NFC East Offseason Recap Part 1: Philadelphia Eagles.

With the NFL Draft officially behind them, football fans can now look towards training camp. This time also calls for my offseason breakdown of the NFC East. Aside from a certain team clad in Silver and Blue, and located in Texas, all three teams made significant moves.

The Eagles revamped their offense and solidified their secondary. The Giants put the finishing touches on a defense that will potentially be one of the leagues best in 2009. The Redskins got the top man in free agency and added to their already stout defense. While the Cowboys made bumbling move after bumbling move.

In this breakdown, I will:

• Grade their free agent arrivals/departures
• Grade their draft picks

Aaaand we're off!

The Eagles used the offseason to get younger and shed some of that age. Core veterans flew the coop, and they landed some solid young studs. The draft was the key component to the Eagles offseason. Reloading their offense and bringing in some of the nations most explosive prospects.

At safety, the Eagles lost Philadelphia legend, Brian Dawkins. But brought in blossoming star, Sean Jones and a solid backup, Rashad Baker. At tackle, the Eagles brought in the brother of All-Pro right guard Shawn Andrews, Stacy Andrews to play right tackle.

About two weeks before the draft, they pulled off a monster move, trading one of their two first round picks along with two other picks for two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters from Buffalo. On day two of the draft, the Eagles added depth to the cornerback spot by trading for Ellis Hobbs. Not a smart move from my standpoint; the Eagles worst move of the offseason. Now let's break down free agency and trades.

Arrivals:

• Stacy Andrews RT/RG, B-: A lot of questions surrounding his consistency leaving Cincinnati.
• Sean Jones FS/SS, A+: Extremley underrated. Should have been a two-time Pro Bowler in Cleveland. If given the chance to start, will produce.
• Rashad Baker FS, B: Gives team solid depth behind Mikell, Jones, and Demps.
• Leonard Weaver FB, A: Finally a true fullback. Can get the tough yards and make impact out of backfield. Solid run blocker.
• Jason Peters LT, A-: Some questions of his 2008 performance leaving the Bills. But really gives the Eagles a great replacement for Tra Thomas.
• Ellis Hobbs, CB, D. The worst move of the Eagles offseason in my eyes. He was burned on a daily basis in New England and is a penalty magnet. I don't see where he will fit in with the Eagles. A downgrade from Sheldon Brown.

Departures:

• Brian Dawkins (Denver) - D-. Tough to let go of someone who was the heart and soul of the franchise, but it's now time to move on.
• Correll Buckhalter (Denver) - C. He deserves the chance to start somewhere since Andy Reid really under-utilized him.
• Tra Thomas (Jacksonville) - B. Again, it's hard letting someone so important go, but it had to happen. The line needed to get younger.
• Greg Lewis (New England) - B. Lewis just filled out the roster. He occasionally made the big play, but really made minimal impact.

Draft:

• Round 1: Jeremy Maclin WR, Missouri. A. Creates a matchup nightmare for the Eagles. Unexpected, but a great move.
• Round 2: LeSean McCoy RB, Pittsburgh. B.  An absolute needed pick. McCoy will not bring the power presence the Eagles might need, but adds another weapon and has the ability to be a star.
• Round 5: Cornelius Ingram TE, Florida B.  High risk, high reward pick. The reward, you get a player who has the skill set of the second coming of Shannon Sharpe. Undersized playmaker with good tight end speed.
• Round 5: Victor "Macho" Harris, CB/S, Virginia Tech, B-. Versatile player who will make this team as a special teamer or on the practice squad. Projects more as a safety in the NFL due to his lack of deep speed.
• Round 5: Fenuki Tupou, OT, Oregon, B. Another project player for Andy Reid to develop. Has the size to compete, but at best he adds depth.
• Round 6: Brandon Gibson, WR, Washington State, B+. I love this pick. Has the ability to sneak up on people as a solid receiver. My sleeper pick. Dropped partially due to the lack of success by his college team and some injury questions.
• Round 6: Paul Fanika, OG, Arizona State, D-. The one pick that I disagree with. Probably won't make the practice squad. Too stiff and lacks the intangibles to make any sort of impact on this roster.
• Round 7: Moise Fokou, OLB, Maryland, B-. Has a chance to be the new Joe Mays. He's undersized, but performed well in college. Solid motor.

Final Draft Grade: B+. 

As I mentioned earlier, this team will be a nightmare for teams to matchup against. Maclin, McCoy, Ingram, and possibly Gibson just add more firepower to the Eagles arsenal. They addressed all of their key needs. The Hobbs move brought this from a solid A to a B+.

Offseason Final grade: A-

The Eagles by far had the best offseason of any team in the NFC East. They filled key needs and brought in some players who could make a huge impact. They will be a team to be reckoned with in the NFC.