The big talk since the Peters trade is the question of whether the Eagle would still consider trading for Boldin. My inclination is to say no. Supposedly the Cards are seeking a first and a third, and Boldin is seeking a contract in the neighborhood of 4 years for 40 million dollars. It's hard to imagine the Eagles giving up more in picks and as much in annual salary for a wide receiver than they did for an offensive tackle, a position the Eagles clearly value more. It wouldn't be a total shock if they moved for him, but my guess is the recent language out of Joe Banner about doing whatever they can to help the team when asked about Boldin is simply an effort to drive up Boldin's price in case the Giants make a move at him. If I had to predict though, Boldin will be more likely to end up either in the AFC (maybe Baltimore?) or still on Arizona.
Sheldon Brown has just gone public complaining about his contract. He is making less I think than Joselio Hanson this year, but the fact is he agreed to the big long term contract, and he has four years left on it. There is no way the Eagles do a new deal with him this year, if for no other reason that it weakens the Eagles negotiating position with McNabb. As usual, the Eagles here hold all the leverage, so expect Brown to boycott a minicamp or two but come in and play as usual. If he plays well for another two years, then maybe the Eagles will sit down with him.
I hope this works. Sheldon Brown is really, really good. There's a reason that the Eagles were trying to trade Lito and not Brown last year. Brown is a lockdown cover corner who can play press man or zone. He's a great tackler and has incredible instincts downfield and as a blitzer. They need him for at least one more year. It is strange though that the birds have brought in first round quality CB talents Vontae Davis (who scares the heck out of me that he could be another workout warrior like his brother SF tight end Vernon, whose biggest catches have come on an UnderArmour commercial) and Sean Smith (who may be an NFL safety). My guess is that is just due diligence on the part of the Birds but we'll see.
Everyone seems to think the Eagles first pick in this draft will be a RB. I tend to agree. This is by far our biggest need for this year and is also one of our more important long-term needs. Knowshon Moreno is all the rave right now, and for good reason. He's got good enough size and can do everything. He runs screens excellent and is effective both up the middle and running to the outside. He has good field vision and is capable of making two cuts behind the line of scrimmage. He is fast but not ultra fast, but he does a decent job of using his body to make defenders miss. He is excellent at making sure he always falls forward to pick up a few extra yards. From what I've read, he was also superb in blitz pickup in college, which is crucial for running backs to be able to contribute early to this complicated Eagles offense. He really does seem to be the total package, but he may not be around still at 21. I've definitely seen him linked to the Saints at 14 and the Chargers at 16 (although I'm skeptical about whether they want to invest first round money in a rookie RB with sproles making a bunch of new money). As for the Saints, I think, and hope, that Ohio State's wells, a big powerful two-down back, might be a better complement to Reggie Bush. Wells lacks the receiving experience to play a lot of downs in this Eagles offense next year. Let's hope Knowshon falls to 21, although I think if he's really their guy, the Eagles might be willing to move up to draft him. It would prob. take a 3rd to get up to 12 or 13. Plus the Eagellectual loves a guy with the word "Know" in his first name.
If Knowshon is gone when the Eagles pick, I'd look for them to trade down which many dumb eagles fans hate (but I have no problem with picking up an extra first day player). Donald Brown (UConn) and/or LeSean McCoy (Pitt) should be available in the last six picks of the first and first six picks of the second, although there is significant talk that the Colts will draft one of them with the 27th pick in the first round. The Patriots, also, might be in the market for a running back. Possible trading partners with extra picks in the second are the Giants, Patriots, Dolphins, and Browns. Brown is a fairly complete back who can do most things well, but may not be exceptional McCoy is a speedy back who can catch the ball out of the backfield. From what I read he needs to learn to play the blitz, but has the instincts to be a decent blocker--so did Westbrook when we brought him here, and now he's the best pound for pound blocking tailback in the league--the Sugar Ray Lewis of blitz pick-up, if you will. In many ways McCoy's game is like Westbrook's. He's bigger then B-West and played against better college competition, although he lacks the second gear that has made Westbrook such a scary big play threat in the NFL.
There are two wildcards here that might change the Eagles first round strategy. The first is named Brandon Pettigrew. He is a beastly large Oklahoma State tight end with very good hands and good route-running skills. He is an excellent blocker, which the Eagles desperately needed last year (but might need less this year with a healthy Shawn Andrews, joined by Jason Peters and Stacey Andrews as stud run-blockers on our line). I'm inclined to think the Eagles don't believe in drafting tight tends in the first round, especially one who lacks the speed to challenge good NFL safeties downfield, but if I'm wrong, he's there at 21 and prob. not there all that much later.
The other wildcard is Mr. Victor Abiamiri. We still don't know how good this guy is. Hopefully someone in the Eagles organization does. We need more pass rush for the other DE spot (opposite Cole), and if the Eagles don't have faith in Abiamiri, they might look to draft a DE--perhaps Michael Johnson if he falls (GA Tech) or Robert Ayers (Tenn). Andy Reid treats defensive end prospects the way he treats cheeseburgers--there's no such thing as too many, and Tom Heckert and Jim Johnson love "to throw fastballs" (maybe we should send them over to Brett Myers's house).
I suppose there's also an outside change that the Eagles could draft a first round receiver if a top flight guy like Heyward-Bey is there and is the best-guy on the board, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that all you receiver-loving birds fans, and to be honest, I don't think receiver is anywhere near our biggest need short-term or long-term. A project there might be more likely in the second or third. I'll post again before the weekend to suggest what they might do in rounds two and three.
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