Eagles Need McNabb to Get Healthy, Young Players to Deliver

Team-By-Team Offseason Roundup

Philadelphia Eagles

Players Released:
Dhani Jones, LB

Free Agents Lost:
Michael Lewis, S
Jeff Garcia, QB
Rod Hood, CB
Donte Stallworth, WR
Shawn Barber, LB

Traded:
Darwin Walker, DT

Traded For:
Takeo Spikes, LB
Kelly Holcomb, QB

Free Agents Re-Signed:
Juqua Thomas, DE
Will James, CB
Correll Buckhalter, RB

Free Agents Added:
Bethel Johnson, WR/KR
Kevin Curtis, WR
Montae Reagor, DT
E.J. Cochrane, K
Ian Scott, DT

Draft:
Rd. 2 (No. 36 overall) Kevin Kolb, QB, Houston
2 (57) Victor Abiamiri, DE, Notre Dame
3 (87) Stewart Bradley, LB, Nebraska
3 (90) Tony Hunt, RB, Penn State
5 (159) C.J. Gaddis, S, Clemson
5 (162) Brent Celek, TE, Cincinnati
6 (201) Rashad Barksdale, CB, Albany
7 (236) Nate Ilaoa, FB, Hawaii

Analysis:

The Philadelphia Eagles surprised practically everyone last season by regrouping without injured quarterback Donovan McNabb to win their final five games of the regular season, capture their fifth NFC East title in six years and reach the second round of the NFC playoffs. But that hasn't made for a calm offseason.

The Eagles didn't re-sign the quarterback who led them to those late-season exploits, Jeff Garcia. Instead, they re-signed A.J. Feeley and, later, traded for journeyman Kelly Holcomb and used a second-round draft pick on Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb. Garcia signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent, and the Eagles now will wait to see if McNabb's surgically repaired knee will heal in time for him to be in the opening day lineup. The early indications are that it will, but the Eagles won't want a repeat of last season's Daunte Culpepper fiasco in Miami--putting a rehabilitating quarterback back into the lineup too soon, only to have to shut him down later.

McNabb seemed a bit unnerved when the Eagles, after trading out of the first round, used their initial choice in the draft on Kolb. He hadn't been expecting the club to draft a quarterback so early. But he's on the wrong side of 30 and recovering from a significant knee injury, so it made sense for the organization to begin searching for a quarterback of the future. Feeley likely would be the short-term replacement if McNabb suffers a setback.

The Eagles also lost cornerback Rod Hood, safety Michael Lewis and wide receiver Donte Stallworth in free agency. Hood was an effective third cornerback, but Lewis had lost his starting job last season. The Eagles wanted to keep Stallworth but lost him to the New England Patriots. They replaced him by signing fellow free agent wideout Kevin Curtis. Linebacker Takeo Spikes also arrived in the trade with the Buffalo Bills that yielded Holcomb. The question is whether he can stay sufficiently healthy to be a productive player.

The Eagles remain one of the league's most stable franchises. They build through the draft and don't sweat too much about free agency. Even if they don't get immediate contributions from this year's draft class, they can get a boost from their younger players if the members of last year's draft class--particularly defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley and linebacker Chris Gocong--are ready to produce as second-year pros. But there are questions, questions about Coach Andy Reid after he took a leave of absence during the offseason to tend to his two sons' legal problems and questions about McNabb's ability to get healthy and stay that way. Never, ever write off the Eagles. They reinforced that point last season. But watch McNabb's recovery closely, because Garcia isn't around any longer to be the team's safety net.

By Mark Maske |  May 30, 2007; 10:48 AM ET  | Category:  Eagles
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Posted by: Gonzo, MD | May 31, 2007 10:08 AM

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