Dallas Cowboys Are Draft Winners In The NFC East
Mar 22, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly in attendance during the NFL Veteran Combine at the Arizona Cardinals training facility. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Eagles
Needs: Cornerback, Safety, Offensive Line, Wide Receiver, Linebacker
Despite offering the Tennessee Titans everything plus the kitchen sink in a trade for Marcus Mariota, the Philadelphia Eagles look set to head into the year with Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley competing at quarterback.
Like the Giants, the Eagles opted to double dip to fill a need in the secondary.
The versatile defensive back Eric Rowe made a late run up draft boards, with some predicting he’d be taken late in the first round.
Rowe found his way to the Eagles in the second round before they took fellow defensive back JaCorey Shepherd in the sixth.
The Eagles need at cornerback was most evident in their December game against the Cowboys. Dez Bryant tore the field apart leaving Bradley Fletcher behind as a spectator. After the game Fletcher said:
"“I just didn’t make the plays I needed to make. It’s something that I have to live with. I just have to get back to work and get better. That’s all I can do.”"
Fletcher finished the year as the 92nd ranked cornerback by Pro Football Focus (that’s below Brandon Carr!). Unfortunately for Dez, Fletcher was a free agent and the Eagles decided against retaining his services.
Chip Kelly turned to former Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell to revive their depleted ranks.
Maxwell signed a monstrous $63 million six year deal.
He didn’t exactly stand out as an eye catching talent amongst the Legion of Boom, but the Eagles will be needing him to show leadership and ability in bringing this new look secondary to life.
While they appear to have more quarterbacks than receivers, the Eagles have added a real gem in USC receiver Nelson Agholor.
He’s fast, will run clean sharp routes and has fantastic hands. If Sam Bradford can remain on the field then Agholor will be a complete weapon for him.
Bradford’s time on the field will be in the hands of an underrated group of men.
On their day, this Eagles offensive line can challenge most, but they’re an aging group of players who are begin to show signs of wear and tear.
Jason Peters was the only one of their front five physically able to play all sixteen games last year.
There will have to come a time when the Eagles address their o-line and look to make them significantly younger.
I don’t really have many problems with the players the Eagles drafted. Nelson Agholor and Eric Rowe in particular are excellent.
However the holes across the team are still glaringly obvious. When is Chip going to remove his sunglasses?
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