The early reports out of free agency are that the Philadelphia Eagles are making modest, smart moves. James Casey, tight end/fullback from the Texans, looks to be close to signing and he adds depth to a weak tight end position. Other players like Isaac Sopoaga, Ricky Jean Francois, and Connor Barwin are all solid role players that could help the defense as they make a switch to a 3-4 hybrid. Obviously the Eagles must also address the need in the secondary and offensive line. There are plenty of solid offensive lineman to take in the draft as well as in free agency so the team should be able to begin to solidify that area. The secondary is another issue.
Outside of trading for Darrelle Revis, which the Eagles don't seem posed to do, there are no superstars to be had in free agency. There are however some very solid options out there. A player to look out for is Dolphins CB Sean Smith. Smith is a young player(25) who has become one of the better corners in the league. Adding Smith, at the right price, could be a smart option in helping to rebuild the secondary. At safety, names like Dashon Goldson and Louis Delmas have been mentioned by insiders and would fill a need but the Eagles need to realize that this is not a one year fix. There will be other options in the draft and next years free agency and they must be cautious not to overpay for either of these safety's as they are just the best of a down year in free agency.
This coming draft is the most important they have had since the 1999 Draft in which they had the second overall pick. Though it doesn't seem there is a quarterback of the future in this years draft class there are several players that could immediately make and impact for the Eagles in key positions. The Eagles must add a star with the fourth overall selection. With a pick this high it would be wise for them to take the best available player when their selection arrives. Players like Von Miller, Pat Peterson, and Ndamukong Suh all have become huge stars and immediately changed their teams defenses. The Eagles need to draft an impact player that can immediately turn this defense around. The Eagles roster does not lack individual talent on offense or defense and by landing a star in the draft, this team could go a long way in solidifying their future. With that being said quarterback is a still a huge question mark on this team but with a top class of signal callers entering the draft next year, they could still land a quarterback to take this team forward. Looking past the first round, the Eagles must again look at the positions previously mentioned; offensive line, defensive back, along with another pass rusher. Possibly adding a bigger wide receiver in the 3rd to 5th round range to team with Jackson and Maclin would help them in the red zone. This is not a one year fix, however the Eagles cannot afford to miss on their top draft choice this year.
