McShay: Mack Hollins Eagles “Best pick”

The 2017 NFL Draft is now in the books.

Three days, 256 players.

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted eight players over the three days, but one stood out to ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay. In an article published Sunday, he picked one player from each team’s draft class as their best overall selection.

That player for Philadelphia was, Mack Hollins, a wide receiver out of North Carolina who the Eagles selected with the No. 118 overall pick in the fourth round.

In Joe Douglas' and Andy Weidl's first draft, it was very important for them to find building-block players. Their first two picks -- DE Derek Barnett and CB Sidney Jones -- fit that mold. They both have outstanding football character. Hollins, a former walk-on, also embodies the type of player the Eagles are looking for, and he was a great value. Yes, he has some durability concerns, but at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds with big-play ability, Hollins was a late-second/early-third-round talent, and the Eagles got him at No. 118 overall. Hollins plays like an absolute maniac on special-teams coverage and will at the very least be a good red zone threat.

Originally a walk-on, Hollins was the top receiving target and a special teams captain for the Tar Heels. Over his three year career, Hollins made a name for himself, catching 81 passes for 1,667 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Hollins was highly-regarded by some draft analysts, including Pro Football Focus, which ranked the senior as the No. 5 draft-eligible receiver. His stock fell after being limited to seven games last season due to a collarbone injury, and then he injured his hamstring while running the forty in Indianapolis.

“Yes, that is fully healed and ready to go," Hollins said when asked about his collarbone injury. "I actually worked out this morning. I walked into my house at 12:05 after my workout, so I missed the first two picks. I was grinding, because it doesn’t stop.”

As McShay points out, there could be an opportunity for Hollins to play almost right away, especially on special teams, where he could be a stand-out. Wide receiver was one of the weakest areas on the Eagles roster last season, so Hollins could find a role as a red-zone threat.