Keeping up with the pace of NFL free agency, the Eagles have made a couple more moves this week:
First, they traded Greg Lewis to New England, along with a 7th-round draft pick next year, for a fifth-round pick this year. Honestly, this deal seems a little strange to me. Clearly the Eagles have motives beyond just looking to stockpile the entire draft. I do think Greg Lewis maybe had a little better value than this, but parting with a final round pick is not a huge deal. The deal gives the Eagles four picks in the fifth round and twelve overall. Chances are very high they will not keep all of these picks in the fifth round, and will likely use some of them to move around the draft board. With two picks in the first round, as well, chances are pretty slim the Eagles will use both. One of those might be trade bait or useful in moving up in the first round for a particular player. The Eagles clearly have something in mind to keep trading for these draft picks.
Second, they signed safety Sean Jones out of Cleveland to a one year deal. He is coming off an injury, much like Stacy Andrews and Jack Ike, but he definitely has potential and is a great pick up to help fill in the safety depth chart. He has 14 picks over the last three seasons while Dawkins only had six. However, that in no way means he is ready to replace the lost legend. Jones should fill in nicely, and chances are good the Eagles will draft another safety, most likely a Free Safety. It is unlikely that the Eagles will use a high draft pick on a safety, so look to the third or fourth round for them to pick up that position. It also depends on where the players they have scouted fall.
So long as the Eagles hold on to him until the draft, Reggie Brown might be used as trade bait, or paired with a draft pick so that the Eagles can move up in the draft, or receive a player either just drafted or someone entrenched. The possibilities of getting an Anquan Boldin are pretty low, but the Eagles would certainly be wise to draft a decent WR. Maybe they are trying to move up to grab a Crabtree? Highly unlikely. The Eagles will probably wait until the second round, maybe even third, to grab a receiver. They should be looking for someone with size (D.Jack is only 5'10") and very good hands (obvious reasons).
Ramses Barden out of Cal Poly (where Eagle Chris Gocong hails from) might be one the Eagles take a look at. He is big (6'6") and he's got tremendous athleticism. He's strong so he can fill in the blocking role, and since Jackson would bring the speed, losing some with Barden would not be a huge deal. He is more of a possession guy than a deep-threat, and that's just what the Eagles need. Even though the Eagles throw the ball deep a lot, they need someone who can actually catch and not drop the ball. That is the real key. The Eagles should be running more short-to-mid range passes rather than throwing the ball deep so often. Really that's what the West Coast offense should be.
Another possession guy is Patrick Turner out of USC. He would be a late round pick, maybe one of the fifth or sixth round picks for the Eagles, but he's got great size (6'5") and good hands. He dealt with some injuries in college, and never really reached his potential, but with proper coaching he can probably excell and be a surprise success from the late round.
The Eagles will mainly be looking to fill offensive holes in the draft, including a RB, maybe FB, TE, and OL. They may be focusing more on interior linemen since picking up Stacy, and with Herremans possibly moving out to Tackle, they can go for a Guard/Tackle hybrid player. Really the focus should be on LT. William Beatty is one of the names being thrown around, aside from Eben Britton out of Arizona. But Beatty has an added advantage: he blocked for one of the best running backs in the country (Donald Brown). It would be interesting if the Eagles ended up taking both of these players from UConn, but it seems that the Eagles are favoring Britton as their choice. Then again, maybe they will move up and snatch one of the early Tackles like Eugene Monroe or Andre Smith.
Herman Johnson at the Guard position is simply massive, and the Eagles love size. Coming into LSU, he weighed over 400 lbs. when he first started as a freshman. Currently at 6'7" and 364, he is simply huge. He has good skills when it comes to the running game, something the Eagles really need is a good run blocker. He is also very strong and could probably handle two linemen or a linemen/backer at the same time. It would be interesting if the Eagles make a play for him in the draft.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Eagles Making Early Moves
So far, after the first couple days of NFL Free Agency, the Eagles have looked like a team that is simply trying to rebuild, rather than a team that is trying to win a Super Bowl. While it is still too early to grade the entire offseason and how it will play into the next year, so far, things do not look all that great.
First off, losing the face of your franchise, the heart of your defense, and the man, the myth, the legend of Philadelphia lore, all because you're too cheap is an absolute joke. With plenty of cap space, the team could have easily brought Dawkins back for at least one more year. But the ineptness of the Eagles' front office continues to rear its ugly head. Clearly Lurie, Banner, and Reid have no idea how to manage a team. Age is only a number when it comes to certain players. Dawkins brought so much more than just his 35-year-old frame. I did not agree with letting Trotter go just a couple years ago, and this move is even worse, in my opinion. It will be interesting to see who steps up to be a leader of the defense in Dawkins place. Considering the rest of the D's average age is probably under 30, I wouldn't have a clue who to select.
Aside from losing one of the best Safeties in the game over the last decade, the Eagles also lost another two members of the secondary; however these two moves were greatly expected.
Lito Sheppard went to the New York Jets for a couple of extraordinarily lame draft picks--a 5th round this year, then a 2nd to 4th round pick next year. No doubt the Jets won with this deal, especially considering the Eagles poor drafting abililty. It is unlikely anyone the Eagles draft with those picks will equate to a 2-time pro bowl selection, regardless of recent play. Lito simply was not happy in Philadelphia, and I don't blame him. The Eagles did nothing to attempt to satiate his demands (as is typical), but they also failed to complete a trade last year that could have garnered much more received value. A trade for a WR or another defensive weapon could have been useful. Now all that's left is what may come five years down the line when those draft picks make a name for themselves, or don't.
Sean Considine went to Jacksonville as an UFA. No surprises here: he never really played well in Philadelphia. I do not disagree with letting him go; I believe it was the correct move. However, now the Eagles need to draft a safety (maybe two) and look to free agency to bolster the secondary from its current limping status.
Correll Buckhalter, who looked rather impressive over the course of last season and definitely deserved an increase role in the running game, is headed to Denver with B-Dawk. Not at all surprising to see the Eagles let him go; however, the Eagles need to fill his vacant spot on the depth chart--if they were wise, they would choose a large, power back to complement Westbrook. Don't be surprised if they try and go for another Westbrook prototype, however. With Booker being the same mold, they seem attracted to only those types of runners. Logically the Eagles will look to the draft for help.
The Eagles have made little noise with their free agent moves thus far. They added offensive lineman Stacy Andrews, brother to Shawn, at a much needed time. Runyan and Thomas are likely on their way out, or at least one of them. That would mean Stacy plays either left or right tackle, but he is a versatile guy who can really fill in anywhere. He is also huge at 6'7" and 342, so he takes up a big portion of the line. We'll see what affect he has, including how the chemistry with his brother may help or hurt the line.
The Eagles also locked up Baskett for another year, and Joselio Hanson for a total of five years. Hanson took over for Sheppard, so that move was a logical one. He played better as he has grown into his role, but the future for him is uncertain. I don't think he has the ceiling that Sheppard had, but who knows.
We will see if the Eagles ever make a move for a wide receiver, although I'm thinking it is rather unlikely. Coles, 31, and Houshmandzadeh, 31, are both still available on the market. The market is rather weak this year, so chances are higher that the Eagles use a first or second round pick on a receiver, much like last year. There is also the possibility that they make the same mistake over and over and say they are content with their current receiving core. Hopefully, for once, they will have better sense.
Once the draft roles around, the Eagles will need to strengthen the secondary and the offense. That includes a WR, RB, and a couple offensive linemen. Chances are good they will also draft another DL and LB, but who knows what the Eagles will do with their first round picks (they have two). Trading either of them away would be a massive failure and would likely cause hellfire to rain down upon their heads.
So with the Eagles clearly "rebuilding" on their minds, it is time to look to the distant future for a Super Bowl. If it ever happens, that is.
First off, losing the face of your franchise, the heart of your defense, and the man, the myth, the legend of Philadelphia lore, all because you're too cheap is an absolute joke. With plenty of cap space, the team could have easily brought Dawkins back for at least one more year. But the ineptness of the Eagles' front office continues to rear its ugly head. Clearly Lurie, Banner, and Reid have no idea how to manage a team. Age is only a number when it comes to certain players. Dawkins brought so much more than just his 35-year-old frame. I did not agree with letting Trotter go just a couple years ago, and this move is even worse, in my opinion. It will be interesting to see who steps up to be a leader of the defense in Dawkins place. Considering the rest of the D's average age is probably under 30, I wouldn't have a clue who to select.
Aside from losing one of the best Safeties in the game over the last decade, the Eagles also lost another two members of the secondary; however these two moves were greatly expected.
Lito Sheppard went to the New York Jets for a couple of extraordinarily lame draft picks--a 5th round this year, then a 2nd to 4th round pick next year. No doubt the Jets won with this deal, especially considering the Eagles poor drafting abililty. It is unlikely anyone the Eagles draft with those picks will equate to a 2-time pro bowl selection, regardless of recent play. Lito simply was not happy in Philadelphia, and I don't blame him. The Eagles did nothing to attempt to satiate his demands (as is typical), but they also failed to complete a trade last year that could have garnered much more received value. A trade for a WR or another defensive weapon could have been useful. Now all that's left is what may come five years down the line when those draft picks make a name for themselves, or don't.
Sean Considine went to Jacksonville as an UFA. No surprises here: he never really played well in Philadelphia. I do not disagree with letting him go; I believe it was the correct move. However, now the Eagles need to draft a safety (maybe two) and look to free agency to bolster the secondary from its current limping status.
Correll Buckhalter, who looked rather impressive over the course of last season and definitely deserved an increase role in the running game, is headed to Denver with B-Dawk. Not at all surprising to see the Eagles let him go; however, the Eagles need to fill his vacant spot on the depth chart--if they were wise, they would choose a large, power back to complement Westbrook. Don't be surprised if they try and go for another Westbrook prototype, however. With Booker being the same mold, they seem attracted to only those types of runners. Logically the Eagles will look to the draft for help.
The Eagles have made little noise with their free agent moves thus far. They added offensive lineman Stacy Andrews, brother to Shawn, at a much needed time. Runyan and Thomas are likely on their way out, or at least one of them. That would mean Stacy plays either left or right tackle, but he is a versatile guy who can really fill in anywhere. He is also huge at 6'7" and 342, so he takes up a big portion of the line. We'll see what affect he has, including how the chemistry with his brother may help or hurt the line.
The Eagles also locked up Baskett for another year, and Joselio Hanson for a total of five years. Hanson took over for Sheppard, so that move was a logical one. He played better as he has grown into his role, but the future for him is uncertain. I don't think he has the ceiling that Sheppard had, but who knows.
We will see if the Eagles ever make a move for a wide receiver, although I'm thinking it is rather unlikely. Coles, 31, and Houshmandzadeh, 31, are both still available on the market. The market is rather weak this year, so chances are higher that the Eagles use a first or second round pick on a receiver, much like last year. There is also the possibility that they make the same mistake over and over and say they are content with their current receiving core. Hopefully, for once, they will have better sense.
Once the draft roles around, the Eagles will need to strengthen the secondary and the offense. That includes a WR, RB, and a couple offensive linemen. Chances are good they will also draft another DL and LB, but who knows what the Eagles will do with their first round picks (they have two). Trading either of them away would be a massive failure and would likely cause hellfire to rain down upon their heads.
So with the Eagles clearly "rebuilding" on their minds, it is time to look to the distant future for a Super Bowl. If it ever happens, that is.
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