Couple Free Agent Thoughts

I'm still on semi-hiatus around here, but since I'm awake...

Has Drew Rosenhaus ever made a decision that yielded him less money?  I mean, maybe Jevon doesn't like it that much in Philly anyway, but seriously, what is he expecting from free agency?  A second windfall based on his massive seven sacks over the last two seasons? 

Although with the amount of money teams have this year, I guess you never know.

But Jason, sure, Kearse had some decent stretches, but when you sign for $65 million and your best season was 7.5 sacks, that unfortunately makes you a bust.  Think about it this way:  his 2008 cap number -- which he'll never see, of course -- would have been almost exactly equal to the combined cap charges of Trent Cole, Juqua Thomas, Victor Abiamiri and the overpaid Darren Howard. 

Yikes.

What's going on with the cornerbacks?  I go away for a week and all of a sudden there are rumors about Lito Sheppard being unhappy with his contract (he must have emailed in his complaints from the rehab center), Sheldon Brown feeling unappreciated, and wild -- dare I say crazyass -- speculation that the Eagles might go after Asante Samuel.

Uhhh...  Look, I make a lot of bad predictions, but there's no way in hell the Eagles are going to sign Samuel.  Not that the guy isn't a good player, because he is, but you're completely nuts if you think the Eagles are going to tie up 10 million bucks a year for anything other than a quarterback or a STUD defensive end.  It's just not happening.

How did that Nate Clements signing work out for ya last year, anyway, San Fran?

Some ask why, I ask why not?  In that same Asante Samuel story, the Inky's Bob Brookover lists four potential free agent wide receivers the Eagles could look to sign:

Randy Moss, New England Patriots
You can bet all your money that he'll be catching passes from Tom Brady again in 2008.

Andre' Davis, Houston Texans
He's a speed receiver and quality kickoff returner.

Donté Stallworth, New England Patriots
It seems unlikely he'll return to Foxborough.

Bernard Berrian, Chicago Bears
He probably will remain in the Windy City.

Notice anything about that list?  Speed, speed, speed, speed.  All four of those guys are true deep threats -- I say sign 'em all and let Joe figure out how to make the cap hits work.

Davis is the guy Eagles fans are probably least familiar with, since he plays in the AFC and has kept a pretty low profile.  I have a number of friends who are Texans fans, however, and they often come over during the season to catch the game on The Ticket, so I can tell you from watching that the guy is freaky fast.  Y'all know I love Donte, but if he's not coming back and we can't afford Berrian, then Davis would be a nice pick-up.

He almost perfectly fits the Eagles pattern for these types of signings.  He's had good, but not great numbers during his career, which means he might fit in well with the team's bargain shopping ways.  The only knock is that he's been in the league six years and is already 28 years old.  Two years younger and he'd be right in their wheelhouse.

Finally, as for the defensive ends.  Help may come from free agency, the draft or simply the emergence of second-year guy Victor Abiamiri, but rest assured the Eagles will not enter the 2008 season with Juqua Thomas as their starting left defensive end.  He's too good as a situational pass rusher and too mediocre as a starter (sorry man, I love your motor but no sacks after November means you're N.D Kalu v2.0) for that situation to continue.

Comments

[Andrew2]

How about this: Given Jim Johnson's faith in his LB depth, maybe we play with a lot more of the 3-4 look that he showed against new England, mixmixed in with a bunch of 4-3. That would mean a deep rotation along the D-line: Cole, Patterson, Bunkley, Howard, Thomas, Abiamiri. And it would mean we sometimes rush Gocong, sometimes Bradley or Gaither.

In that case, you probably don't go looking for a DE in the draft. You probably focus on the best cornerback you can get, since that's a position that doesn't have a top prospect for the future.

As for safety, why not slide Sheldon Brown into free safety down the road, assuming Lito gets healthy and a rookie CB develops.

Lots of ifs, I know.

[Me]

The strange thing about the 3-4 (and it really was a 3-3-5 since he had nickel personnel in) is that it was really just a 4-3 defense with NON 4-3 personnel. I think part of the reason it was so effective is for that reason. It was confusing.

One problem with playing a "real" 3-4 defense much next year is what you do with Trent Cole. He's a pro bowl caliber 4-3 rush end, but if you go to a 3-4, he'd have to make the transition to linebacker or go to the bench. Neither choice would be ideal.

I still think this is a 4-3 team, which means we need a new DE either in the draft or FA.