Eagles Snare Versatile OL Seumalo in Third Round

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) — The front end of picking No. 2 overall after you send five picks in the other direction can be intoxicating, especially when the result is the ultra-impressive Carson Wentz.

The back end, however, means you better get used to sitting around for awhile and once the atrophy is shaken off, the decision with the only other "priority" pick better be correct.

The Eagles, of course, entered the second day of the draft with just one pick, No. 79 overall in the third round, and plenty of holes to fill with little ammunition to move up.

Howie Roseman stayed put and addressed the offensive guard position with Oregon State's Issac Seumalo, a versatile player who played inside and outside with the Beavers and the Eagles project at guard.

"(We) love his versatility, and from an interior lineman, a guy that can play both guard positions and also give you some depth at center, as well, this kid is a powerful, explosive guy that we look forward to getting him in here and getting him going," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said after making the pick on Friday night.

Philadelphia seems to carpet bombing the left guard position in an effort to find the answer and Seumalo enters a mix that includes veteran free-agent signing Stefen Wisniewski as well as last year's starter Allen Barbre.

"I think this kid can come in here and compete and give us great depth at the spot," Pederson said. "Again, multiple positions, are offensive linemen that you look for, so I do agree that he could challenge for a starting job."

NFL.com projected Seumalo as a potential fourth- or fifth-round selection with his best position down the line as a center.

Another concern is that Seumalo suffered a Jones fracture that caused him to miss the entire 2014 season and undergo two surgeries.

"My sophomore year bowl game I broke my foot," he explained on his introductory conference call. "They call it a Jones fracture. In January I had surgery on it. And then in April I had the same surgery for the same injury because it just -- they didn't think it was healing properly, so they put in a bigger screw with a bone graft from my hip in April of 2014, and from then on, I ended up redshirting that season just to be on the cautious side of things."

Seumalo did return last year and reported no no lingering effects.

"I feel more comfortable than I did before even the injury. I feel great about it," the big man said.

"our medical grade was good on him," Eagles executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman explained. "We were very comfortable, our medical people were very comfortable with him."

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