FanPost

Eagles Free Agency Mock

This is my first posting of any kind on this or any other blog, So if my analysis is a bit long in the tooth, please forgive me. If you can’t… well… then…too bad. I’m posting this anyway. ; )

I have more than a few thoughts on what the Eagles should do this offseason. With so many "Experts" and "Armchair GM’s" doing Mock Drafts, this Arm Chair GM has decided to put together a "Mock Roster Make Over" focusing on Free Agency. I realize this has been done on this site already, but I want to put my opinions out there.

Of course these moves would be costly, but the Eagles have money to spend this season. With being just over $50 million under the salary cap, Philadelphia is primed to make a huge splash in the Free Agent market this off season. Coach Kelly has taken over control of player personnel and is set to put his stamp on this roster in a big way. With so many pressing needs on defense and his rumored interest in drafting QB Marcus Mariota, he can’t rely heavily on the draft for starters this season. Not with what it would take to trade up high enough to nab the former Oregon Duck passer. Therefore he would need to look to free agency to fill the holes. Even if Chip doesn’t, or is unable to make a move for Mariota, these signings make a great deal of sense to me. Leaving this team in a great position to make a run at the post season, whoever is under center. Allowing the coaching staff to draft the best players available, the best fit possible for the team when Philadelphia is on the clock and not having to worry about team needs, about filling holes in the roster. So without further ado, here goes…



WIDE RECEIVER
Resigning WR Jeremy Maclin should be the number one priority at wide receiver. However, the two sides are reportedly nowhere close to a deal with less than a week to go before the Free Agency signing period begins. If unable to resign Maclin, the Eagles should look at signing WR Michael Crabtree (UFA SF). The Eagles could solidify their WR group by pairing him with talented young playmakers, Jordan Mathews and Josh Huff. Other FA WR options, Torrey Smith (UFA, BAL) and Randall Cobb (UFA, GB), could also fit in nicely as WR2/WR3 options, providing Coach Kelly with more versatile playmakers, which he seems to covet.

Jettisoning Riley Cooper will allow them to start putting his embarrassingly overpriced extension behind them. It would be nice to see them trade Cooper for a draft pick, but with a talented crop of rookie WR’s available in the draft and a dearth of players as equally talented as Cooper available in this free agent WR class, I do not expect much interest from other clubs. But I wouldn’t turn down a 7th round pick for him if it were offered.


RUNNING BACK

With the trade of LeSean McCoy, there is a definite need at RB. Much has been speculated about Coach Kelly bringing in CJ Spiller (UFA, BUF), whom I believe could fill the position nicely, until a more suitable replacement can be drafted and groomed to take the reigns as the lead back. However, I believe a better fit might be Mark Ingram (UFA, NO). Reuniting him with fellow former NO Saint Darren Sproles will make for an interesting storyline, while providing a nice one two punch. I believe his skill set matches the system well and the rotation of Ingram, Sproles and Chris Polk should be a more than serviceable unit for the season, with Mathew Tucker waiting in the wings should one of them get injured. While, again, drafting a replacement for the future. Ingram should also prove to be a less costly investment than Spiller. Being a more North/South runner than McCoy, a willing, if undersized blocker and a capable receiver out of the backfield. The 2009 Heisman Trophy winner had a breakout season in 2014 and should fit in nicely in the Eagles backfield.


GUARD

Adding a G like Clint Boling (UFA, CIN) to fill the starting RG spot, left open with the release of Todd Herremans, would be wise. Dennis Kelly and Matt Tobin are solid players but need experience and competition to take their games to the next level. Julian Vandervelde is a back up and can play in a pinch, but I would not rely on him to play meaningful snaps as a starter. Boling is a true starting Guard, solid in both run and pass protection. He has been a starter for Cincinnati for the past three years starting 47 of 49 games for the Bengals during his 4 year career. He should command big money on the open market, fortunately, the Eagles have plenty to spend.


SAFETY

Signing FS Devin McCourty (UFA, NE) would be huge. The converted CB is one of the best coverage safeties in the league. Pairing him with fellow FS and 2014 starter Malcolm Jenkins would go a long way in putting the top back on Philadelphia’s defense. McCourty is also a respected leader on the field, something the Eagles could rely heavily on with the future of starting ILB and defensive captain DeMeco Ryans in doubt. Taking him away from Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots would just be an added bonus.

If unable to sign McCourty, Philly could look to sign FS Kendrick Lewis (FA, HOU) or SS Da’Norris Searcy (UFA, BUF) to pair with Jenkins. Lewis is not as talented as McCourty, yet would still make for a quality safety tandem, paired with FS Malcolm Jenkins, at a more reasonable cost. While signing SS Da’Norris Searcy would solidify the back end of the secondary in a more traditional way. Searcy is not a speedster, but has the range to cover the middle of the field. At 5ft 11in and 207lbs he has the size and athleticism you look for in a starting SS. Searcy would be the value pick of the three, giving the Eagles a quality starting SS that can play in space and help out in the box.


CORNER BACK

Signing CB’s Byron Maxwell (UFA, SEA) and Chris Culliver (UFA, SF) will give the CB unit an immediate upgrade over last years pairing of Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams. Maxwell is the class of this years CB crop and looks to be over paid. The Eagles have the need and the money to bring him to town.

Culliver on the other hand hasn’t been the most consistent player throughout his career and has previously torn an ACL, but he is coming off a strong season, arguably his best, after sitting out 2013 due to injury. Starting all 14 games that he played in for SF in 2014, he had 45 tackles with 7 assisted, 14 passes deflected, 4 interceptions and 1 forced fumble. Culliver has the size, 6ft 199lbs and speed, 4.4 sec 40 yard dash at the 2011 rookie combine, that coaches look for in an outside corner. Being 27 and 26 years old respectively, Maxwell and Culliver could prove to be long term starters for this franchise.

They might also take a shot on Walter Thurmond (UFA NYG). Thurmond played for Coach Kelly at Oregon and was a star in Seattle before signing as a Free Agent with the Giants last season. Thurmond has had injury concerns throughout his career, but has tremendous potential. He has shown the ability to play well on the outside as well as in the nickel spot, with occasional flashes of brilliance. Signing Thurmond would be inexpensive and could pay huge dividends if he can stay healthy. A signing like this would also allow the Eagles to trade disgruntled nickel corner Brandon Boykin without losing much, if anything in the way of depth and production.

Drafting quality CB’s this year is paramount, as is continuing to develop last years Rookie CB Jaylen Watkins. There are few corners worth a 1st round pick this year and if Kelly does trade up for Mariota, they won’t have one anyway, but there is talent in the later rounds. Hopefully the staff can find one or more to add to the roster.


OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

The release of OLB Trent Cole will add millions of dollars of cap space, while resigning Brandon Graham would provide needed pressure off the edge in a rotation that includes Connar Barwin, Bryan Brahman and second year player Marcus Smith II.

Signing OLB Jason Worilds (UFA, PIT) and releasing Brandon Graham will give them an immediate every down starter and upgrade at OLB and leave the team with depth at the position.

There have been many rumors about the Eagles interest in Worilds and rightfully so. He is a great player and fit’s the system well, but I do not think he is much of an improvement over Brandon Graham. I believe a better option may be to resign Graham or look to sign Derrick Morgan (UFA, TEN). Morgan fit’s the same mold as Graham, with similar production. Being a native Pennsylvanian he may welcome a return to the area and he should be a less expensive option than Graham.


INSIDE LINEBACKER

The recent trade of RB LeSean "Shady" McCoy to the Buffalo Bills for ILB Kiko Alonso adds another starter in the LB core. To be paired with fellow starter Michael Kendricks, this move allows the team flexibility in dealing with the rehab and possible return/release of last years starter DeMeco Ryans. Ryans, returning from his second torn Achilles tendon, has been a great player, locker room leader and fan favorite for these Philadelphia Eagles. But barring the miraculous, will not be returning to form as the defensive Captain.


DEFENSIVE TACKLE

A NT like Dan Williams (UFA, ARI) or possibly Barry Cofield (UFA, WAS) would help the defensive line greatly, by providing added depth, experience and size to the unit. The rotation is currently made up of second year player Beau Allen and third year player Bennie Logan. Adding a third big body, with talent and experience, only makes sense here. Williams has improved every year since being drafted in the 1st round and there are not as many true NT’s as there are 3-4 defenses in the league. Cofield is coming off an injury plagued season, but run stuffing NT’s are hard to find.


DRAFT

If Coach Kelly really wants Marcus Mariota I think we would have to trade up into the top 5. This should be accomplished by sacrificing no more than 6 picks. This years number 1, 2 and 4 as well as next years numbers 1, 3 and 4, or a combination of picks and players. I would think a packaging some of those picks with some combination of CB Brandon Boykin, ILB DeMeco Ryans, WR Riley Cooper, LG Evan Mathis and current starting QB Nick Foles might be acceptable. Anything more and I don’t think it’s worth it. Jacksonville or Oakland may be willing to work out a deal for multiple draft picks a player or two, as they are both talent starved and could field multiple starters and upgrades to their rosters with the additional picks. To go up to number 1 or 2, which has been rumored and I’d think those six picks and five players with some later round picks and/or players in return might be acceptable.

If Coach Kelly truly believes he is going to get his Franchise QB I can see him making a trade such as this, however, if there is any doubt in his mind, or if the cost is too high, then it is not worth it.

We Can Not mortgage the future of the franchise for one player, even at the QB position. One only needs to look at the mess Washington has had to deal with in drafting RGIII, at the price they paid to get him, to see the wisdom in this. The NFL is a tough league, the game is fast and players hit hard. Anything can happen to anyone on the field or off at any time. Careers are short and there truly are no sure things in this or any Draft year. And for every top QB prospect who makes it, there’s another who was drafted in the later rounds. Drew Brees was drafted in the 2nd round, Russell Wilson in the 3rd round, Tom Brady in the 6th. Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana, who won 4 Super Bowls for the San Francisco 49ers was drafted in round 3, with the 82nd pick of the NFL Draft in 1979.

As for the rest of this years draft, the Philadelphia Eagles need to be able to draft the best player available when the team is on the clock. Of course the team will still have needs, but those needs will be to fill the roster with depth, with players for the future. Players not needed to compete for starting time right away.

If you have read this far, then maybe you could tell me what you think…. Leave me a comment below.