How Jordan Gross' Signing Affects Eagles' Offseason Plans

The Eagles' offseason plans took a major punch to the gut yesterday when the Panthers announced they had re-signed Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jordan Gross. Prior to the signing, Eagles fans worldwide sat at home, salivating at the prospect that the Eagles could possibly reel in this behemoth.

Signing Gross would have given the Eagles the go-ahead to reload their weapons arsenal in the draft. By loading up on receivers and running backs in the first couple of rounds, it seemed feasible that the Eagles would have filled in some of those skill position deficiencies. 

But with that plan gone awry and the Eagles left with a glaring hole at offensive tackle, it is almost set in stone that the Eagles will either package one or both of their first round picks to move up in the 2009 draft or use both picks on tackles. 

So another draft will pass with the Eagles loading up on linemen and neglecting their skill position needs. But can you really blame them?

Championship teams are bolstered by the two lines. The Eagles have one of the more dominant defensive lines in the league, but are left with a very weak offensive line with the departures of book-end tackles Jon Runyan and William Thomas. 

There have been no talks of Thomas or Big Jon coming back, so it seems as if Andy Reid is ready to move on at that position. 

Not only is there an issue at offensive tackle, there is the question of the mental and physical health of the once-dominant Shawn Andrews.

I was one of the many Shawn Andrews sympathizers when it was announced that he was battling depression. I was ecstatic on opening day, watching him manhandle La' Roi Glover for 60 minutes in the Eagles' 38-3 romp over the Rams. But when his season was ended due to a nagging back injury, I had serious questions about his future in Philly. 

Will he be mentally and physically ready to play in 2009? Who knows?

Will he want to play again? We'll see.

So that leaves the Eagles with numerous glaring holes along the offensive line, escalating the importance of adding depth along the line and making the need for skill position players less important.

The Eagles could still address the offensive tackle position in free agency, but there is little talent that can compare with that of Runyan, Thomas, and Gross.

If they intend on moving up in the draft, they could possibly package those two first round picks, as I stated earlier, and move into the top 10 to go after Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe, or Michael Oher.

But yet again, Eagles fans, we will be left with another boring offseason, one not fulfilling your wants and needs at receiver and running back.