Over the last week or so, many teams have lined up meetings with players set to be available in the nearing 2010 NFL Draft, but none have been as intriguing and thought-provoking as the ones confirmed to have been scheduled today with Eric Berry, who is considered one of the top-ranked prospects and the most dominant Safety in college since Ed Reed performed in the NCAA over eight years ago. He has negotiated with the Browns, Buccaneers, and Chiefs regarding workout dates, but the most surprising bit of information came when it was learned that he agreed to visit Philadelphia later in this month or early in April. Seeing that Berry is projected to immediately impact the defense of whichever professional club he goes to, his presence as an Eagle would help, but it places a big question over what the Philly officials are planning to do on Draft day; they hold the 24th pick in the first-round, but Berry is all but a lock to go within the first ten selections.

A trade would provide the Eagles with a legitimate chance of nabbing Berry (Donovan McNabb, anyone?), but for now, the focus is going to be on how he performs in front of the birds’ staff when he visits. While at the NovaCare Complex practice facility in Philly, he is expected to run through various drills and routines testing physical skills and attributes. In addition, it has been mentioned he is likely to sit down with members of the team personnel and front office and discuss a variety of things (which could range everywhere from contract expectations to where the defender feels comfortable playing in the secondary). Of course, the same can be said when he visits Kansas City, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay. It was simply interesting to know that a team picking later in the first-round has so much interest in a player predicted to go very early.

Berry has impressive collegiate credentials. In his three seasons with the University of Tennessee, the 6-foot, 200-pound defensive back notched 241 total tackles and 14 interceptions (seven of which came in his astounding ’08 campaign). Three sacks, a forced fumble, and trio of touchdowns add to his phenomenal statistical record, which also helped him garner various All-American honors and other prestigious awards. He has been ranked among the best defensive players set to be in the draft by many professional scouts and analysts, and has widely been regarded as the best safety.

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