Philadelphia Eagles: Why Free Agency Is More Important Than the NFL Draft

I know my headline can be called anything between untrue and stupid, but in case you didn’t know that already, we‘re talking about the 2012 Philadelphia Eagles. A team balancing on a ledge, the Eagles will either accomplish their ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl or they will jump in the abyss of turbulent change.

If Jeff Lurie’s press conference was not indicating an “all-in” season, Andy Reid's words about being aggressive in the free agency and the draft are enough to confirm it.

That said, the Eagles are looking for immediate results, not to build a team that will be able to compete five years from now. Definitely, they want to be strong in the future; however, the forthcoming season is their main focus.

The NFL draft offers the teams of the league the chance to recruit talented football players out of the country’s colleges and universities. No matter how high is a team picking, it’s very unlikely to get more than five starters, especially when this team is not near the bottom of the table.

The Eagles already have the most pieces of their puzzle and need to add a few more that will limit their weaknesses: A couple of linebackers, a safety and maybe a wide receiver and an offensive lineman. Their desire to go as deep as it gets in the playoffs can’t materialize if all these spots are covered by rookies. Experience is ultimately required.

This is why the free agency is crucial for the Eagles’ success in 2012. Many veterans that have proved their mettle will be available, including Curtis Lofton, Stephen Tulloch, London Fletcher, LaRon Landry and Michael Griffin. Players like them will be a big benefit, both for their playing and mental abilities.

In addition, a proven NFL player will help increase a rookie’s performance with his experience and his tips about games and practice.

The Eagles should make use of the free agency by all means. The draft can provide them with one or two starters, but their recent picking history is not encouraging. The Eagles are better at signing free agents.

Undoubtedly, they have to get the best players they can from the draft and free agency too. In the end, it’s how a team uses its players, and not how it gets them.