The Eagles were the kings of free agency last summer, wheeling and dealing as they signed one big name free agent after the next. It didn’t pay off. Now, the Eagles enter the offseason with a talented roster, but have some important holes to fill if they plan to finally fulfill the lofty expectations that they failed miserably to meet last season.
Let’s take a look at what the Eagles need to address and what they might do about it.
Wide Receiver
At first glance, wide receiver doesn’t appear to be the one of the Eagles’ most pressing needs. But their looming decision on DeSean Jackson, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, will dramatically influence their draft and free agency plans.
The Eagles have a couple of options concerning Jackson. They can choose to let him walk, they can ink him to a long-term deal, but it appears the most likely scenario is that the team places the franchise tag on the former Cal standout. The Eagles would have to pay Jackson approximately $9.4 million to stay in Philly for one more year, or, as Adam Schefter reported, the Eagles could also shop him.
My gut is that the Eagles will retain Jackson in order to maintain continuity in the offense.
But…
If the Eagles don’t bring back Jackson, they will be forced to replace him via free agency or the draft. Given the mounting pressure on head coach Andy Reid, the Eagles are in a “win now” situation, so I’d expect the Eagles to go after a veteran receiver. Who could fill that void? Well, that’s where things get murky.
It seems increasingly likely the Chiefs will use the franchise tag on Dwayne Bowe and Wes Welker doesn’t seem like a natural fit. I’m not sure the Eagles are sold on Marques Colston and his history of nagging injuries, which leaves one game-changing player they could covet—Vincent Jackson.
Jackson is a physical receiver who is in his prime. He would provide an instant upgrade in the red zone, an area where the Eagles have been dismal in the recent years.
Plaxico Burress, who has expressed interest in playing with Eagles QB Michael Vick, is also someone I expect the team to take a long look at.
Linebacker
There seems to be a common thread in the millions of mock drafts available on the Internet—the Eagles and Luke Kuechly. But the Eagles haven’t drafted a linebacker with their first pick since 1979, and I’m skeptical that this will be the year that ends this streak. The Eagles have a crop of serviceable young players, but none of them project to difference-makers at the position. While the Eagles have never truly valued linebackers, this is an area they clearly must upgrade in order to make a legitimate run at an NFC Championship in 2012.
Some possible targets at the position include players like Curtis Lofton, Stephen Tulluch, London Fletcher, and David Hawthorne.
Lofton, who played the highest percent of his team’s snaps in 2011, would be an instant upgrade for the Eagles, but can be a bit of a liability in pass coverage. I’m not sure I see the Eagles breaking the bank for a guy like Lofton.
While most believe the Eagles wouldn’t be interested in Fletcher because of his age, the team has taken a flyer on a linebacker in the twilight of his career before in Takeo Spikes. Fletcher, at this point in his career, is a much better player than Spikes was when the Eagles signed him, so it’s possible.
Still, the most likely target would be Tulluch. He’s a playmaking linebacker who has spent his entire career playing behind the “Wide 9” defensive front. This seems like a natural fit for the Eagles and it gives them a chance to atone for their sin of not signing him last offseason.
Other Notes
The Eagles starters along the offensive line gelled at the end of the year, paving the way for LeSean McCoy’s monster season. That’s the good news. On the other hand, the team lacks depth. In fact, they have almost nothing in terms of depth. Therefore, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Eagles add to the line through both free agency and the draft.
Preview provided by Bob Wankel. For more in-depth Philadelphia Eagles coverage, visit Inside the Iggles.