Peppers Off the Table: What This, and Other Free Agent Moves, Mean for Philly

Everyone was hoping to see Julius Peppers in midnight green next season, but the Bears got to him first.

So, without Peppers, all of Philly’s attention should be going to another every-down DE: Aaron Kampman .

A few hours ago, Fox’s Jay Glazer reported that the Eagles were having a meeting with Kampman. This turned out to be false; the Eagles were only talking with Kampman’s rep at that point.

It may not sound like much, but it is a step forward to finding a dominant defensive end to play opposite Trent Cole.

If the Eagles don’t end up signing Kampman, I would have to believe they would be looking for a DE in the draft—and depending on what they do at safety during free agency, they could be looking to draft a DE in the first or second round. This is a hole that must be filled—whether it be with a vet or rookie.

The next issue is the release of Will Witherspoon . By doing this, the Eagles saved $5 million this season—but they also lost a solid linebacker. I can understand the move from a front office point of view, but the linebacking core was weak last season—and Witherspoon spiced it up a bit.

Plus, he was probably the best weak side LB for Philly on the depth chart—which is where he would have been playing when Stewart Bradley comes back from his knee injury.

This could also be a hint as to what the Eagles plan to do on draft day. Sean Weatherspoon has been predicted by a few people to be going to Philly in the draft. Maybe they are right because, once again, OLB is a hole that needs to be filled this offseason.

Chester Taylor was also signed to the Bears a few hours ago. I would agree that an early draft pick spent on a halfback would be a bit of a waste—especially with all the Eagles defensive needs and the general lack of running plays in their playbook anyway— but they could try to grab one in the fourth or sixth round and still be reasonably well off. But at the moment, most of the signs are pointing to a veteran—and that means LT.

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