With the 79th pick, the Philadelphia Eagles select...
Alex Collins, RB, Arkansas
My Take: After beefing up the Oline with the first 2 picks, the Eagles take a workhorse back in Collins who can spend his early career platooning with Ryan Matthews. With Murray on the way out, the Eagles take a back who they eventually hope will surpass Matthews for the lead back role in a committee style offense. With Sproles on the team Collins biggest weakness of receiving out of the backfield is complemented well by his teammate. Should be able to be the red zone vulture in the backfield from day 1.
OVERVIEW
It didn't take long for Collins, one of the most highly recruited high school running backs in the country, to make his mark for the Razorbacks. In fact, he was the first true freshman to start his career with three 100-yard performances since Adrian Peterson in 2004. Even though he shared carries with Jonathan Williams in his first two years on campus, Collins rolled up more than 1,000 yards each year (1,026 with 4 TD in 2013, 1,100 with 12 TD in 2014), joining Darren McFadden as the only Arkansas backs to accomplish that feat. With Williams out with an injury in 2015, Collins's carries increased from 204 in 2014 to 271 in 2015 as did his production (1,577 yards, 20 TD). He earned second team All-SEC honors in his final year, finishing behind Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry (Alabama) and Leonard Fournette (LSU). One of the toughest runners in college football, Collins made the jump to the NFL after his junior year.
STRENGTHS
Well-built, durable frame with feet from a windup toy. Plays with amazingly consistent and repetitive tempo as a runner. Able to weave in, out and around traffic without breaking his speed or tempo. Has foot quickness and agility to avoid the backfield traffic and the instant acceleration to get the run back underway. Patient and probing while waiting for a crease. Pad level and knee bend are outstanding. Keeps shoulders square to the line and stays low and tight through the hole. Excellent vision on the interior and consistently jukes and sidesteps tackle attempts to create additional yardage. Touchdown hog. Plated 32 rushing touchdowns over last three years. Runs with consistent forward lean and always falls forward.
WEAKNESSES
One speed runner. Doesn't play with natural one-cut stride length and everything comes off stutter-stepping, choppy strides. Feel for outside runs is off. Breaks runs back inside prematurely that still have life along their original track. Can't generate enough momentum through contact acceleration to be a tackle breaker. Credited with just five broken tackles over his last 475 carries. Unproven as pass catcher and inconsistent in squaring up his pass protection responsibilities. Has 17 career fumbles with nine lost.
SOURCES TELL US
"Last year I thought Jonathan Williams was the better back, but Collins changed my mind this year. He's not special but he's solid. I think he's probably a third-rounder." -- SEC area scout
NFL COMPARISON
Chris Ivory
BOTTOM LINE
Collins is the epitome of consistency rushing for over 1,000 yards and at least 5.4 yards per carry in each of his three seasons. Vision and footwork are the catalysts for his elusiveness and he has flashed long speed. Collins is a repetitive runner lacking dynamic talent, but he's run in gap, power and zone schemes and should be a scheme fit for most teams looking at running back. Collins should be able to step right in and challenge for carries and red zone work immediately.
@TheLand1287 is on the clock