2010 NFL Draft Countdown: Philadelphia Eagles

The NFL Draft Countdown is where we take a closer look at an NFL franchise to see what its transactions have been and what its needs are.

Franchise

• Draft Position: 24
• 2009 Season Result: 11-5 (2^nd in NFC East; Lost in Wild Card Round)
• 2009 Head Coach: Andy Reid
• 2010 Head Coach: Andy Reid (108-67; 10-8)

Key Transactions

• RB Mike Bell (from NO)
• G Shawn Andrews (released)
• DE Jason Babin (to TEN)
• LB Will Witherspoon (to TEN)
• CB Marlin Jackson (from IND)
• S Sean Jones (to TB)

Draft Picks

• 1-24
• 2-23
• 3-6
• 3-23
• 4-23
• 6-31
• 7-36
• 7-37

Analysis & Outlook

The talk of the town has definitely been the rumors of QB Donovan McNabb or any of the Eagles’ three QBs being on the trade block. With nothing seemingly imminent, the Eagles will definitely go into the 2010 season with at least one QB with starting experience.

The release of RB Brian Westbrook does leave LeSean McCoy with big shoes to fill and even though the Eagles brought in Mike Bell, I expect McCoy to get the bulk of the carries. Former All-Pro G Stacy Andrews and the Eagles might be looking for a long-term solution at the position.

On defense, the Eagles lost DE Jason Babin so the spot opposite Trent Cole needs to be filled. They let LB Will Witherspoon go but retained other LBs and will have Stewart Bradley back. After only one year, S Sean Jones was also let go but the Eagles signed Marlin Jackson from the Colts to fill his spot in the middle of the secondary.

In the first round, I can see the Eagles going for a trade—like they did last year to get WR Jeremy Maclin. The targeted players would be DE Jason Pierre-Paul or O-Linemen Mike Iupati and Maurkice Pouncey. If they pull of a good trade for a QB, then they could even fill both positions. In the second round, I see the Eagles focusing on building depth at LB, which was a weakness last year. Someone like Brandon Spikes or Donald Butler would fit the bill. They have two third round picks that they can spend on building more depth on both the offensive and defensive line. They’ll close out with some picks on offensive players. I can see them taking a shot at a RB like Staffon Johnson or a WR like Riley Cooper.

We’ll have to see how the QB trade rumors pan out, but with any QB, the Eagles have an explosive offense that can score from any angle. But as we saw in the last two games against the Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles can’t always rely on that ability and need to do a better job in stringing together consistent plays that gain yardage. Their defense must also get better, it slipped from being a top 10 defense to decidedly average. The addition of a pass rusher would do them well.