2011 Free Agents the Philadelphia Eagles Should Look into Signing
The Eagles are primed for a great offseason and an even better 2011 season. Not only do they posses the most coveted trade bait in the league, Kevin Kolb, but they also have a lot of money to spend. In fact, only four other teams have less money already committed to players' salaries in 2011.ย
With Michael Vick, Desean Jackson, Asante Samuel, Trent Cole, and many of the team's stars set to return in 2011, the Eagles have a great opportunity to add the talent necessary to take the team to the superbowl. Here's a look at six free agents that could make this a reality.ย
6. Drew Stanton
1 of 6
Though the debate still rages about what the Eagles would receive in return for backup quarterback Kevin Kolb, there is little debate about whether or not he will be traded.
With rumors swirling that Philadelphia could receive a first-round pick and a player for Kolb, a 2012 free agent, it appears his days in an Eagles uniform are numbered. And after Kolb's inevitable departure, the Eagles will be in need of a backup quarterback.ย
Conceivably the Eagles could promote current 3rd string quarterback Mike Kafka to backup. But that seems like a risky plan especially given Michael Vick's adventurous, sometimes reckless, style of play and the unknown ability of Kafka, a 4th round pick in 2010 whom scouts believed needed to change his mechanics in order to play in the NFL.
For insurance purposes, it would be smart of the Eagles to sign a quarterback who has already proven he can play at the NFL level. Unfortunately, free agent quarterbacks with even a decent track record will receive fairly lucrative deals, so the Eagles must address this need while still retaining enough money to address several more important needs.ย
Which is why Drew Stanton is the perfect fit. Stanton proved last season that he's the type of quarterback that can keep his team in the game (Stanton's worst loss was by 8 points), which is exactly what you want in a backup quarterback. At the same time, Stanton likely wasn't outstanding enough for teams to offer him a lucrative deal as a starter.ย
With Matthew Stafford and Shaun Hill firmly atop the Detroit Lions depth chart, it's unlikely that Stanton will be resigned. With a dynamic offense and a starting quarterback that takes a lot of hits, Philadelphia would be a great place for the 27 year old to refine his game and perhaps get some playing time. ย
5. Jason Babin
2 of 6
It seems unlikely that the Eagles could address their two biggest needs (cornerback and right tackle) and still have enough money to sign Jason Babin and potentially two first round draft picks in 2012. But it's something the front office should at least investigate.ย
After playing in 12 games and recording 2.5 sacks for the Eagles in 2009, the then 30 year old Babin went to the Tennessee Titans, where he burst onto the scene with 13 sacks in 2010. It seems unlikely that he will return to Tennessee in 2011, as he has indicated that the organization lacks direction.
The departure of the Titans' 2010 defensive line coach Jim Washburn, whom Babin dubbed "the greatest position coach I've ever had", to Philadelphia next season could lure Babin to return to the City of Brotherly Love once more.ย
The Eagles obviously stand to benefit by adding a great pass rusher opposite Trent Cole, but it shouldn't be a priority, as the Eagles were tied for 10th in sacks last season. Additionally, the Eagles have some good options at defensive end, including ย 2010 1st round pick Brandon Graham and Juqua Parker, who has recorded at least 5 sacks in each of his last five seasons.
The Eagles front office will have to balance the allure of adding a great pass rusher to a "win-now" team against the cost, the risk of signing a player with one year of production, and the potential damage it could do in the development of Brandon Graham.ย
4. James Anderson
3 of 6
Though I do like Babin, I'd much prefer that the Eagles improve their pass rush and run defense by adding a high caliber outside linebacker like James Anderson.
For starters, the 27-year-old Anderson has many more years of productive play ahead of him than the 31-year-old Babin. Additionally, high impact outside linebackers typically cost a good deal less than their defensive end counterparts.
But most importantly, the Eagles have options at defensive end, and should use the 2011 season to find out if Graham is truly the great player the front office thought he was when they selected him with the 13th pick in 2010.
They do not, however, have options at linebacker. Their starting three linebackers totaled only 166 tackles and four sacks last season (though to be fair, Stewart Bradley missed four games); By himself Anderson recorded 130 tackles and four sacks.ย
Adding the fast and hard-hitting Anderson would take Philadelphia's run defense to the next level and would generate additional pressure on opposing quarterbacks. It would also leave no large holes in their defense, with Trent Cole manning the defensive line, Anderson the middle of the field, Asante Samuel and possibly Nnamdi Asomugha locking down wide receivers, and Nate Allen and Quintin Mikell taking care of business deep down the field.
Speaking of which...
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
3. Quintin Mikell
4 of 6
I find myself going back and forth on Quintin Mikell. One week he's picking off a pass and sacking the quarterback, the next he's getting burned deep and in the red zone.ย
However, though he may be somewhat inconsistent and not as dominant as Troy Polamalu, there's no denying that Mikell is one of the league's better strong safeties. With pass defense being one of the Eagles biggest weaknesses, the Eagles should quickly sign Mikell once the lockout is lifted.
Mikell's presence will be all the more important if the Eagles sign a great cornerback this offseason, as quarterbacks will look to throw deep against safeties rather than against Asante Samuel and whomever his partner in crime may be.
If Quintin Mikell is resigned and Nate Allen improves even modestly in 2011, expect the Eagles to have one of the league's best safety tandems.ย
2. Willie Colon
5 of 6
Heading into the 2011 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles had big needs at cornerback and offensive line, and were expected to fully address one of those needs in the draft and the other through free agency or through a trade involving Kevin Kolb. And so they drafted an offensive lineman with their first round pick and quelled their pass protection woes. Sort of.ย
I think Danny "The Sage" Watkins (he's a 27-year-old rookie, get it?) will be a great player, but he's a right guard, which is arguably the least important position on the offensive line. More importantly, Winston Justice should not be the Eagles right tackle heading into the 2011 season.
Justice was having a poor 2010 season before injuring his knee sometime in December or January. After surgery in February, it's difficult to tell if Justice will be completely healthy going into the 2011 NFL season, so the Eagles would be wise to look for a replacement in free agency.ย
Willie Colon is in an interesting situation. As of now, he is a restricted free agent, meaning any team that signed him would lose their first round draft pick.Though Colon is one of the league's best right tackles, he's definitely not worth a first round pick plus at least $5 million per season.ย
But, one of the provisions that may be changed in the new CBA (if one is ever reached) is the number of years of service before one becomes an unrestricted free agent. Currently standing at six, the number could drop to four, in order to compensate for a hypothetical restructuring of the rookie pay-scale, which would make Colon an unrestricted free agent.
If the Eagles could lure him away from the Pittsburgh Steelers, they would easily have one of the league's best offensive lines and buy a lot of time for Michael Vick.ย
1. Nnamdi Asomugha
6 of 6
Let's recap: The Eagles are a playoff-calibar team with a lot of money to spend and need a great cornerback. Nnamdi Asomugha is one of the league's best cornerbacks and looking to sign with a play-off caliber team for a lot of money. This seems like a match made in heaven.ย
Of course there are some minor complications that could prevent Asomugha from becoming an Eagle. Though the Eagles have a lot of money to spend, Asomugha's contract would likely eat a large portion of that up and leave room for only one other impact free agent. Additionally, a number of teams will come calling for the best player in this year's free agent class.ย
But if the Eagles think he's worth the money, then they're obviously the favorite to land the insanely talented cornerback. Pairing Asomugha with Asante Samuel, one or two other free agents on this list, and the Eagles current roster of high-calibar players would make the Eagles one of the league's most talented teams and an early favorite to win the superbowl.ย
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
