1.

WR

High

Med

* As much as I like Thrash, he is just not giving McNabb enough opportunities.  The Eagles say they do not need a number 1 receiver, but they do need receivers who can get open and get 1st downs.  The Eagles like to spread the ball around, but they can't do that if their receivers can not get open. 

It would greatly improve the offense if the Eagles could acquire a WR who could pressure defenses.  Unfortunately, this offense takes too long for WRs to learn.  If the Eagles draft a WR it would take about 3 years before they can contribute.

There are two possibilities in Free Agency, Terrell Owens and Darrell Jackson.  Terrell Owens would be a perfect fit in this offense if he would just shut up!  But, on the other hand, he would not get walked all over by any CB.  Darrell Jackson is from a "West Coast" offense but he is another small receiver.  Yet, he is a productive 1000 yard receiver but has had problems with dropped passes.  What would he do with one of McNabb's passes that is still gaining in altitude when it reaches him?  Justin McCareins is a RFA and would cost a draft pick and may not be an impact player right away but may be the best option if it takes a 3rd rounder or less. 

* The Titans gave McCareins a high tender offer making the RFA available for a 1st Round Pick which is way too much.  The only option is a trade with the Ravens for T.O. and the draft.  I would not spend a 1st Round pick on T.O.  I would pick either Rashaun Woods or Lee Evans in the draft and fast track them.

This is too good of a WR draft to be a spectator.

Free Agent Option: Justin McCareins; Terrell Owens (signed).

2.

OLB

High

Med

* The Eagles are razor-thin at linebacker.  Their scheme needs a linebacker that is fast, aggressive, and that can cover and blitz.  Emmons and Wayne are a good tandem, but Carlos Emmons is a free agent.  If he leaves, they will need more than one linebacker in the off-season.  Of the Free Agents, Julian Peterson has been franchised and is therefore too costly.  Dhani Jones has a nose for the ball.  Marcus Washington is an excellent blitzer.

* Carlos Emmons signed with the Giants.  The Giants Dhani Jones signed with the Eagles.

Free Agent Option: Dhani Jones (signed); Marcus Washington (signed by Redskins),

3.

ILB

High

* The same team need description from 2003 is appropriate for 2004.  Let's hope that we don't see this again in 2005.

"This has been a chink in their armor.   It was the difference between being the first and second best defense in the NFL.  Receiving mismatches against the Eagles ILB were too easy.  Gardner and Kirkland were adequate against the run.  But an adequate ILB is not the stuff of Super Bowls. The Eagles do not want to admit it but they missed Trotter.   They acquired Mark Simoneau from Atlanta.  If Simoneau starts the season at Middle Linebacker, the Eagles will still miss Trotter.  Luckily, there are some good ILB prospects this year in the draft". 

The Eagles are pointing to success against the run in the beginning of the season as a reason to blame their inability to stop the run on injuries to their DTs.  Their is no doubt that that is a factor.  However, you shouldn't need to have a brick wall play in front of your ILB.  The ILB should be effective against the run. And, if Simoneau were ever injured, there is no adequate ILB backup.

* The Eagles would do well to draft an ILB.  Running backs have been salivating about the prospect of playing against the Eagles.  They think the Eagles have airport runway lights in the middle of their defense.

* FA Al Wilson who would have been an excellent acquisition has been franchised.

4.

CB

High

* If Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor both succumb to Free Agency, what was once a strength will become a suspect position.  There are some good CBs in the draft but the Eagles may need to expend a 1st rounder to get one.  Free Agency will require that the Eagles resort to acquiring at least 2 top shelf players from the Free Agent market in order to maintain an NFC Championship level of talent.  Champ Bailey would be an excellent addition and worth the big bucks but he is being traded to Denver.  The Eagles at minimum will need another CB that can play the nickel and start if needed.

* With Vincent and Taylor gone, the Eagles will take a CB on the first day of the draft.

Free Agent Option: Shawn Springs (signed by Redskins).

5.

DE

Med Low

* Due to injuries, sacks have gone down considerably.  Burgess and Green will be back.  Burgess can bring the heat.  Green has potential to be a good pass-rusher but never had the chance to prove himself.  McDougle has been playing injured.  We have not seen the real McDougle.  The Eagles could use a 3rd down pass rusher that would keep their DEs fresh during the season and that could be their backup in case of injury. 

With Kalu and Whiting not producing sacks and Green, Burgess, and McDougle being questionmarks, the Eagles will need to add someone who can reliably bring the heat.  The Free Agent market has some real smokers in Grant Wistrom and Jevon Kearse. The Dolphin's Adewale Ogunleye is an RFA and will cost 1st and 3rd round picks in 2005.  But AO may be the best fit and if he produces like last year, worth the picks.

* The Eagles decided that AO was not worth the picks, reached deep down in their pockets and signed Kearse.

Free Agent Option: Adewale Ogunleye, Jevon Kearse (signed), Grant Wistrom.

6.

OL

Med

* With one-time 2nd round pick Bobbie Williams G out the door, the Eagles could use additional backup in the interior OL.

7.

RB

Med

* With Staley gone, it would be a plus to acquire an RB that is fast and can catch the ball.  Buckhalter and Westbrook are a good pair of fast RBs, but staying healthy may be an issue.