Philadelphia Eagles

Overview

The Eagles appeared poised to make another deep playoff run until they ran into a Cowboys team they simply could not figure out this season.  After an 11-5 season and a disappointing loss in the first round of the playoffs the Eagles will be looking to reload again this spring.  Philadelphia currently owns the 24th pick in the draft.

Assets

Donovan McNabb is still one of the top ten quarterbacks in the league and throws the deep ball as well as anyone.

In only his second season wide receiver DeSean Jackson has emerged as one of the league’s most explosive play-makers.

In his third season tight end Brent Celek has exploded onto the scene and is on track to catch over 70 passes and score 8 touchdowns this season.

Rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin was pressed into a starting role early after injuries knocked Kevin Curtis out of the lineup.  He could end the year with 50 catches if he recovers enough from a foot injury to play the last two weeks of the season.

Rookie running back LeSean McCoy has shown some flashes of what he can do this season and looks like he will eventually become a quality back in the league.

Fullback Leonard Weaver has given the Eagles a guy who can move the pile and run between the tackles.  He has also contributed his share of big plays in the passing game with 20 and 59 yard touchdown catches.

Considering all of the injuries it has suffered the offensive line has held up fairly well for the Eagles this season, and Jason Peters was voted to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.

The pass rush still ranks top five in the league in sacks led once again by Trent Cole who reached double digits in sacks for the second time in three seasons.

Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown are in the conversation when talking about best corner tandems in the league.

The defensive line is stout and excels at getting after the quarterback and containing opposing running backs.

Liabilities/Needs

Perhaps the biggest weakness on this team is at linebacker.  The Eagles have been decimated by injuries at the position starting with losing middle linebacker Stewart Bradley to injury in training camp.  It has been so bad that the Eagles brought Jeremiah Trotter, who had not played in two years, out of retirement just for some added depth at the position.

The Chris Gocong experiment needs to come to an end.  It seems like he is always out of position or getting beaten in pass coverage and he flat out misses a lot of tackles.

Without Bradley the Eagles do not have any linebackers that make plays.  Bradley was great at blowing up running plays.

The safeties have been good but not great.  Quintin Mikell has been steady but it has been a revolving door with Sean Jones, Quintin Demps, and Macho Harris all taking turns at the other safety spot.

There is not a lot of depth at corner back after Brown and Samuel.  Prior to going on IR Ellis Hobbs was consistently getting beaten as the #3 corner.

With starting center Jamaal Jackson suffering a torn ACL in Week 16 the Eagles could be in the market for a Plan B at the position in the event Jackson is not ready to go for the season opener.

With Brian Westbrook facing retirement and/or being released by the team Philly will likely be in the market for a backup to McCoy this off season.

Bottom Line

The offense is pretty well set for the next couple of years with budding young stars at the skill positions in Celek, McCoy, Jackson, and Maclin.  The offensive line is still fairly young but could use some depth.  I suspect the Eagles will focus on fortifying the defense in this draft after re-stocking the offense last spring.

Linebacker is the biggest hole to fill on the defensive side of the ball.  They simply do not have any play makers at the position who blow up running plays and turn the ball over.

There is a possibility that Sheldon Brown will not be back next season and with little depth at the position the Eagles could target a corner back early on in the draft.

Safety is also another area of concern.  They have been blessed with a pair of corners at the top of their games this season but that can come back to bite them if one of them goes down.

South Florida safety Nate Allen has been rising up a lot of team’s draft boards of late, but, he could be seen as a bit of a reach at 24.

There is some speculation that the team could go with USC safety Taylor Mays in the first round as his stock continues to plummet.

Texas’ Sergio Kindle is a possibility, but, there is some question as to whether he can play the OLB position in a 4-3 defensive front given he is too light to play DE in the NFL.

Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman has been slipping a bit and would give the Eagles an athletic outside linebacker who is solid in coverage and a solid tackler against the run.  The only real knock on his game is he is a bit undersized.

Boise’s Kyle Wilson could be tabbed if the Eagles decide to cut ties with Sheldon Brown this off season.  Wilson is another player who is rising up draft boards after a strong showing at the Senior Bowl.

A wild card for the Eagles at 24 could be Cal running back Jahvid Best.  Reid loves versatile backs like Best who have speed to burn.  He excels in the passing game and can be used as a return man as well.  Best is one of those players Reid could move around in different formations to create mismatches with his elite speed.

Florida offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey is another guy to consider here.  He would potentially give the team some insurance if Jackson is not ready to go by camp and would give them a versatile interior lineman that can play both guard and center.  Reid has an affinity for taking linemen in the early rounds.

Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes is another possibility as well if the Eagles are not happy with how Bradley’s rehab is progressing.

USC DE Everson Griffen is another potential first round target for the Eagles who are in search of another 3-down end to lineup with Cole.

Virginia’s Chris Cook (CB) is a potential second round target for Philadelphia.  He would give them a big corner to replace Brown as would Iowa’s Amari Spievey.

Ohio State’s Thaddeus Gibson is a potential second round prospect at OLB.

If the Eagles do not land a safety in the first round then LSU’s Chad Jones could be an option in the 2nd.

Penn State linebacker Sean Lee is a possible second rounder for the Eagles as well.

Northwestern DE Corey Wooton and Michigan defensive back Donovan Warren are potential prospects for Philly with the 70th selection.

Look for the team to target a back with either the 70th or 87th selection.  Tennessee’s Montario Hardesty or USC’s Joe McKnight seem like good bets to go to Philly as a third round pick.

Mississippi’s Greg Hardy is another guy the Eagles could target in the third round.  He has a similar build to Cole and is the type of guy Philly has liked at DE over the years.

TCU’s Jerry Hughes would be an intriguing pick up as well.  They took the chance in trying to make Gocong into a LB and failed, but, Hughes appears to be more suited to be able to make that transition than Gocong was.  Hughes gets after the quarterback and plays well enough versus the run and could line up at end in the nickle defense.

Florida’s Jermaine Cunningham or Texas’ Rod Muckleroy are potential third round linebacker prospects Philly could look at as well.

Reid typically likes to grab a running back in the middle rounds and with Westbrook’s long term status with the team up in the air one should not expect this draft to be any different.  Look for the team to target a guy like Auburn’s Ben Tate or Miami’s Javarris James who have shown an ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.