Eagles Need to Make a Bold Move

If recent history is any kind of indicator, its safe to assume that anytime a wide receiver comes available, the Eagles will be listed as an interested party. Unsuccessful in their previous attempts to land a number one wide receiver through free agency (Randy Moss) or via trade (Chad Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Roy Williams), the Eagles should take a long, hard look at Arizona's Anquan Boldin, especially now with Kevin Curtis out for an indefinite period of time with a sports hernia.

Boldin formally requested a trade yesterday. The Cardinals inked Fitzgerald to a new four-year, $40 million contract, rendering Boldin underpaid and disgruntled. He also claims to have no relationship with Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt.

Boldin has put up decent numbers through his first five NFL seasons, averaging 83 receptions, 1,096 yards, and 6 touchdowns a year (by comparison, Reggie Brown has averaged 50 catches, 722 yards, and 5 scores per season). Numbers aside, here's an excerpt of one independent scouting report:

"Boldin is a big, tough and competitive receiver...He is willing to do the dirty work like going across the middle or clearing an area for the other receivers. He lacks premier top-end speed, but is an excellent route-runner...He is fluid, athletic and has decent agility and quickness to separate from defenders. He runs good routes and does a good job of finding the soft spots in zones and settling into an area to provide a target for the quarterback. He has soft, natural hands that can reach out and pluck the ball away from his body or highpoint the ball in a crowd. He powers his way through the press more often than beating it with quickness and rarely allows himself to get re-routed by corners. He is a strong, competitive runner after the catch who will gain positive yards, but is not apt to take too many short passes all the way. He is a smart receiver who can read coverages and has a very good feel for the passing game. He is more than just a willing blocker and knows how to do the little things to take his game to the next level."

In other words, he's exactly the type of receiver the Eagles need to clear the underneath routes for Brian Westbrook, DeSean Jackson, and Curtis whenever he returns.

Pairing Boldin with Jackson and Curtis suddenly gives the Eagles an offensive potency unseen in this town since 2004. It could also validate the assertions of owner Jeffrey Lurie and quarterback Donovan McNabb that this is a championship-caliber team.

Cardinals management has, of course, said they have no plans to trade Boldin, which in front office speak translates to "if we're overwhelmed with an offer, we'll consider moving him." Would Brown, Lito Sheppard, and one of their two 2009 first-round draft choices get it done? Hard to say. But if the Eagles are serious about making one more Super Bowl run before ushering in the Kevin Kolb era, they've got to, at the very least, make Arizona an offer.