Philadelphia Eagles Offseason Priority Checklist (Pre-Draft):

*Name Juan Castillo the Defensive Coordinator and move on:

Keep the rest of the Defensive Coaching the same and hire the "next great" Defensive Backs Coach. Is Brian Dawkins playing next season?

*Let DeSean Jackson go into Free Agency:

I am not saying let him go completely, but you have to temper his expectations. He does not deserve the kind of money he is demanding. Let him discover that on his own, and if a team deems him worthy of such a deal; good luck to both of them. If he realizes his real worth, then I think it makes sense for the Eagles to bring him back.

*Trade Asante Samuel:

I am not expecting a king’s ransom in-return. If we could get a 3rd round draft pick this season, I would be happy. I am guessing that we settle for a 4th round draft pick this season and a 4th round draft pick next season, but with an escalator to become a 3rd round pick next season based on performance. Possible suitors: Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco, and Tampa Bay.

*Cut the following current Eagles players:

QB-Vince Young, RB-Ronnie Brown, WR-Steve Smith, WR-Johnnie Lee Higgins, OL-King Dunlap, OL-Ryan Harris, DL-Victor Abiamiri, DL-Trevor Laws, DL-Juqua Parker, DB-Jamar Wall, and DB-Marlin Jackson

*Resign the following current Eagles Free Agents to short term deals:

FB-Owen Schmitt, OL-Evan Mathis, DL-Antonio Dixon, and LB-Akeem Jordan.

*Free Agent Acquisitions

Offense:

WR (if DeSean Jackson is not resigned)-Robert Meachem (NO)-With a full workload, Meachem could finally reach his full potential. His skill set would pair very well with Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant. He also has a nose for the red zone, which is something we are lacking from the position.

TE-John Carlson (SEA)-He did not play a single snap in 2011, and he will come cheaply. We are starting to see a lot more 2 TE sets in the NFL, and with Celek and Carlson, the Eagles would have 2 solid red zone options at TE.

OL-Demetrius Bell (BUF)-Could we steal another cornerstone of the Bills Offensive Line? We were able to pry Jason Peters away from them a few years ago. Now, we look to get another physically gifted Tackle from them, thus allowing Todd Herremans to move back to his natural position-Guard. Bell would fit perfectly into Howard Mudd’s system. This move would also allow us to plug Evan Mathis in as a utility Offensive Lineman, thus giving us great depth.

Defense:

LB-David Hawthorne (SEA)-He isn’t the big name Middle Linebacker that Eagles fans want to bring to Philly, but I think he gives the Eagles the best bang for their buck. He is a very talented player, who plays the game aggressively. He is solid against the run, and he is very underrated in pass coverage (Philly fans should remember the 77 yard INT for a TD from this past season). And, he comes to us at a very reasonable price.

LB-Erin Henderson (MIN)-Here we add another young, and budding, defensive player to our linebacking unit. Henderson, the younger brother of E.J. Henderson, had a very productive season in 2011. The Eagles would be wise to grab him now before his career really takes off. Henderson plays with a great deal of intensity, and he has all of the physical tools to become a very good Strongside Linebacker.

DB-Cortland Finnegan (TEN)-I would absolutely love this move, and I doubt that it would ever happen. But…imagine this guy as our Slot Corner. We would have Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers Cromartie on the outside, while Finnegan roamed in the slot. He is perfect for this position, as he is solid in coverage, can blitz the quarterback, and he likes to defend against the run. With his nasty streak, he would make for a hell of a Slot Corner for this team, which is something they sorely need.

If the Philadelphia Eagles were to pull of these moves, they would put themselves in a position to draft the very best players on the board in the draft. They could draft a WR in the 1st round, or a QB in the 2nd. Essentially, they could do anything they wanted to do. None of the proposed moves above are crazy. We are not going into another offseason frenzy. We are adding the right pieces to build around an already strong core. Other than the Finnegan deal, I really could see all of these moves happening. If the Eagles were smart, they would invest heavily in this position. Regardless, make these moves happen and let the draft dictate what you want to do.

-The Dawkside20