FA, Draft Updates
Posted: February 23rd, 2012 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 32 Comments »Lots of items to cover today. First note is something that was mentioned in the Comments section yesterday. It does sound like the Falcons will let Curtis Lofton hit the market. He is my top choice among FA MLBs. Question is value. We don’t yet know his asking price for sure, but it won’t be cheap. As I pointed out, that could be okay with the Eagles if they project Brian Rolle at WLB and either a rookie or current player at SAM. Those spots would be cheap, allowing the team to spend at MLB.
As to the comments about Lofton being a liability in coverage…he was better than what I expected based on the way people talk about him. Lofton has some quickness. He did give up 5 TDs last year, but I don’t know the context they came in. Was he on RBs or TEs or WRs? We do have a good pass rush so that should help a guy like him in coverage.
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Occasionally people ask about Leonard Weaver. Les Bowen wrote a great piece about Leonard’s situation and future. Spoiler alert…no happy endings. Leonard will keep doing what he can, but any time a player suffers nerve damage, getting back to the field becomes exponentially more complicated.
Weaver is the kind of pro athlete you can like. Too bad he had to suffer such a terrible injury. Really good article. As Homer Simpson might say, Les knows how to use words really, really, really good.
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Matt Alkire posted an Eagles mock draft over at ScoutsNotebook. Matt accidentally left off a 6th round pick. Go give him a hard time about that. How the heck are we supposed to find starting LBs without all our 6th round picks?
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I wrote a lengthy column for SB Nation Philly on the DeSean Jackson situation. Some of this is old news, but there’s a couple of new nuggets. We might actually get some real news on this front in the next 4 to 5 days.
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There is a possibility that Matt Hasselbeck could get cut by the Titans. If he does, I’d love to go get him as our backup. Matt was my #1 target last year, but Tennessee gave him a chance to start and he had to take that. I’m not sure if a team would go after him this year as a starter. He’d be a terrific addition for us.
UPDATE: No sooner do I write this than Howie says at his Combine PC that signing QB Trent Edwards could be “imminent”.
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Questions/topics of interest from yesterday/today:
Do you like WR BJ Cunningham? – I’m a big fan of his. Could be excellent late round target. Plays big. Has some speed. Doesn’t project as a starter, but could be excellent backup.
What do you think about trading Asante for Raiders LB Aaron Curry? No thanks. Curry was a great draft prospect, but hasn’t played up to that talent. We need help at SAM. Curry might pan out here, but also might not. I’d rather find a player with a clean slate.
Was wondering if you also see a lot of similarities between Marvin McNutt(Iowa) and Anquan Boldin? Not even close. McNutt had a terrific career for Iowa, but he struggled every time he faced a good CB this year. The NFL is full of good CBs. We need a WR with some size who will be at his best vs tough competition, not struggling. McNutt could be of interest if he slides, but I don’t spend an early pick on him. Has talent and potential, but I’m not completely sold.
Is Trent Edwards a guy that you would be really comfortable with as the backup? Is Kafka a guy that you think is ready to take the #2 spot? I guess the way I see it, there is still room for us to add another QB if the right guy becomes available and then have Kafka and Edwards fight it out for the #3 spot.
I think one reason the team likes Edwards is that he could be #2, but he isn’t a guy you have to cater to (unlike VY). If Kafka outplays Edwards this summer, you make Mike the backup and Trent goes to #3.
Edwards has had success as a starter in the league. Biggest thing with him is that he needs talent around him. He had a mixed bag in BUF, JAX.
Edwards certainly had success at points in his career, but he has been very inconsistent and has struggled a lot more than he has succeeded. Most recently, he couldn’t make the Raiders roster and ultimately went unsigned in the NFL. On top of that, the Eagles reportedly have had to bring him in twice and have sat on both of those visits for awhile now, so clearly Edwards was not a guy that has blown them away. Based on that, I’m just not sold on the idea that Edwards solves our backup QB issues. As for Kafka, I know the Eagles like him, and if he has a good summer, I wouldn’t be upset if he earned the 2nd string QB spot, but I still think with a QB like Vick, who is almost guaranteed to miss a couple games, we need better competition at the backup QB spot.
We don’t need a Patrick Willis…I think some people think we need a 3 down MLB that blankets TE’s, RBs and makes tackles all over the field. There is only one of those and he plays for San Fran. We need a MLB that gives us 100 plus tackles, has a nose for the ball, wraps and brings people down, and gives us 100% effort on pass coverage. He may get beat once and awhile…heck even Patrick Willis can be beat, but he quickly forgets that and gets back to playing football and makes the play next time. If we get a competent SAM (Keenan Robinson/Bobby Wagner) and a solid MLB (Lofton, Hawthorne, Tulluch) our front seven will improve dramtically. Look at our defensive numbers at the end of last year with the garbage we threw out there at LB. I like Mathews/Chaney/Clayton/Jordan as BUs and STers.
Adam Caplan and Cossel made an interesting point about Jason Jones. He kept mentioning the flexibilty he brings to your DLine. He can play DE, DT [retty much anywhere, He mentioned how much Washburn pitched a tent for him….makes me think Eagles may take a stab at him. He can be someone that can play DE in a pinch or DT. He is also security if Dixon struggles. I would rather cut Laws and give Jones his $$$. Jenkins/Patterson/Jones/Dixon/Landri
You don’t have to cut Laws, he’s not on the roster….Only starters under contract are Jenkins and Patterson.
But I want a MLB who can tackle running wildebeests!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aErcUdpOqHI&t=1m54s
Check the 1:55 mark for what I mean.
That was amazing.
The whole Weaver situation is extremely unfortunate. I had the chance to meet him at training camp in 2010 (I think). Such a great guy. He loved the fans and I am convinced he would stand there for days just to sign autographs and talk to fans. He is truly a perfect role model for the league.
It was interesting insight to hear former players still visit the facility to be checked on as a requirement of their guaranteed money.
I still think about how our running game might have become even more epic if he hadn’t gotten injured.
I actually purchased a Weaver jersey just weeks before his injury occurred. The jersey I bought previous to that was a Stewart Bradley one and that was the year he tore his ACL. Due to being superstitious, I immediately stopped getting new jerseys and reverted back to my Dawkins jersey.
I think its time for you to invest in a JPP jersey.
Beat me to it!
Please by a Jeremy Lin jersey as well. The hype along with the puns are just unbearable.
you’re hoping he gets linjured?
(all joking aside im very sick of it all too)
Lol. I used the wrong “buy”
I think it’s time to let Tapp, Laws, and Hunt walk. They’re decent players but I think we can upgrade those positions in the draft and in free agency. I also think Dixon won’t be here next year as well. It’s hard to come back from an ACL tear, especially for a guy his size.
He tore his Triceps….
Dixon will be fine. Triceps are healed. He will be a bargin signing. He’s in. Plus he’s the biggest DT we have.
I like Tapp. He’s a solid player who I feel comfortable with getting the start if needed.
Laws, sure. But I wouldn’t let Tapp or Hunt walk. At the very least bring them in as competition in training camp and try to trade them if they don’t earn a spot. But unless the Eagles pick up a really good DE in the draft or FA I don’t see that happening. Tapp has been a good rotational guy who makes a play every now and then, and Hunt showed some promise when he got a chance to play.
Just announced: Trent Edwards signed to one-year deal.
That was soo one hour ago. Where have you been?
Was just waiting for the official announcement from the team.
Just announced: Trent Edwards signed to one-year deal.
I think this Trent Edwards signing is strictly a backup/fallback plan. As iskar36 said, they obviously didn’t think he was an urgent/must sign, hence bringing him in a couple times just to see if he fits. I really think they have a broader plan at QB this offseason, and might surprise fans with what they end up doing at the position. What that is? I don’t have a clue. Do they bring in another veteren QB? Do they shock the NFL and use current players (like Asante) plus some draft picks that they have stockpiled, to move up in the first round to draft RG3? Who knows… It just seems like they weren’t secure with Vick last year (not based on play, but based on injury risks) or his backups. Thats why they went out and signed VY. Regardless whether the VY signing was good or not, it at least showed that they were eager to bring in a big name/proven veteren to back up Vick. I don’t think the Edwards signing makes them as comfortable with the backup QB situation, as they did when VY was here. Remember, top draft picks don’t cost as much as they used to, and even if most people think that Big Red will only go with immediate impact players in the draft because this is his last chance to make a run at it all, don’t mistake the fact that this organization has always looked toward the future (sometimes to a fault), and would not pass up the chance to get their furture QB if they have the means to do so.
Maybe they think Kafka is ready for the #2 spot.
#2 spot is fine, but is he our QB for the future? They need to make a decision on this pretty soon because who knows how long Vick can keep up this level of play. I know the way Vick plays must make the coaches nervous, but if Kafka is the next man up in their eyes…. OK.
Do they have to make a decision soon?
Ideally, it’d be nice to have a guy waiting in the wings.
Green Bay is sort of the one example in recent history where a team was able to draft a QB and stash him until their current franchise QB was done. I question even that example, though, because had Aaron Rodgers been drafted where he SHOULD have been drafted, say #1 overrall, I doubt he would’ve been able to quietly sit behind Favre. The media pressure would have been too great to do SOMETHING with him.
Anyway, in my opinion, the Eagles don’t have to do anything with QB. It would be NICE, but with Andy on the “hot seat,” I don’t see why he’d waste resources on a future QB.
Never like Trent Edwards . . . always seemed like he had a weak arm (for the NFL). And, if I remember correctly, a commenter on this blog pointed out that Edwards’ performance has been at best inconsistent since he was concussed 3 or so years ago.
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T-LAW:
Curious . . . where’s Alshon Jeffrey on your combine list?
He had no QB help this year. But he was a explosive his JR season. (I live in SEC land, so I’ve seen him a bunch.) Dominated guys like Brandon Boykin because of his height, size, and hands (they seem large like H-Nicks).
No question, his straight-line speed may not be there. But he played physical. Seems like he won jump balls every time. Not afraid to work the middle of the field. Really used his hands well to create separation without looking like PI.
Though I know the concern is he lacks the speed to create separation, he’s so big and — I thought — quick out of cuts. Not as lean as Plax Burress. But he reminds me of Burress — who was no speedster.
Also, seemed very quick after catching the ball.
I get the Mike Williams comparison. But if Jeffrey’s in the 225 lb range, wouldn’t he be a good choice in Rd 2?
But if he’s ballooned to 240lb, I guess the answer’s “fuggedaboutit.”
Nothing explosive about Jeffrey. Can deliver big plays, but does so with size, not speed.
Not a fan.
Jeffrey will be impacted by the Combine like few other prospects. There is some talk around the league that he is up around 255+ pounds and might run in the 4.85 range. You go from fringe first/second round pick to undrafted in a hurry with those type of numbers.
Someone on BGN had a fanpost about QB Ryan Tannehill. I realize they just signed Edwards, but the rationale for drafting Tannehill (or someone like him) made a lot of sense.
The way he was described by the poster, he’s got the athletic ability but hasn’t played much QB. Might make sense to pick up someone with starting talent now if they come at a “discount”, since we (hopefully) won’t need him to play this year and Vick isn’t getting any younger or less injury-prone. Thoughts?
BTW – It’s really crazy that assuming the Eagles are able to lock up the important FAs (Mathis, Landri, etc), almost every position in on the team is set except LB. There are guys we aren’t sure about (S, QB) and positions that could use an upgrade or competition (WR, RB, FB, TE) but mostly they just need LBs and depth. Of course, that was true going in to last season (which of course didn’t actually happen), so now I’m wondering about my own evaluation.