Eagles Add Speed with WVU WR Shelton Gibson

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - The offensive theme continued on Day 3 of the draft for the Eagles after a bit of Howie Roseman jockeying, moving two spots in the fifth round to gain 10 spaces later.

In the end, the Eagles ended up with West Virginia speedster Shelton Gibson with the 166th overall pick, the second WVU player added in this year's draft and the third in the past two years.

Cornerback Rasul Douglas was the team's third-round pick on Friday and running back Wendell Smallwood was taken in the fifth round last season.

"Every day it was like he would get me and I would get him. We were pushing each other," Gibson said when discussing his teammate Douglas. "At the end, we were telling each other what we were doing wrong and how we could make it better throughout the week so when we got to the games on Saturdays, it became easy to go up against [opposing] corners and it became easy to go up against [opposing] receivers.”

Gibson's biggest strength in his acceleration and ability to stretch the football field thanks to the 4.39 speed he showed off at West Virginia's pro day but he also leans on his competitiveness.

"A lot of competition. I play with a lot of effort and a lot of passion," Gibson answered when asked to describe his game. "That’s the biggest thing I play with. Of course, my speed is the first thing on the field, but that can’t be the only thing that I have. I have to have way more than that. That’s why I play with a lot of passion."

Gibson is a bit more polished that the team's other pick at receiver earlier in the day, North Carolina's Mack Hollins, but has nowhere near the same size at 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds.

The knocks on Gibson seem to focus on consistency catching the football and some weakness working inside routes. Speed remains the theme here, however.

"They didn’t have to pick me up today," Gibson said of the Eagles. "All I needed was one team that loved me and I don’t know if Philly loves me, but I’m pretty sure they will later on.” 

John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen