11 picks
#24, 37was, 55, 70sea, 87, 105cle, 121, 137, 200ind, 243comp, 244comp
Interior Offensive Line
I remember thinking when center Jamaal Jackson was injured the Eagles were in trouble. They went from a possible #2 playoff seed to a first round exit in the blink of an eye. Cole had to go from a successful stint at right guard to the center position where he struggled. His replacement Jean-Gilles also had his problems. Both of them were tendered as restricted free agents, but ideally would be providing depth at guard as opposed to being forced to start next to each other. Jean-Gilles signed his tender by the way. It does not appear Jackson will be healthy for the start of the season, which has mock drafts pointing to star Florida center Maurkice Pouncey at #24 overall. Stacy Andrews was missing in action last year. Anything he does this season will be a bonus. With a solid addition at center the rest of the interior line should fall into place, but they can't wait on Jackson to get healthy.
Offensive Tackle
I guess Shawn Andrews really wasn't too interested in football after all. The team finally put him out of his misery by cutting him. Jason Peters was not exactly the force on the blind side they expected coming over from Buffalo. Their line was supposed to be dominant based on the offseason changes, but anyone who watched Dallas terrorize them twice knows it never materialized. They have no depth and tackle and will certainly add someone in the draft with one of their 10,000 picks.
Cornerback
Sheldon Brown got his wish and was traded to Cleveland where he can strut his stuff for a team going nowhere. Management is talking up Ellis Hobbs, who played only half the season after joining the team from New England due to a neck/spine injury. That would be enough to scare me into retirement, but he is slated to start after signing his free agent tender. I'm guessing he might not be too keen on returning kickoffs post-injury, a role he has thrived in. Joselio Hanson is also expected to take on more playing time at nickel corner with Brown's departure but the Eagles will definitely seek a starter quality player in the draft. The reason I know this is because starter Asante Samuel will be 30 by the time this season ends. When guys hit that age they put an egg timer next to their locker waiting to ship them out of town. I'm not saying this is it for Samuel, but they'll seek his replacement in this draft.
Free Safety
Awesome. A year after bringing in Sean Jones, a strong safety, to replace long time star Brian Dawkins the brain trust is at it again. Jones (Bucs) is out after shockingly failing in coverage because, uh, he's a strong safety. Now they have added a cornerback in Marlin Jackson (Colts) hoping he can play a new position. Here's hoping it works out. Rookie "Macho" Harris and Quentin Demps also failed to get it done. My assumption is they take their chances with this group, but with so many picks you never know. Someone who actually plays free safety might be drafted to play free safety.
Linebacker
This group will be facing major changes. Players were added and subtracted while others are back from injuries. At the head of list is middle linebacker Stewart Bradley who blew his ACL and missed the season. In Sean McDermott's first season taking over defensive coorindator duties for the late Jim Johnson, an NFL legend, this turned out to be a problem in the middle where just about everyone got a turn. Omar Gaither should be Bradley's primary backup. His season ended in October with a Lisfranc sprain in his foot, and he signed his tender as a restricted free agent. At least both have had plenty of time to recover, but this has to have them feeling a bit uneasy in the middle where even when Gaither was healthy he found himself beaten out by Jeremiah "I'm not retired yet" Trotter. Outside Chris Gocong was traded to Cleveland for Alex Hall, who will compete on the strong side with incumbent Moises Fokou. Witherspoon was cut to avoid handing him a bonus that would retire most people reading this. Tracy White, a special teams ace, is lingering in free agency and could return to assume a backup role on defense where he performed admirably last year. Akeem Jordan was tendered as a restricted free agent, and is slated for the weak side after being forced to the middle due to the aforementioned injury issues. This brings us to the need. It might have been financially smart to dump Witherspoon, but they need more quality on the weak side now. They certainly have enough draft picks to solve this problem.
Defensive End
Several changes have shaken up the depth chart. Howard was cut, Babin (Titans) left when they failed to match his offer sheet. He had been a nickel pass rusher. Clemons was traded to Seattle for Tapp. Parker and Abiamiri are the primary backups. Maybe this is the season Abiamiri stays healthy. Parker, who recorded 8 sacks this past season, turns 32 in May. Those factors combined with the other departures should lead to an addition in the draft, namely a pass rusher.
Skill Positions
The Eagles do not really have a need in this area thanks to so much young talent. They still might throw in a player or two though. At tight end Cornelius Ingram missed his rookie year after tearing his ACL in camp. These things happen to players with an injury history. Hey, I'm just saying. They like Martin Rucker, who was a fourth round pick by Cleveland in 2008, but that doesn't mean another blocker will not be considered to pair with Celek and presumably healthy Ingram. At wide receiver, trading Reggie Brown (Bucs) and cutting Kevin Curtis might open the door for an addition but with so much youth a veteran is more logical, maybe someone with some height. They did reunite with Hank Baskett, who towers over these Smurfs, but I mean someone who is a threat to catch the football in a key situation as opposed to blowing the pivotal special teams play in the Super Bowl for the Colts. In the backfield acquiring Mike Bell (Saints) to pair with McCoy at least gives them the personnel for more of a running game. Star fullback Leonard Weaver was locked up as well and Martell Mallett was added from the CFL. Summing it up, I would look for a tall receiver or blocking tight end if anything.
