. He battled a number of top defensive ends in Big Ten play, and could fill in at either tackle position early, potentially starting on the right side with the goal to become a starting left tackle in what should be an explosive offense.