~~Fresh on the scene in midnight green is a new class of rookies for your 2014 Philadelphia Eagles. Vanderbilt standout Jordan Matthews and dominant Louisville rusher Marcus Smith lead the way for Chip Kelly’s second incoming class in the pros. But what should we expect from the new blood? Who if anyone will contribute in year one?

First round selection Marcus Smith II was drafted to fill a void in the team’s pass rush. Brandon Graham does not fit in the current scheme, and has never really been given a shot as the starter. Trent Cole is seemingly less effective with every snap of the football, and Connor Barwin is more of a coverage backer than one that can generate pass rush.

The question is where Smith will fit into the Eagles offense. At this stage it seems he will merely be a rotation player, but will certainly get some role playing duties. What also remains to be decided is whether Smith will be part of a substitution pass-rush package in which both he and Graham take their respective spots outside, or if Smith will simply rotate between Barwin and Cole’s positions.

In the second round Philadelphia selected Jordan Matthews, the SEC’s all-time leading receiver out of Vanderbilt. Matthews will take on the slot-receiving roles to start the year, and has been a reported favorite target of Eagles’ backup Mark Sanchez at practice. Though Matthews had has issues with catching the ball with defensive contact, he has impressed many scouts thus far in his short professional career. Matthews will be a major part of the Eagles’ offense this season, if not right out of the gate in September.

Chip Kelly had the keys to the future in the third round, selecting a familiar face, if only to him. Oregon’s Josh Huff has the kind of breakaway speed to make one reminisce of the last player to wear the number 10 in Philadelphia. Huff wasted no time in getting on the team’s radar returning a kickoff for a touchdown in the Eagles first preseason game against Chicago. Huff is still a rotational-slot receiver at this stage, but looks to have cemented his status as the go-to return guy on kickoffs.

After three rounds had come and gone in the NFL draft the Eagles had yet to address their secondary. Enter Jaylen Watkins who had major ups and downs against the Bears. Though he nabbed an interception, he was burned for a 73 yard score after being beaten in bump and run coverage on the line of scrimmage. While Watkins’ numbers looked good on paper, it appears the rookie has some growing pains to get through before he will factor into anything but special teams this season.

Philadelphia’s fifth round selections of Ed Reynolds of Stanford and another Kelly favorite of Taylor Hart did not shine is their preseason debut nor did they disappoint as Hart accrued just two tackles and Reynolds did not make the stat sheet. Though unimpressive, neither did anything worrisome either.

Eagles seventh round pick Beau Allen is far from a household name, but the 330-plus pound nose-tackle has impressed thus far in camp and the preseason. Filling in for Bennie Logan at camp with the first team defense, Allen has held his own in nearly every area especially creating pressure in the backfield. Do not be surprised if Allen pushes for a starting position should Logan struggle or have his injury woes continue.