Eagles Take a pair of Defensive Backs in the Sixth Round of Draft

Philadelphia used both of it's sixth round picks on defensive back help, first taking JaCorey Shepherd of Kansas with the No. 191 overall pick, a cornerback who's a bit smaller than you might expect given the size Chip Kelly seems to prefer at that position.

"He gets sloppy with his feet and technique, but I think he can play," said an NFC college director of scouting. "You don't make that many plays on the ball because of luck. You make that many plays because you have a great feel for it."

Next the team selected Kansas State cornerback Randall Evans with the No. 196 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, a slot corner at K-State, who's a good tackler with the height to match up with bigger targets from the slot.

Shepherd, listed at 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 199 pounds, converted from wideout to corner as a junior and emerged as an elite college cover man as a senior - earning first-team All-Big 12, ranking third nationally in pass breakups (19), and intercepting three passes. He could be looked at as a slot cornerback at the NFL level. Evans was a full-timer from the slot for Kansas State and is listed at 6 feet tall and 195 pounds - he started 31 career games and was a first-team All Big-12 selection in 2014.

Both guys could be looked at as safeties in the pro game.

Eagles coach Chip Kelly said he didn't expect either guy to be on the board when his team picked in the sixth round, but both were and now will be thrown out on the field to see where they fit best – corner or safety - and Phiadelphia's need there with questions at both positions entering training camp.

Filed Under: Chip Kelly, Eagles, JaCorey Shepherd, NFL Draft, Randall Evans

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