Instead, Andy Reid and the Eagles were busy tweaking with the players they already have. Here is a quick recap of the weekend’s events in Philadelphia.

Leonard Weaver Signs Five-Year Deal (Friday, 3/5)

This move was inevitable. Weaver played great in his first season with the Birds, earning a Pro Bowl berth. He cemented his position as one of the best fullbacks in the league, and is more than deserving of the three-year, $11 million dollar deal he signed on Friday. Depending on what the Eagles do with their running back situation, Weaver could be in for an increased role in the running game.

Will Witherspoon Released (Friday)

The versatile linebacker was acquired at the trade deadline for promising receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth-round pick. Witherspoon spent time in the middle and on the weakside in his 11 games in Eagles green. Due over $5 million in 2010, the Eagles just didn’t think he was worth it. What are the Eagles going to do with their linebackers? Spoon was the most experienced guy of the bunch and his departure leaves the position flooded with cheap, mediocre talent.

CB Marlin Jackson Expected to Visit Philadelphia (Sunday)

The five-year veteran has spent his entire career in Indianapolis, where he spent time both at cornerback and safety. Jackson is 6′0, 200 lbs. and could be eyed by the Eagles as either a corner or safety. The former first round pick is coming off an ACL tear, his second major knee injury in the past two seasons. Expected to be tendered a contract by the Colts, he was unexpectedly released into the unrestricted free agency pool.

Michael Vick’s Roster Bonus to be Picked Up (Sunday)

While the Eagles have until Tuesday to officially announced whether they will pick up Vick’s $1.5 million dollar roster bonus, sources are saying that it indeed will be picked up. Many thought that the Eagles would let Vick free if they couldn’t get any value back, but apparently Andy Reid and co. feel differently. So any interested party will have to work out a trade with the Eagles for Vick’s services. Could we really enter the season with all three quarterbacks still on the roster, after all the hoopla surrounding the situation?

Jason Avant Signs Five-Year Deal (Monday)

The incredibly efficient slot receiver finally gets his due with a five-year deal worth up to $18 million, including $8 million in guaranteed money. One of the many restricted free agents for the Eagles, Avant was one guy who no one expected the Eagles to lose. An incredible special teams contributor, third-down force, and locker room presence, Avant is certainly deserving of this deal. The 26-year old should be given plenty of chances to produce in the coming years. Here is what Reid had to say about the Michigan alum:

“Jason Avant has developed into one of our most dependable and productive players on offense,” said Reid. “He’s physical, he’s tough and he has the respect of all of his teammates. Jason plays the game of football the right way; he competes on a daily basis, whether it’s in the game or in practice. He is also what I consider a person with high character and he’s a guy that I like to think younger players have and will continue to learn from. Jason is a devoted man in the community and gives a great deal of time helping others. We’re glad to have him back in Philadelphia for the next five seasons.”

Stacy Andrews Restructures his Contract (Monday)

Expected to make $2.95 million in base salary in 2010, Adam Shefter is reporting that the the two parties have agreed to a restructured ‘10 base salary figure of $1.15 million. That’s some good savings for the Eagles, but I wish I knew what they were saving all this money for?

Reggie Brown Traded to Tampa Bay (Monday)

Another high Eagles draft pick has been run out of town, this time being the enigmatic receiver Brown. The prize? Reported to be a 2011 sixth-round pick. Funny how the Eagles envisioned their future receiving corps to be Brown and Kevin Curtis at one time. Good thing Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin fell to them in the draft, cause Brown is terrible and Curtis had six receptions last year.

Eagles Pending Free Agents (RFA or UFA):

Leonard Weaver (RFA)- After a extremely solid first year with the Eagles, Weaver and his agent are currently close to a new contract agreement. He carried the ball 70 times for 323 yards and two touchdowns while complementing McCoy after Westbrook went down. Since Weaver could become a RFA Friday, a new deal could come before then.

Players Under Contract:

LeSean McCoy- Signed through 2012 with an average cap value of $822,500. Not bad for a starting caliber running back. “Shady” is already back at the NovaCare complex hitting the weights hard in preparation for what could be a breakout year.

Eldra Buckley- Signed through 2010 with a cap value of $395,000. Will be given a shot be the third RB on the 53-man roster when training camp opens. Should have some competition for his job, but Buckley is a proven special teams contributor.

Martell Mallett- Signed through 2011 with cap values of $395,000 each year. Played last season for the BC Lions of the CFL, where he was named the Most Outstanding Rookie of the Year. Will be invited to camp to compete with Buckley for the third RB role.

While the Eagles may add up to two or three additional backs before training camp opens, there remains only one real spot on the 53-man roster. That spot will likely go to a quality player who can be part of a time share with McCoy and step into a starting role should the 22-year old go down with an injury. Additionally, there is a strong chance that the Eagles find that player in this year’s free agent class.

Here are the most notable RB’s to hit free agency later this week. Some players will be restricted free agents if a new CBA isn’t put in place, and will be noted here as “RFA”.

Chester Taylor, Vikings, (30)

Pierre Thomas, Saints (25) – RFA

Leon Washington, Jets (28)

Willie Parker, Steelers (29)

LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers (30)

Thomas Jones, Jets, (31) – Will be officially announced Friday

Jerome Harrison, Browns (27) – RFA

Ronnie Brown, Dolphins (28) – RFA

Cadillac Williams, Bucs (28) – RFA

Darren Sproles, Chargers (27)

Jamal Lewis, Browns (30)

Jerious Norwood, Falcons (28) – RFA

Lendale White, Titans (25) – RFA

Mike Bell, Saints (27) – RFA

Kolby Smith, Chiefs (25) – RFA

Teams have to decide quickly whether or not to tender contracts to their restricted free agents. If they offer first-round tenders, they will be forced to pay a higher price to keep that player. Some of the listed backs will be given just second or third round tenders, which would be cheaper but would also cause additional interest from other teams.

The players becoming unrestricted Friday include some very accomplished, but aging, ball carriers. With such a glut of available guys, the price to bring one in on a short-term deal will be affordable. Sproles is probably the only one who will be out of the Eagles price range, but they could pull the trigger on one of the other guys. The Jones news that recently broke surprised me a bit, and I could see him being highly sought after in the open market.

Even before the Westbrook and Jones news broke, NFP wrote that the Eagles should pursue the 31-year old University of Virginia product. The 31-year old is coming off one of his best years but finds himself in a crowded backfield with Shonn Greene and Washington. The Jets’ loss could be the Eagles gain if they feel inclined to outbid other interested teams, like the Chargers, and the Browns.

Other UFA’s worth mentioned are Taylor and Parker. The career NFC North’ers got used to the backup role last year, as Adrian Peterson and Rashard Mendenhall led their respective teams. Both carried under 100 times in 2009, which bodes well for their bodies heading into another grueling NFL campaign. The Eagles could pounce here if they believe good value is to be had.

…More after the jump

How about the Draft?

The other way Andy Reid could address the hole at RB is to use a mid-round pick on the position. It is highly doubtful that he would use a first or second rounder, given McCoy’s age and progression. He could, however, find a guy in the middle round that he likes enough to get some snaps in his rookie campaign. This would be the most cost efficient way, and could also lead to finding another “diamond in the rough”. You know what your going to get from a veteran, but miss out of hitting on a next big thing.

Draft Countdown has five running backs being taken in the first two rounds of their mock draft. I doubt the Eagles use that high of a pick, so guys outside the top 10 at the position are the likelier candidates. Other interesting names to consider include Oregon’s LaGarrette Blount, who was suspended for a majority of the season after throwing a punch at an opponent.

Analysis:

I’m putting my money on the Eagles plucking one of the free agents listed above. Jones would be my first pick, but would also come with one of the highest price tags. How much? No one knows, but one would guess it would be significantly less than the $7.25 million that would have went into Westbrook’s pockets. Would $2-3 million be too much for the Eagles to offer a guy who finished third in the NFL in rushing yards last season with 1,402? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

If he gets wooed by a bigger contract and a starting role, then the Eagles will have to look at the likes of Taylor and Parker. Most of the RFA’s will get some sort of tender, thus costing at least a mid-round draft pick to sign him away from their former team. That won’t bother Reid if he really likes a guy, but who is out there worth a first or second round pick? The ideal scenario is to fill the hole by signing a veteran to a one or two-year deal at an affordable cost without giving up a draft pick in the process.

Once again, look for the rumblings to continue up to and after the official start to free agency (new CBA or not) on Friday.

…DE Everson Griffen from the University of Southern California.

…Analysis after the jump

I’ve previously pegged defensive end as a position of need due to the lack of a consistent pass rush opposite Trent Cole. The 6′3, 280 lb. Griffen would be a perfect guy to bring in and immediately upgrade the pass rush. While he fell to us here at #24 in the Fanball Mock Draft, it is unlikely that he would still be on the board when the Eagles make their first round selection in April.

Most predictions and “experts” are seeing Griffen off the board in the mid-teens as teams across the league look to bolster their pass-rush. The NFL is becoming a passing league, and elite edge rushers are all the rage at the moment. Depending on where you look, Griffen is either the third of fourth ranked DE in this year’s draft class, behind Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan and South Florida’s Jason Pierre-Paul. The other guy who is on the same level in Florida’s Carlos Dunlap, who could jump into the top 15 or drop to the later first round.

Everything I read about Griffen is that he is a prototypical 4-3 DE who has an NFL-ready body. The USC junior accumulated 8 sacks in his first year as a full-time starter for Pete Carroll’s defense. Originally thought to be an underachiever early in his career, a change in work ethic showed on the field in ‘09 and will ultimately decide his draft position come April. Scouts Inc. had this to say about Griffen’s pass-rush skills, which they graded as above average:

An explosive power-to-speed rusher. Anticipates snap count well and gets off the ball quickly. Stays low and flashes a violent initial punch that can rock offensive lineman on their heels. Does a good job of changing up pass rushing moves and displays an effective spin/rip move inside to keep OT’s on off-balance. Runs a tight loop inside on twists and shows above-average closing burst.

Griffen possesses plus speed but struggles a bit with change of direction. Like his would-be competition on the Eagles, Juqua Parker and Darren Howard, Griffen is strong against the run. Sounds like the complete package to me. I would love for the draft to play out this way, but am worried that we would have to move up in the draft to get one of the four elite DE’s available this year.

Of course, all this will be null and void if the Eagles pull off a major free agent signing at the DE position. No one in Philadelphia will stop talking about Julius Peppers, the UFA set to test the waters in just over a week. I wrote about other options at DE in a previous piece. If they pass on addressing the position in FA, then a first round selection on a pass-rusher become a very real possibility. Heck, if they like one guy that much, look for them to move up in the draft to get him.

I’m very happy to welcome Everson Griffen to Philadelphia in this Mock Draft, on the clock now at #25 are the Baltimore Ravens. Join the mock draft talk at the RotoJunkie forums.

Check out this April Fool’s joke by Pete Carroll on Everson Griffen for “physically abusing a freshman”:

And for the football side of things, this video takes an in-depth video look of Griffen through five different games and about 80 plays:

“Brian is one of the greatest Eagles of all time and he is even a better person and leader,” said head coach Andy Reid. “In my mind, there has not been a more versatile running back that the NFL has seen. I had a conversation with Brian this morning to let him know. This is by far the most difficult part of this job. We wanted to make this move now in order to maximize Brian’s chances of landing with another NFL team.”

Since joining the Eagles in 2002, Westbrook has become the franchise leader in yards from scrimmage with 9,785. He also ranks second in rushing yards (behind Wilbert Montgomery) with 5,995. For the better part of the last decade, Westbrook was one of (if not the most) feared played in the entire NFL. His ability to both run the ball and be a receiver out of the backfield made him an elite dual-threat.

The Villanova product was due to earn over $7 million dollars next season, a figure too high for a player in a sharp decline. While it is unfortunate that Westbrook’s fall from grace happened so quickly, such is the life of a NFL running back once they hit 30. The same situation just played out in San Diego when the Chargers cut ties with their longtime star running back, LaDainian Tomlinson. Who would have guessed a few years ago that both these players would be released after the 2009 season?

Here is what owner Jeffrey Lurie had to say:

“Brian Westbrook is one of the most electric players in the history of this franchise and is certainly also one of the most popular,”  Lurie said in a statement. “He was personally one of my favorite players to watch each and every Sunday and his playmaking abilities, leadership and values will be missed.”

And from team president Joe Banner:

“We all know how valuable Brian was as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles and he will certainly go down as one of the greatest Eagles of all time. But what really showed me how special a person Brian is, was watching the way he interacted with my children. That said more to me about Brian than anything else he could have done on the playing field. We will miss him both as a person and as a player.”

With last year’s departure of Brian Dawkins, the news of Westbrook’s release, and the constant trade rumors swirling around Donovan McNabb, the stars of the great teams of the 2000’s are quickly fading away. Luckily the Eagles have continued to play for the now but plan for the future, evidenced by the drafting of LeSean McCoy as the heir apparent to Westy last year. Happy trails, No. 36.

The reason that news is breaking about a potentially restructuring of the contract is because of his sub-par play combined with a $4.1 million dollar roster bonus due April 4th. After that bonus Andrews would be signed for an additional four years at $25 million. It is likely that the Eagles will discuss lowering that amount by a good bit. Thursday, Andrews went public that he would be willing to talk about the restructuring:

“I would do a minor restructuring of my contract,” Andrews said last night by telephone. The Eagles “want to do an adjustment and we’re willing. Hopefully, we can come to an agreement.”

His agent, Rich Moran, spoke last night of his optimism that the two sides can come to a (re) agreement. That is good news considering Moran believes he is tight with the Eagles brass, “I’ve always had an amicable relationship with the Eagles,” said Moran, who also represents Shawn Andrews, Stacy’s younger brother.

All this back and forth at least tells me that the Eagles still believe in the older Andrews’ ability as a football player at least a little bit. While last season is clearly one to forget, the guy did play at a high level while starting for the Bengals the past five years. On the other side of the coin, this obviously shows that the Eagles have no interest in shelling out the big bucks to a player who struggled to win a job over late-round picks early in their careers.

You also have to look at the situation from a offensive line depth perspective. Cole and Jean-Gilles are the only other guys on the roster who could fill-in at right guard, but neither are attractive options. Sure, Cole did a nice job filling in, but that is all you want to ask a guy like that to do, fill-in. Jean-Gilles is a huge human being, but not nimble enough to be a quality starting guard in the NFL. It would be nice if the Eagles were able to get some production from either of the Andrews brothers in 2010 so they didn’t have to add offensive guard to an already super-long list of needs.

The way I see this all panning out is Andrews taking a 30-50% pay cut per season over the remaining five years of his contract but still receiving his $4.1 million dollar roster bonus in April. This way, the Eagles will get some additional financial flexibility when a new CBA agreement happens (when?, no one knows).

Pending Free Agents (RFA or UFA): If 2010 is an uncapped year, then players with under six years of NFL experience would be restricted free agents.

Chris Gocong (RFA)- A three-year starter, Gocong made just over $1 million last season. The Eagles could tender him a contract if ‘10 is uncapped, which would be a discount compared to what he would receive if he was an UFA. I like his chances of staying an Eagle next season.

Akeem Jordan (RFA)- I wrote about Jordan’s chances of staying with the Eagles a while back. He made just under $500k last season and would be a bargain in an uncapped year. Even if not, it would be wise for the Eagles to bring the sure-tackling Jordan back, even in a non-starting role. However, some teams may envision him as a bona fide starter, which could make the cost of retaining him much higher.

Tracy White (UFA)- Making $850k in ‘09, White would command a similar amount if the Eagles tendered him a contract. He is a valuable ST contributor and injury fill-in, but nothing more.

Omar Gaither (RFA)- A long-tenured (5 yrs) member of the Birds, Gaither landed on IR in Week 5 last season. He made just over $1 million, and wouldn’t command much more in either CBA scenario. No one knows the defense more than Gaither, who has played all three LB positions with mixed results. I would welcome him back in a ST/backup role.

Jeremiah Trotter (UFA)- Nope.

Under Contract:

Will Witherspoon- Signed through 2011 with a cap value of $5 million each year. The most experienced LB signed for next season, Witherspoon should benefit from a full offseason in Philly. But he is also the most expensive guy, do the Eagles think he is worth it?

Stewart Bradley- Signed through 2010 with a cap value of $722k. Should be fully healthy for training camp and ready to man the middle for at least the next season.

Joe Mays- Signed through 2011 with cap values around $500k. Mays has done nothing to prove capable of being a starting LB in the NFL, but his low cap value could mean he’ll stick around for at least one more season.

Moise Fokou- Signed through 2010 with cap values also around $500k. The Eagles will surely keep Fokou around as he played surprisingly well when giving the opportunity to start. While he may never develop into a great LB, he certainly is worth $500k to play a solid special teams and a capable fill-in should a starter go down with injury.

As you can see, the Eagles had a ton of linebackers go on and off the 53-man roster in ‘09. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott had a devil of a time trying to mix together the best possible group. It looks to me that Bradley will man the middle with Witherspoon going to the weakside, where he feels most comfortable. Gocong and Fokou are options to start on the strong side, but there is a growing feeling that the Eagles will look elsewhere to fill that void.

So just how many of the guys mentioned above will remain in Philadelphia? The only sure things are Bradley and Fokou. Behind them is Witherspoon and Jordan, who I believe have strong chances to return. Beyond that is hard to speculate, but I would imagine the Eagles keep 1-2 of the other four guys (Gocong, Gaither, White, Mays). That leaves anywhere from 1-3 open spots at LB for 2010, how do the Eagles fill those holes?

…More After the Jump

Free Agency:

Here are the most notable LB’s to hit free agency next month. Some players will be restricted free agents if a new CBA isn’t put in place, and will be noted here as “RFA”.

Karlos Dansby, Cardinals (29)

Barrett Ruud, Buccaneers (27) – RFA

DeMeco Ryans, Texans (26) – RFA

Kirk Morrison,  Raiders (28) – RFA

Shawne Merriman,  Chargers (26) – RFA

Thomas Davis, Panthers (27) – RFA

Thomas Howard,  Raiders (27) – RFA

D’Qwell Jackson,  Browns (26) – RFA

Gary Brackett,  Colts (30)

Derrick Johnson, Chiefs (27) – RFA

Rocky McIntosh, Redskins (27) – RFA

Pisa Tinoisamoa, Bears (29)

Stephen Tulloch, Titans (25) – RFA

You can start dwindling this list down by crossing guys off who are either MLB’s or are very likely to stick with their current team (bye bye Dansby, Ruud, Ryans, Morrison, Jackson, Brackett, Johnson). That leaves you with some interesting names to fill in at SLB. Davis had done a great job converting from safety to OLB the last few years, but went down with a torn ACL in November. He could be a rebound candidate but the rehab combined with learning a new scheme might be too much to ask.

McIntosh is a natural WLB with incredible talent. He could potentially move to the strong side, but Reid and co. would likely bump Witherspoon before McIntosh. A history of knee injuries could lower his price, but the Redskins are still the favorites to retain his services. I cannot see the Eagles going after Merriman, who has never been the same since the knee injury suffered two years ago. There are differing opinions on Howard, the Raiders’ OLB who finished the season on the strong side.

Overall, there is no real slam dunk OLB option for the Birds here. While there is a good amount of talent available, a majority of those players will end up back with their team. I imagine the Eagles will kick the tires of some of the OLB’s out there, and even may surprise us by plucking a McIntosh or a Howard off the wire. If not, they could change their M.O. and use a high draft pick on a LB.

The Draft:

The last time the Eagles used a first round pick on a linebacker was in 1979 with Jerry Robinson out of UCLA. In Andy Reid’s tenure, he has been much more apt to use a later round selection or take to the open market to find his ‘backers. Many “experts”, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper, expect the Eagles to use their 24th overall pick on a LB. I just really doubt that Reid and his newly changed personnel department will buck the trend and grab a ‘backer at No. 24.

That being said, what kind of players could be there late in the first round?

There are only two LB’s widely considered to be gone by the time the 24th selection rolls around, Alabama’s Rolando McClain and Texas’ Sergio Kindle. After that, the Eagles could have their pick of the litter. Guys that could fit the bill are Penn State’s Navarro Bowman (Kiper’s pick for the Birds), Missouri’s Sean Weatherspoon, and Ohio State’s Thaddeus Gibson. The inside LB prospects that could interest the Eagles are Florida’s Brandon Spikes and Penn State’s Sean Lee.

Analysis:

More than likely, the Eagles will bypass choosing a LB in the first round and instead rely on the later rounds to add depth to the position. No one ever can guess what Big Red and his crew are thinking, but there is no doubt that this group needs to improve in 2010. A free pass could be given because of the injuries and a lack of a consistent pass rush, but there is little doubt in Philadelphia that the Eagles will add at least one starting-caliber linebacker to the mix for ‘10. Will that be via the draft? Free agency? Answers to these questions will begin with the first day of free agency March 5th.

The Eagles finished the season with six defensive ends on the active roster, five of which are signed through at least 2010. Only one, Jason Babin, is set to become a free agent.

Victor Abiamiri- signed through 2010; cap value of $1.3 million; long injury list clouds future beyond next season

Trent Cole- signed through 2013; only guy with a 100% chance to return

Darren Howard- signed through 2011; cap values of $5.2 mil in 2010, $8 mil in 2011; solid contributor could be released or traded due to high cap number

Chris Clemons- signed through 2012; cap values of $2.1 mil in 2010, $3.89 mil in 2011, $4.2 mil in 2012; part-time guy is also a candidate to be traded or released

Juqua Parker- signed through 2011; cap values of $3.1 mil in 2010, $4.3 mil in 2011; productive season with eight sacks but is getting no younger (32 in May)

Of those five, I expect just three will make the opening 53-man roster next season. Cole and Abiamiri are the safest bets, with Parker being a guy who stands out against the rest. Howard could beat him with his ability to play all along the defensive line as well as serving as backup long snapper.

This would leave 2-3 open spots in the DE rotation for the 2010 season, how do the Eagles address the situation?

….More after the jump

Free Agency

Here are the most notable DE’s to hit free agency next month. Some players will be restricted free agents if a new CBA isn’t put in place, and will be noted here as “RFA”.

Julius Peppers, Panthers, (30)

Aaron Kampman, Green Bay Packers (30)

Leonard Little, St. Louis Rams (35)

Adewale Ogunleye, Chicago Bears (33)

Elvis Dumervil, Broncos (26) – RFA

Ray Edwards, Minnesota Vikings (25) – RFA

Johnny Jolly, Green Bay Packers (27) – RFA

Marcus Spears, Cowboys (27) – RFA

Mark Anderson, Bears (27) – RFA

Derrick Burgess,  Patriots (32)

Darryl Tapp, Seahawks (25) – RFA

Kyle Vanden Bosch, Titans (31)

The guy who jumps off the screen is Peppers, but the one-dimensional end is no longer regarded as “the guy”. Combine that with a high price tag and his preference to play in a 3-4 and there is little reason to expect Reid to aggressively pursue the UNC product. Many of the other guys are either aging fast (Little, Ogunleye, Vanden Bosch) or suited only for the 3-4  scheme (Kampman, Spears).

If I had to pick which guys I would be willing to shell out some dough to obtain, my top picks would be Edwards and Dumervil. Both are young guys coming off breakout years, but their current teams are likely to retain their services. If you watched the Vikings down the stretch, you saw a beast in the making with Edwards. Just 25, there is a bright future for the former 2nd round pick out of Purdue.

Lower cost options in Johnny Jolly and Derrick Burgess could be wise moves for the Eagles. Jolly had a quietly strong season with the Packers, very stiff against the run but not a top tier pass rusher. There were rumors the Eagles were trying to bring back Burgess prior to last season before the Patriots scooped him up. He could be a relatively cheap guy to add to the rotation.

The Draft

When I took a look around the mock draft universe two weeks ago, there were many so-called experts who were predicting the Eagles to select a defensive end with their first round pick, No. 24 overall. ESPN’s Todd McShay wrote that four DE’s could be first-round selections come April, while Mel Kiper has five of them going in the first round of his latest mock draft.

Two of those five (Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan and South Florida’s Jason Pierre-Paul) are sure to be gone by the time the Eagles are on the clock. The other three (USC’s Everson Griffen, Florida’s Carlos Dunlap, and Michigan’s Brandon Graham) could potentially fall to the Eagles. Griffen and Dunlap are athletic beasts who have unlimited potential. Teams are usually willing to reach a bit on those type of game-changing pass rushers, which could mean the Eagles would have to trade up two grab one. The other guy with a first round grade, Graham, “was a one man show for the Wolverines“, and could be had at #24.

After those top five, there are three more who could be guys gone by Round 2 (Ole Miss’s Greg Hardy, Clemson’s Ricky Sapp, and Northwestern’s Corey Wootton).  All told there are about eight guys who have a first or second-round grade and with it a high chance to be immediate contributors for a defense. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Eagles new personnel department is currently (like, this second) reviewing tape of all these guys.

There is a bit of depth as you get into the third and fourth rounds, but the Eagles aren’t going to count on a rookie third-round pick to fix the ailing pass rush. If they really like one the aforementioned eight players, there could be some wheeling and dealing come draft day to move up, down, and around the draft to grab the guy they like.

Analysis

A third avenue that the Eagles could take to obtain help at DE is via trade, but there aren’t many rumblings involving the top ends under contract around the league. The most likely option is that Reid and co. will address the position via free agency and/or the draft. Before we talked that the Eagles will probably have 2 or 3 spots open for new additions. That means 3-5 players will be brought in to camp. With nine picks coming up in April, there is little doubt that new GM Howie Roseman will agree with Reid to bring in at least one rookie defensive end. When that player is selected is TBD.

Much of the Eagles draft strategy will be determined by what holes they are able to fill during free agency. As always, the Eagles will kick the tires on every player who piques their interest, including some of the soon-to-be-available pass rushers previously mentioned. There could be some serious turnover at the position if the Eagles find a couple guys they like in FA. What does the future hold for the aging Parker and Howard? Is the experiment over with Victor Abiamiri and Chris Clemons? These questions and more will start to be answered when the free agency period starts on March 5th.

Before his Buffalo stint, Jauron spent five years as the head coach for the Chicago Bears, where he won the AP’s coach of the year in 2001. Way back in 1985 Jauron began coaching in the NFL as a defensive backs coach for the Bills. He held that same position with the Packers from ‘92-’94, where he was joined by offensive line coach Andy Reid.

There is no question that Jauron had limited success as a head coach, but that does not mean he can’t contribute here. The guy has lived and breathed football his entire life and even played safety in the NFL from ‘73-’80. For almost the entire past decade, organizations trusted his football knowledge enough to let him run a team. To have a guy with that type of experience coach our secondary is a blessing.

Reid got lucky that Jauron even became available. Not many coaches of his caliber agree to be position-coaches, but Big Red pulled it off. Our secondary did not live up to its expectations in ‘09, despite a good amount of talent. You can bet that Jauron will put his stamp on that unit in no time. I also imagine that the 59-year old will be given an “assistant head coach” title to go along with his role with the defensive backfield.

I really like this move in that it will give Sean McDermott a veteran set of eyes to help him run the defense. While McDermott did a fine job in his first year running the show, he could be helped in a big way with a guy like Jauron on his side. I expect the two to work very closely throughout the season in constructing the weekly gameplan.

I’m looking forward to what Reid has to say about Jauron’s exact role with the team when the signing is officially announced, probably sometime Tuesday.

Throughout the game Ron Jaworski touted the incredible talent that Jackson possesses. Sure, Jaws can be a bit of a homer, but nobody could question his evaluation of the second-year Cal product. Also brought up about Jackson was his contract situation. When a young player breaks onto the scene like Jackson did all the way through the Pro Bowl, there is no surprise when “the contract” comes into question. Especially when your talking about a wide receiver.

…More after the jump

After being drafted in the second round in ‘08, Jackson signed a four-year, $3.46 million dollar deal. For a player of Jackson’s caliber, that is an obvious steal. The Eagles benefited on and off the field in a big way with their coveted wide receiver’s fall into the second round two years ago. At some point, superstar agent Drew Rosenhaus will approach the Eagles brass about an extension for the playmaker. No such meeting has taking place thus far, but you can see the showdown approaching soon, potentially even this offseason.

Now, the Eagles have many more important matters to attend to at the moment. There are several pending free agents to deal with, the upcoming free agency period, and finally the draft. Joe Banner, Andy Reid, and newly minted GM Howie Roseman are not thinking too heavily on extending the contract of their Pro Bowl star. But there is little doubt in my mind that Rosenhaus could call a meeting when the offseason to-do list dwindles. Jackson spoke at the Pro Bowl about a potential extension:

“It would be great, but there are bigger things out there that I’m worried about,” Jackson said. “I’m just going to train hard and work hard and enjoy myself right now. I’ll let Drew be the aggressive one and I’ll just sit back and handle what I can do.”

The Eagles have repeatedly shown a willingness to talk extension with players 2+ years out of free agency. Usually, the talks come with players who have not quite excelled the way Jackson has. There is no question that he is a top receiver, and has a relentless agent at his side, to boot. Since the T.O. fiasco, relations between the front office and Rosenhaus have improved, which is certainly a good thing. Both sides seem to agree on the quality of player, the question just becomes can they agree on the price of that player?

Roseman has earned the respect of Andy Reid and other members of the organization despite not coming from a football background. He is a relative unknown around the league, but has proved to be a shrewd and creative negotiator, according to some agents. PE.com’s Dave Spadaro wrote that Roseman has become “an expert in the salary cap, in player personnel matters, in dealing and forging productive relationships with agents”.

At his introduction Friday, the new GM seemed confident and grateful for his promotion:

“When I got here 10 years ago, I was fortunate enough to have people who took me under their wing, allowed me to watch film, analyze some of my reports,” Roseman said at his introduction on Friday. “That started really right away. I grew in my role. I watched more pro tape. I watched more college tape. I’ve really been doing it since day one.”

….More after the jump

In 2009, Roseman ran the draft for the Eagles, so that will not be anything new for him. He already has been the guy who traveled to schools around the country to scout the top college players. Combine that with him being a so-called “cap expert” and you have a well-rounded GM, despite the non-football background.

Reid did mention that he interviewed other candidates, including internal options Louis Riddick, the assistant director of pro personnel, and Ryan Grigson, the director of college scouting. But ultimately it was Roseman, whose drive to succeed impressed the long-tenured coach:

“I love Howie’s energy and I’ve loved it since I’ve been here with Howie,” Reid said, “his eagerness to grow in the profession. You’ve seen how we’ve done it on the coaching side; you’ve seen how we’ve done it on the player personnel side of it. His eagerness to learn and then his ability to evaluate are second to none. Then you can add in that Howie mentioned here about being a cap expert and all of those things. That’s just icing on the cake from that side of it. His effort and energy, I think you will find out over time here that it is second to none.”