Lito trade before the draft?

by JasonB on Mar 31, 2008 7:19 AM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

The meat between the start of free agency and next month's NFL draft remains the same for the Eagles.

They're still planning to serve a Lito Sheppard sandwich to whichever team is willing to pay the highest price for the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback. Despite some sentiment that the Eagles would be better served by keeping Sheppard and moving Sheldon Brown to safety, the trade scenario remains far more likely.

Trade talks concerning Sheppard figure to pick up this week at the owners' meetings, which take place today through Wednesday in West Palm Beach, Fla.

A team source said the Eagles already have received some significant offers for the cornerback and will continue to listen. A deal is likely to get done before the start of the April 26 draft.

The Eagles have been told by several teams that they will make offers after they finalize their draft boards. With the draft less than a month away, those offers should be coming soon.

By the way, you could have gotten the info that this article attributes to a "team source" had you watched Joe Banner on Comcast Sportsnet last month. He openly admitted that the Eagles received some significant offers for Lito. Actually, I believe he said they received 3 significant offers to be exact.

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I dunno,

We better make our team much better.

I hope we don't do this just because Lito is unhappy. That would be stupid.

by topcat6 on Mar 31, 2008 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

Anxious

The situation makes me nervous, but I'm not sure why.

It's pretty clear at this point the Eagles have no intention of moving Sheldon to safety. The idea seemed nice, I'm with you, but we haven't even heard the tiniest bit of evidence to suggest the Eagles are considering it. They are being patient and waiting to get maximum return for Lito.

The best case scenario, in my mind, would be a late second round pick. If the Eagles somehow do better than that we should all be very happy. I think it is much more likely to be a third and a late round pick.

http://www.sportsdork.com

by BFH on Mar 31, 2008 9:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Why?

I have a few issues with this report:

1.) Why does this come from the Charlotte Observer? That's a strange source for this information.

2.) What would the Eagles get in compensation for Lito? The article intimates that it would be draft picks (i.e. "The Eagles have been told by several teams that they will make offers after they finalize their draft boards.") But why would the Eagles, who will probably have 10-12 draft picks, give up Lito for yet another draft pick? Any chance 13 rookies will make the team? The only scenario I could see is if it were a late first rounder or early second rounder in compensation. And if you trade him for a draft pick then picking up Asante was a lateral move and you need to draft another corner.

It makes more sense that the Eagles would trade Lito for another player, no?

by ajay on Mar 31, 2008 1:39 PM EDT reply actions