NFL: 2011 Philadelphia Eagles Are on the Clock: What Needs Do They Have?

With the 2011 NFL draft just around the corner, the Philadelphia Eagles have some major holes to fill this year.  The question now, especially with the current lockout situation, is what route they should take to maximize their draft positioning. 

The Eagles have three potential starting quarterbacks. After the MVP season Michael Vick had last year, one is on the table for moving. 

Kevin Kolb entered into the 2010 season as the Eagles' starter, but after a disappointing and concussion-filled season opener, the QB lost his job to Vick. In a perfect world, if the NFL and the players were on peaceful terms, there would be daily negotiations for Kolb's services. 

With the uncertainty of the 2011 rookie quarterback draft class, Kolb could warrant a first-round draft pick in return for his services or two second-round picks—depending on the team's need and draft pick availability. 

I say "in a perfect world" because as long as the league and the players are separated and the lockout continues, there can be neither trades nor free-agent acquisitions. In other words, Kolb's trade value is merely speculation at this point. Regardless of a trade or not, the Eagles have some serious issues to fix on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield. 

The Eagles have been rumored to be high on Mississippi State’s Derek Sherrod. At 6'3" and 300 pounds, he would fill a hole on the line. Philadelphia has also been rumored to be interested in Lehigh’s Will Rackley, who has the potential to play guard or tackle. Colorado’s Jimmy Smith could be a candidate at No. 23, but there have been concerns about off-the-field issues. 

The keys going into this season (if there is a season) is to protect Vick as best they can. With the talents surrounding him, the Eagles could clearly score as many points as they need on a weekly basis.

As far as the defense? They have to find someone to balance the secondary. Passes targeted away from Asante Samuel last year teams averaged 8.5 yards per pass which ranked 31st in the league. If the Eagles could somehow package Kolb for a first-round trade, the Eagles could solidify their secondary by picking up a guy like LSU’s Patrick Peterson. 

The 2011 Philadelphia Eagles are poised to make a splash in this year’s draft, with just a few puzzle pieces needed.