Philadelphia Eagles Ready to Draft ‘Absolute Freak’: Report

[time2rock]

Philadelphia Eagles Ready to Draft ‘Absolute Freak’: Report

Hold the phone. Stop the presses. The pick is in. The Philadelphia Eagles are about to disappoint fans once again by reaching for someone in the first round of the NFL draft.

Yes, that opening statement was written with a huge dose of sarcasm. But, wherever there is smoke there is usually fire — and a new inferno lists Michigan’s Kwity Paye as the likely selection at pick No. 12. According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, the Eagles "love” the 6-foot-3, 261-pounder who the team views as a Brandon Graham clone.

I’m told the team loves Kwity Paye, the edge rusher from Michigan, and view him as a clone to another former Wolverine — Brandon Graham — the Eagles’ former first-round pick. Could they take him with the 12th overall selection? I’d say right now, it’s possible.

NEVER FORGET Kwity Paye three-cone drill

pic.twitter.com/7oQILAELxR

— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) March 26, 2021

Paye has been written about in this space before. He’s one of the best pass rushers in this year’s draft after recording six sacks and 50 tackles (12.5 for loss) in 12 games in 2019. He decided not to opt-out due to COVID-19 concerns in 2020, then suffered a groin injury. Paye played in four games last season and finished with two sacks, five quarterback hurries and 16 tackles (four for loss).

"When you look at Kwity Paye, the pass-rush potential, he has flashed that,” ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper told reporters in early March. "Love the intensity he plays with. He’s a guy who can play in a variety of ways with his hand on the ground, on his feet.”

NFL Scout Calls Paye ‘Absolute Freak’

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah once worked for the Eagles as a college scout and now he serves as a well-respected and trusted national draft analyst. He has gone on record in recent months calling Paye an "absolute freak” who has been linked heavily to the New York Giants at pick No. 11. If he falls to Philly at No. 12, watch out.

"When I put on the tape, Kwity Paye is different,” said ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, via CBS Sports. "He has suddenness and twitchiness that some of these other guys don’t have. And I know his stats weren’t exceptional, but he is constantly disrupting.”

Named after his grandfather who couldn’t escape Civil War.
Named by his mother who did — twice.

When Kwity Paye hears his name called, remember this incredible story. @OfficialKwity pic.twitter.com/zlyNn9g0nq

— NFL (@NFL) April 27, 2021

Paye put on a show at his Michigan pro day where he ran the 40-yard dash in a blistering 4.52 seconds while benching 225 pounds 36 times. He also posted a 35.5-inch vertical jump and 9-foot-10 inch broad jump. He has been compared to former Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Everson Griffen.

---

Weak Defensive Line Class This Year

This year’s draft class seems to be devoid of big names on the defensive line. Paye is arguably the best one on the board, along with Jaelen Phillips (Miami), Gregory Rousseau (Miami), Azeez Ojulari (Georgia), Carlos Basham Jr. (Wake Forest), Jayson Oweh (Penn State). The Eagles could have their choice out of the bunch if they want an edge rusher at pick No. 12.

Some numbers starting to come out from Michigan’s pro day: Hearing 4.38 for Ambry Thomas in the 40, mid-4.4 range for Nico Collins and Chris Evans, 4.54 with 36 bench press reps for Kwity Paye. Expecting Michigan to post some official results later today.

— Austin Meek (@byAustinMeek) March 26, 2021

 

Question is, do they want to go in that direction? Eagles vice-president of player personnel Andy Weidl wouldn’t reveal the team’s plan but he didn’t rule out a defensive end in the first round.

"They’ll be there, and we’ve vetted these guys,” Weidl said. "We know these guys, spent a lot of time with them, Coach [Jeremiah] Washburn, Coach [Tracy] Rocker have done an unbelievable job interviewing them and evaluating them, and we’ve had great discussions. Time will tell with this class what it is, and we’ll see where the players are and what they turn into.”

https://heavy.com/sports/philadelphia-eagles/michigan-kwity-paye-draft/

[time2rock]

I've been saying for some time now that Paye has Howie written all over him.  Really easy to see him being the pick tomorrow night.  

[UK_EaglesFan89]

It'll be Paye.

Here's the thing... Is a BG clone a good thing? Look we all love BG and he's been a fantastic player for this team but he's not an elite DE. He still hasn't registered a double digit sack year. I'm just not sure a team with this many holes should be using #12 on a guy who likely isn't going to be elite.

[Road to Victory]

5 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

It'll be Paye.

Here's the thing... Is a BG clone a good thing? Look we all love BG and he's been a fantastic player for this team but he's not an elite DE. He still hasn't registered a double digit sack year. I'm just not sure a team with this many holes should be using #12 on a guy who likely isn't going to be elite.

Probably right. Howie falls in love with numbers and "clones”. He thought JJ was going to be the next Jeffery. Was he ever wrong about that. 

[PoconoDon]

Whatever. Howie gonna Howie no matter what.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

12 minutes ago, PoconoDon said:

Whatever. Howie gonna Howie no matter what.

You're right. Nothing we can do about it. We just have to watch as it unfolds and probably goes wrong. 

[mr_irie1]

I hope that I'm wrong but I have a feeling they'll either draft Paye or Farley at 12. Both guys seem to fit the form of a Howie pick. Those guys might be turn out to be great NFL players but at this moment it seems to be a consensus that there will be better value there. Truth is nobody really knows.

[Freshmilk]

21 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

It'll be Paye.

Here's the thing... Is a BG clone a good thing? Look we all love BG and he's been a fantastic player for this team but he's not an elite DE. He still hasn't registered a double digit sack year. I'm just not sure a team with this many holes should be using #12 on a guy who likely isn't going to be elite.

For position players this draft, outside of the receivers, is there elite talent? I like Surtain, Sewell, Slater, Horn, but are any of them considered elite?

[UK_EaglesFan89]

1 minute ago, Freshmilk said:

For position players this draft, outside of the receivers, is there elite talent? I like Surtain, Sewell, Slater, Horn, but are any of them considered elite?

I think Sewell is yes. I think Slater is going to be a very very good OT in the NFL but perhaps not quite elite. The others are very much unknowns. And of course a lot depends on what team they land with, what scheme they'll be in etc. 

[Portyansky]

I'm fine with that pick as long as it's not #12. Move back to grab him, sure.

[toolg]

If ESP likes him, it's not a good pick:

He even admits Paye is a reach at #12. I like his talent, but he's too raw. If the Eagles get him later, fine. But not if they stay put. And there will be a better player on the board at #12.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

4 hours ago, toolg said:

If ESP likes him, it's not a good pick:

He even admits Paye is a reach at #12. I like his talent, but he's too raw. If the Eagles get him later, fine. But not if they stay put. And there will be a better player on the board at #12.

To be fair his point is that he can understand the logic behind the pick. DE is a need and Paye is quite possibly the best DE in the draft. 

[Procus]

On 4/28/2021 at 8:59 AM, time2rock said:

I've been saying for some time now that Paye has Howie written all over him.  Really easy to see him being the pick tomorrow night.  

He's the "high motor" guy I've been predicting the team will snag. 

[time2rock]

50 minutes ago, Procus said:

He's the "high motor" guy I've been predicting the team will snag. 

This reminds me of 2017 all over again when you had no doubt Barnett would be the pick.  

[Heavywchamp]

Anyone can be a journalist and make predictions. Just throw crap on the wall and hole it sticks. We got our "absolute freak" in Smith however.