Decisions, Decisions

Now that the NFL off-season has officially started, there will continue to be rampant speculation surrounding what the Eagles will do in free agency and the draft. One thing we know for sure is that they will do something. Whether or not that something satisfies Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook’s separate requests for additional weapons remains to be seen.

Let’s start with the open market. There will be big names available, including Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel and wide receiver Randy Moss, but big names typically command big dollars, and that hasn’t been the Eagles’ mantra. Any free agent signings will probably be of the under-the-radar variety (like Chicago ’s Bernard Berrian).

The Eagles slapped their franchise tag on would-be free agent L.J. Smith, meaning he’ll be in the fold for at least one more season. On the surface, franchising Smith might not seem to be that big a deal, but he’s been relatively productive when healthy, and there was no quality tight end available that would have drawn the Eagles’ interest.

Trades seem to be a thing of the past in the NFL anymore, and I’d be surprised to see the Eagles make one (despite reports to the contrary, which I’ll come back to later). Disgruntled Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson has spent most of his off-season trying to talk his way out of Cincinnati , but it appears as though he’ll be staying in Ohio . Ditto Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona . And, as Freddie Mitchell and Billy McMullen would attest, the Eagles haven’t had a ton of success in drafting wide receivers. So unless the Birds can steal Javon Walker from the Broncos, we’re looking at another year of Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown, a tandem that falls somewhere between Marvin Harrison/Reggie Wayne and James Thrash/Todd Pinkston.

Which brings us to the draft. The Eagles currently hold the 19th overall selection, and there are varying opinions regarding what position they should address with which player. Here’s a random sampling of some mock drafts, some from credible sources like ESPN and Rivals.com, others from people with no real connection to the NFL:

www.nfldraftcountdown.com – Mario Manningham (WR, Michigan )
www.walterfootball.com – Chris Williams (OT, Vanderbilt)
www.draftking.com – Derrick Harvey (DE, Florida )
www.nfldraftdog.com – Limas Sweed (WR, Texas )
http://football.about.com – Jeff Otah (OT, Pittsburgh )
www.fftoolbox.com – Sam Baker (OT, USC)
www.nfldraftblitz.com – Vernon Gholston (DE, Ohio State )
www.mynfldraft.com – Malcolm Kelly (WR, Oklahoma )
http://collegefootball.rivals.com – Dan Conner (LB, Penn State )
www.espn.com – Mel Kiper Jr.: Chris Williams (OT, Vanderbilt)
www.espn.com – Todd McShay: Calais Campbell (DE, Miami )

So apparently the Eagles primary need is a tackle to supplant Jon Runyan and William Thomas, a defensive end to replace Jevon Kearse, or (stop me if you’ve heard this before) a wide receiver.

In my opinion, the Eagles should grab a receiver, but not one of the ones mentioned above. My guy is California ’s DeSean Jackson, who would immediately step in as the punt and kick returner and could develop into a Steve Smith-type threat. The problem is, most of the mocks I’ve seen have Jackson off the board before the Eagles pick at 19.

Would the Eagles make a move up to get Jackson ? Well, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, the Ravens would have an interest in trading for Donovan McNabb. Baltimore owns the eighth pick in the draft. The Eagles have said they’re not moving McNabb, but if Baltimore offered the eighth pick in a package, would the Eagles change their tune? For that matter, should they?

Yes, the off-season is here. And the Eagles will do something. Whether they dip a toe in the pool or plunge off the high dive is still anyone’s guess.