There are three ways to go in the draft, or in virtually any other linear activity. UP(forward), Stay Put (idle), or Go back (reverse). In a draft, the reason for electing each is specific to the team and it's needs. In short: Trade up when you feel the value of the player at that spot far outweighs the value of that spot. Trade up when you believe the available player is a gamechanging calibre talent. Trade up if the team needs a player whose skills meet those needs, and who is of limited supply. (Redskins for RGIII, Falcons for Julio) Stay put if you are content at the current talent level of the team overall, and you are willing to remain passive at your spot and simply choose the BPA at that spot (NYGiants) Trade back when you feel the value offered by another team far outweighs the value of the players available to you at your selection spot. Trade back when you feel the value of your spot is far greater than the talent available to you.

So the approach that a fan takes into their mock drafts is simply where you believe your team needs fall. Ready for a new season? stay put and get BPA. Sorely needing that one or two player to get you over the hump? Trade up. Too many needs to address with a pick or two? Trade back for more picks.

I do not believe, even with the arrival of new coaches, new seasons, and new commitments by Jeff Lurie for a winning team and gold standard, that our 4-12 record was an accident. And so I see the future as a series of steps.
STEP ONE: RELOAD THE TALENT BASE Don't swing for the fences. Build on the core of talented players with more talented players. Will Joeckel be a game winner for us if Peters, Watkins, Kelce, and Herremans do not come back healthy and ready to play? Would it be wiser to build some excitement at that 4 pick, and then trade back with a St. Louis who can afford 2 1sts and a 3rd round pick to select there. We end up at 16, 21, and an extra 3rd (and St. Louis IS closer to the playoffs than we are, sad to say)
STEP TWO: NO CRASH COURSES We know we are going to take awhile to improve our fundamentals. We are facing a team and now a head coach who have not played together before. There will be no mentor on this team showing the guys how the system works. They will be going this path for the first time together. Anyone who has playoff expectations in 2013, please wait outside until 2014 shows up. You won't be happy.
STEP THREE: SYSTEM OVER INDIVIDUAL. Nobody who has bled green these past several years can tout the talents of an individual blindly anymore. We've shopped and signed some decent players with great talent reputations. It simply did not show up on our field of play. So the selfish guys, the guys who tout individual stats. The guys who seem to be going through the motions aren't enough anymore. To get to the SB, we need serious dedication from our players. Guys who don't go to the gym for the photo ops, but who seriously want to be the best that they can be and help the team.

IN SHORT, with another conversion likely on defense, and an entirely new coaching staff, the draft should be the first of many personnel on ramps to restock our team with talent who will fit our new schemes. Without a cohesive plan, the eagles will repeat the same cycle of close to pitiful. A cohesive plan will take patience, and that means the draft should be aimed to maximize value in 2 to 3 years. If trading back becomes a viable option, we should give it serious consideration in this deep draft. We may miss out on a pro bowl tackle. But I'd rather have our team make the playoffs consistantly.