Things I take away from FA Day 1

I don't want to jump the gun here for obvious reasons.(namely you guys can be so mean :'( j/k) It is only the first day in a long couple months of signing and cutting, trading and other front office happenings. This Eagles regime always seems to know what they are doing without giving the rest of the NFL universe the luxury of knowing where they are heading. So I say this next part with full awareness that I will probably be wrong and the Eagles will once again be a contender in this upcoming season.

I think the Eagles are in a semi-state of rebuilding.

I do not feel the Eagles are in full rebuilding mode, since they have positioned this team with one smooth transition after another the last couple of years. This is evident with the most recent signings and drafts. However, it seems to me that unlike the 2004-2005 season when we knew we were only a few pieces from the Superbowl our front office is not as assured that we can contend with the other heavyweights in the NFC. ie. Dallas(feel dirty just saying that), Minnesota and New Orleans.

I think the first day of free agency was very telling in this point. If we thought we had the resources to be the top NFC team this year, we would have been more active on the first day of free agency. Our Super Bowl year we signed Jevon Kearse and traded for Terrell Owens by dinnertime that night. We gave an exorbitant amount of money to Kearse (compared to his previous year's production) and knew that we were the toast of the conference. If the front office truly believed we were at that point again, I think they would have made more serious moves for Peppers, Sharper, and possibly even Dansby. These signings would have made the Eagles powerhouses on the defensive side for at least this upcoming year and left us with only our O-line to address for immediate impact.

I feel this inaction has set a tone for the rest of the time period leading up to the draft. We have already cut Witherspoon because as much as he helped us out last year, he was do a rich payday and is on the wrong side of 30 for our long term usage. Our team is one of the youngest in the league and the I think the youth movement will continue. I see us now moving McNabb (which anyone can attest too, I was dead set against) but it is with the knowledge that the deepness of this draft at the key positions we need are going to require as many draft picks as we can acquire. We will make moves in the draft to revive our LB corp, O-line, D-line and secondary. Look for not only a starting FS but a replacement for Mikell. The Eagles will acquire a few vets for teaching and depth purposes, as well as retain the services of vets who are in no way outstanding, but solid in their own right.

Hopefully the closest thing to rebuilding we will need for the next 10+ years is upon us. I have said many times before, I trust our front offices decisions even if I don't always understand them. I think their decision is now for the Eagles to position themselves for the next decade and maybe catch a break this year.

But like I said. I'm probably wrong.