We are on the eve of one of the most exciting days of the NFL offseason, and this draft comes at a crucial time for the Birds. There are a lot of lingering issues the team needs to address (Sheldon Brown’s contract situation and big needs at RB and TE just to name a few) and the actions the Eagles take this Saturday should give us a good idea of how they plan to deal with them.
The Jason Peters deal was the first piece to the puzzle, and served as a quick fix for one of the Eagles’ mosty pressing needs. Now let’s take a look at some other areas they still need to improve in and see which players may be available to fill those holes.
Need #1: An heir to Brian Westbrook
As of right now the Eagles’ #2 runningback heading into next season would be Lorenzo Booker. Doesn’t exactly instill you with much confidence if Westy suffered another injury, does it? That makes it entirely likely that the Eagles will use either their first rounder or their second rounder on a runningback.
It just so happens there are some very good options on the board that fit the Eagles’ system. The most obvious name that has been thrown around is Georgia runningback Knowshon Moreno. Moreno has the speed and receiving ability to be an impact player for the Eagles, and there is no doubt he’d be a terrific fit. The problem is he could go as high as the mid-teens, which would mean the Eagles would have to trade up to get him.
If they are that enamoured with the guy I don’t doubt they could make this happen, but at the same time I’m suspicious of the way the front office has been treating the situation. The Eagles are notorious for keeping their offseason plans close to the vest, so I can’t help but feel like this is a smokescreen to take attention away from another player they like more.
If Moreno isn’t the pick, the next best option would be UCONN’s all-time leading rusher Donald Brown. Brown may not have the natural physical abilities of Moreno, but he is a workhorse who can block and catch. LeSean McCoy out of Pitt could also be had in the second round,but I see Moreno and Brown as more likely options. It really comes down to what happens with Moreno…if he gets snatched up early then the Birds may trade down and target Brown or McCoy. If not then Knowshon would look pretty damn good in midnight green.
Need #2: Another Tight End
Brent Celek is pretty much locked in to start, but bringing in a bit of competition is never a bad idea. Brandon Pettigrew is a big target (but not exactly a big play threat considering he lacks breakaway speed) and Jared Cook has risen up people’s boards but is very much a boom or bust prospect. Either way if the Eagles decide to hold off on a runningback in the first round TE could be their next choice and Pettigrew should still be on the board.
Chase Coffman and Cornelius Ingram should also be available later on if the Eagles decide to hold off on getting a tight end earlier in Day 1.
Need #3: A Cornerback (depending on how the Sheldon Brown situation is resolved.)
If Brown is indeed traded, don’t be surprised to see the Eagles target one of the top cornerbacks in the draft. Malcolm Jenkins, Darius Butler, Vontae Davis (who I am particularly high on), and Alphonso Smith could all be options within the first two rounds.
Davis in particular is a guy who caught my eye in the 2008 Rose Bowl against my USC Trojans. At one point in the game one of the fastest backs in the nation, Joe McKnight broke a long run off a screen and it looked like he was going to score. Then out of nowhere comes Vontae Davis to bring down McKnight well short of the goalline…the guy has the speed to keep up with elite athletes and the will to never give up on a play. That one scenario alone told me everything I need to know about him.
Need #4: A Wide Receiver to complement Desean Jackson
There is no doubt that Jackson can develop into an elite receiver, but the Eagles need someone aside from Kevin Curtis to pair with him for a long time to come. You don’t necessarily need to take a wideout in the first round to find a quality player (Jackson was a second rounder last year) so I fully expect the Eagles to wait until rounds two or three before they consider taking a WR. Derrick Williams and Brian Robiskie were two big time Big Ten players who will be available a bit later on Day 1/early on Day 2.
Just don’t get your hopes us for a Crabtree or a Maclin…the Birds have other areas they’d like to address first.
My Prediction:
I think if Moreno drops to the Eagles at #21 they’d be ecstatic, but they’ll only trade up for him if the price is right. To be perfectly honest my gut is telling me the Birds will hold off until the second round to take a runningback and go after Pettigrew, Jenkins, or Butler in the first round. I’d also keep an open mind to the possibility of trading down: getting another high pick would allow the Eagles to potentially get a high level prospect at both running back AND tight end or cornerback.
The second round pick will largely depend on what happens in the first, but if they go for a tight end or cornerback earlier I’d see Donald Brown being the likely target. If the Eagles do get Moreno then a cornerback or tight end will be the pick here. I’d probably say a tight end because the quality really drops off after the first few guys at that position.
Just enjoy the drama tomorrow, and check back here once all is said and done for a recap of the Eagles’ Day 1 selections.
