Rasul Douglas is off the board. The former cornerback for the West Virginia Mountaineers found a landing spot in the 2017 NFL Draft during the third round. Perhaps the best part is that he was able to witness the reaction from the people who will soon be supporting his career. After all, it's not everyday that a player is drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles when the draft is taking place in that city.
Introducing Douglas to Philly
The Eagles selected Douglas with the 99th pick in the draft on Friday night. He received a standing ovation from the Philadelphia crowd after being announced.
The cornerback is 6-foot-2, 205 pounds. Over the past two seasons, he recorded 15 interceptions for the Mountaineers, one of the best ballhawks in all of college football. His performance at the NFL Scouting Combine is also being compared to that of Seattle Seahawks superstar Richard Sherman, who was also a mid-round draft pick.
Douglas fulfills a massive need for the Eagles, who have been searching for cornerbacks all offseason. They signed cornerback Patrick Robinson in free agency, but they knew they would have to look to the draft as well. They did on more than one occasion in the first two days of the event. He isn't the fastest corner, running a 4.59 40-yard dash at the combine. Nevertheless, he'll have a chance to make an instant impact in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme due to his size.
Two days of Eagles drafting
The first pick for the Philadelphia Eagles came in the first round, when they selected defensive end Derek Barnett out of Tennessee. Fans at the draft weren't massive fans of the pick due to Barnett's athletic limitations. He did break school records held by eventual NFL legends with the Volunteers, though, so he comes into the NFL with some pass-rushing credibility.
In the second round, the Eagles took a chance on Washington Huskies defensive back Sidney Jones. He was one of the top defensive back prospects in the draft until a Pro Day injury derailed his stock. Still, he could be better than some of the players drafted at the position in the first round. He will just have to prove that the torn Achilles he suffered last month is something he is able to overcome.
The team hopes that following the drafting of Jones and Douglas, the defensive back issues that have hounded them in the past will turn into a strength over the next two or three seasons. The NFL Draft concludes on Saturday afternoon.
