2011 NFL Draft: Best and Worst Case Scenarios for the Philadelphia Eagles

With the 2011 NFL Draft only a month away, teams are scrambling to put their draft strategies in order. Whether or not there is a new collective bargaining agreement in place before April 28th will drastically affect many teams’ battle plans, so front offices need to plan for both possibilities.

Any Eagles fan who has followed the draft over the past decade has learned that Andy Reid and his fellow front office members love to wheel and deal on draft day. This year, they will start with 10 picks, ranging from the 23rd overall selection down to the 239th pick in the seventh round.

How the Eagles are able to improve their team with those 10 picks will depend on a variety of different factors, so let’s examine a few different scenarios that could occur on draft day.

Best Case Scenario No. 1: Free Agency Returns

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OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Nnamdi Asomugha #21 takes off his helmet during a break in play in their game against the Denver Broncos at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 27, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

If life without free agency has been tough on the fans, the plight of the coaches, who are restricted from even talking to the available players, is surely 10 times worse. Currently, there are several tempting players in the free agency pool who are essentially stuck in limbo during the lockout.

Should the NFL and the NFLPA miraculously put aside their differences within the next few weeks and agree on a new CBA, the Eagles would have the opportunity to sign one of the biggest free agents of the 2011 offseason: Nnamdi Asomugha.

Often talked about as a prime target for Philadelphia, Asomugha would team up with Asante Samuel to give the Eagles a shutdown corner on both sides of the field. In addition, by signing Asomugha, the Eagles would take care of one of their biggest offseason needs and allow the front office to focus on improving other positions through the draft.

With a new right cornerback in the fold, nothing would hinder Reid from boosting his offensive line with the likes of Gabe Carimi or Nate Solder, or perhaps grabbing a new defensive lineman like Muhammad Wilkerson.

It was apparent at the end of last season that the Eagles were just a few playmakers short of a championship team. If free agency is brought back before the start of the draft, they could easily acquire enough help on both sides of the ball in order to take the next step.

Worst Case Scenario No. 1: The Lockout Continues

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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 09: National Football League Players' Association (NFLPA) executive director DeMaurice Smith talks with the media following meetings at the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service building for extended labor negotiations March 9

If DeMaurice Smith and company cannot reach an agreement with the NFL owners until late in the 2011 offseason, the results could be detrimental to the Eagles, as well as the rest of the league. Not only will Philadelphia be unable to fill the holes in their roster with proven veterans, but they will be prevented from signing undrafted rookies as well.

The Eagles have a history of finding gems among the draft day castoffs. Strong safety Quintin Mikell went undrafted in 2003 and has since spent eight years in midnight green (four of them as a starter). Center Jamaal Jackson was another a rookie free agent who turned into a gold mine, starting six out of his eight seasons with the Eagles.

Even last year's undrafted rookie class netted Austin Howard, a promising young offensive tackle out of Northern Iowa.

With no other way of improving their team then through the draft, the Eagles would be extremely limited on what they could do with their 10 picks. A likely result would be the front office electing to trade down in multiple rounds, ensuring they they stock up on depth at every position.

Best Case Scenario No. 2: Kevin Kolb Nets a Gold Mine

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Kevin Kolb #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 27, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

During the NFL annual meetings in New Orleans, representatives from several teams, including the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, hinted at their interest in trading for Kevin Kolb. The Eagles have made it known that they want compensation in the form of a high first-round pick, plus a veteran player in return for their second-string quarterback.

In the best case scenario, a new CBA would be in place before the draft, allowing teams to trade players as well as picks. Potentially, the Eagles would be able to net a high first-round pick for Kolb, such as the Cardinals' No. 5 pick. With the fifth overall selection, Andy Reid could select a top-flight cornerback such as Patrick Peterson or Prince Amukamara, while still taking care of his offensive or defensive lines later in the first round.

If the Eagles were to only net a mid-first round selection such as the Vikings' 12th overall pick, Reid could still use his draft day dealing skills to package multiple picks and move up high enough to draft either Peterson or Amukamara.

Even finding a replacement for Kolb as Michael Vick's backup would be relatively easy. The Eagles have already been kicking the tires on several mid-round graded quarterbacks such as Nevada's Colin Kaepernick, Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor and Delaware's Pat Devlin. If the Kolb trade did not involve a veteran quarterback sent to the Eagles, the team would be able to use one of their third-, fourth- or fifth-round picks on a rookie.

Worst Case Scenario No. 2: Trades Are Delayed

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 02: Kevin Kolb #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Dallas Cowboys on January 2, 2011 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Even though Kevin Kolb's value will likely be undiminished by delaying trades until after the draft, the Eagles will still feel some negative effects. If Kolb ends up leaving the team for a 2012 first-round draft pick instead of a 2011 pick, the team will have missed out on an integral part of their draft day strategy.

With only one first-round pick to play with, the Eagles would be forced to use their 2012 picks to move up in the draft, which is a risky maneuver when you consider that similar actions have netted legendary draft busts like Mike Mamula and Jerome McDougle.

If the Eagles deal their 2012 first-rounder on draft day, they had better be sure of two things: that their target possesses limited bust potential, and that they can eventually reclaim a 2012 first-round pick for Kolb.

However, if the Eagles are unable to find a willing trade partner to move up in the first round, or simply don't want to pay the cost, they risk missing out altogether on a good fit in the first round. For example, say Gabe Carimi is taken by the offensive line-needy Indianapolis Colts at No. 22 and Muhammad Wilkerson, who's draft stock has been rising, is no longer available.

In this case, should the Eagles take a chance on a player with a bad attitude like Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith? If Smith is also gone, is there any player left worth a first-round pick? In this worst-case scenario, we could very well see the Eagles trade out of the first round for the third time in five years.