Philadelphia Eagles: 5 Additions That Would Make Them Super Bowl Favorites

The Philadelphia Eagles lost in just the first round of the 2010 playoffs, but a five-point loss to the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers was the closest any team was to knocking out Aaron Rogers and company in the postseason.

Michael Vick is coming off an MVP-caliber season, his best in the NFL and has a young, talented arsenal of weapons at his disposal.  A draft class headlined by 27-year-old Danny Watkins shows that Andy Reid is all about winning now.  Philadelphia will be aggressive this offseason and if they make the right moves, there's no reason why they shouldn't be early favorites to win the Super Bowl in 2012.

Here are five moves that would give the Eagles the most talented team they've had since the franchise went to four straight NFC titles.

5. Plaxico Burress

Why It Will Help:

Plaxico Burress won’t be able to create separation against NFL cornerbacks.  The former New York Giants wide out hasn’t played football since 2008 and is 33 years old.  Those negatives still don’t change the fact that Burress would instantly improve the Eagles red zone scoring ability.

At 6’5”, 230 pounds, he’d give Michael Vick a reliable target he can throw the fade to inside the 10.  DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are explosive, but neither is the type of possession receiver needed to score when the field shrinks.

Why It Will Happen:

Michael Vick wants Burress and even the Eagles receivers want him.  It would be the perfect place for Plax to return to the league after spending time in prison because Vick has transitioned so smoothly back into football.  Philadelphia has said they’re not interested in Burress, but it’s not like a front office has ever lied before.

4. Albert Haynesworth

Why It Will Help:

Mike Patterson is a free agent.  Antonio Dixon is solid and improving and the addition of Jim Washburn should help Brodrick Bunkley, but even then the Eagles still need to add talent to an inconsistent defensive line.  A reignited Albert Haynesworth would instantly take their defense to the next level.

Philadelphia may be the only place where Haynesworth would actually work out: work out as in succeed and work out as actually train.  Washburn is the same coach that resurrected Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jason Babin’s careers and turned Fat Albert into the most dominant defensive player in the game. 

The addition would give the Eagles a solid rotation of interior lineman and if Haynesworth plays up to his potential, his ability to demand double teams would help everyone on the defense.

Why It Will Happen:

If the Redskins hold on to Haynesworth they’re nuts.  The biggest free agent bust in league history has been nothing but a cancer to their team. 

They could trade him to the Eagles for a mid-to-late round pick, or they may just cut him.  If Washington does end up releasing him, he’d be a cheap addition for Philly.

3. Jason Babin

Why It Will Help:

Brandon Graham tore his ACL late in the season so there’s no guarantee he’ll be effective right away.  The Eagles have plenty of bodies at defensive end, but no one besides Trent Cole can be considered an impact player.  Darryl Tapp is solid and Juqua Parker may have a little left in the tank, but Jason Babin would be an instant upgrade.

The former Eagle recorded 12.5 sacks last season and would give Philly one of the best defensive end duos in the entire league.  With additions of Albert Haynesworth and Jason Babin, offenses could double Trent Cole no more.

Why It Will Happen:

Babin was Jim Washburn’s latest success story and will follow the coach in order to avoid fizzling out as a one-year wonder.  Washburn loves to rotate his lineman to keep them fresh so adding yet another end isn’t going to create a logjam: the more talent the merrier for Philadelphia’s line.

2. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Why It Will Help:

Dimitri Patterson is not a starting-caliber cornerback in the NFL and the entire world saw that last season as he was consistently exposed late in the year.  Joselio Hansen regressed as well making the cornerback position the Eagles' No. 1 defensive need this offseason.  Their third-round pick Curtis Marsh is good enough to get playing time in special packages, but not start.

Dominique Rogers-Cromartie is one the league’s top young cornerbacks, but he didn’t have the dominant year expected from him in 2010 because the Cardinals pass rush was led by two 34-year olds in Joey Porter and Clark Haggans. 

He will be able to bounce back and lock down the side of the field opposite of Asante Samuel.  With two young safeties in Nate Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett likely to start in 2011, the Eagles better have plenty of talent at cornerback to make up for their inexperience.

Why It Will Happen:

The Kevin Kolb for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie rumors are continuing to heat up.  It looks like the Eagles will try to squeeze a mid-round pick out of Arizona as well, but in the end, the Cardinals must make Larry Fitzgerald happy or he’s gone. 

Kolb is the best quarterback on the market and the only way to keep their superstar wide receiver so they’ll pull the trigger eventually.

1. Doug Free

Why It Will Help:

The Eagles will not be able to slow down Clay Matthews, DeMarcus Ware, Justin Tuck, and Brian Orakpo with Winston Justice starting at right tackle.  They should be fine at guard and center after selecting three interior offensive linemen in the draft, but Michael Vick will still be running for his life until they replace Justice.

On offense and defense, it all starts with the line.  Solidifying their offensive front not only gives Vick more time to get the ball to all his weapons in DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin , Brent Celek and Jason Avant, but it’ll help open up holes in the running game for LeSean McCoy and Dion Lewis.

Why It Will Happen:

Trading for Dominique Rogers-Cromartie saves the Eagles millions and millions of dollars that they would’ve been forced to pay to Nnamdi Asomugha to fill their gaping hole at cornerback.  Now they can spend that cash on another huge need. 

Not only would Doug Free fill Philadelphia’s biggest offensive need, but the addition would kill their bitter rivals the Dallas Cowboys by stealing their franchise left tackle.

Free fits the typical Andy Reid-lineman in that they have to be bigger than he is.  The 27-year-old tackle is 6’6”, 320 pounds and would be Christmas in July for the entire Eagles backfield.

David Daniels is a NFL Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow  him on Twitter.