The Eagles drafted LSU safety JaCoby Stevens with the 224th pick (sixth-round) on Saturday.
Although he was a safety in college, the Eagles announced Stevens as a linebacker, meaning he appears be their latest attempt at trying to convert a college safety into a starting NFL linebacker.
Stevens could have success making the move, as he is a strong tackler, is excellent blitzing and spent a ton of time at the line of scrimmage at LSU, as opposed to playing deep.
Here is everything you need to know about Stevens, who should be able to compete right away for playing time:
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 197 pounds
College Stats: 36 games, 190 tackles, 4 INT, 15 PD, 1 FF
Analysis: Stevens is a great athlete that moved all over the defense during his time at LSU, and is a bit like Jalen Mills in his ability to play multiple positions without having elite-level speed. Stevens is strong against the run and dangerous as a blitzer, and if he is able to stick with receivers at the next level, he could be a late-round steal.
NFL.com Scouting Report: Stevens is in a precarious position as either an undersized linebacker with just average toughness at the point of attack or an oversized safety lacking instincts and coverage speed. He played heavier in 2020 and simply didn't look as quick or as agile as he did in 2019. He displays some of the downhill run-defending characteristics teams will look for as a box safety but will need to lock in against tight ends to add legitimate coverage value. Determining his scheme fit and finding his optimal weight will be critical for him to have success on the next level
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