Three Biggest Draft Needs

The Philadelphia Eagles are heading to Draft Weekend (April 25-26th) with a bevy of picks, including picks No. 21 and 28 in the first round. Will Andy Reid trade up this year? If so, would he target one the few top tackles that are projected to be gone by the time the Eagles draft at 21? Plenty of questions remain on an Eagles roster which is sure to be soon bolstered with young talent.

Without further ado, these are the three biggest NEEDS:

1) Offensive Tackle: Everyone knows Reid loves the big ugly’s up front, and there is no way the Eagles leave Radio City Music Hall without at LEAST one offensive tackle. The question is simply WHEN, not IF the Eagles will add at OT. So here are the options:

-Trade up for one of the elite OT’s available (Baylor’s Jason Smith, Virginia’s Eugene Monroe, Alabama’s Andre Smith, and Mississippi’s Michael Oher): Among that foursome, Oher is the only one that could potentially slip to the Eagles if they stayed put at 21.

-Take the best available player with one of the two first round picks: Potential targets that have been rumored to be available late in the first round are Oher and Arizona’s Eben Britton.

-Address other positions in the first round and draft tackle later in the draft.

-Make a trade for an established NFL veteran. Two-time pro bowl left tackle Jason Peters of the Buffalo Bills has recently come up in trade rumors with the Philadelphia Eagles. The price tag for Peters is said to be a first and third round pick.

If the Eagles fail to land a starting-caliber tackle via draft or trade, they could slide guard Shawn Andrews to left tackle and let Max Jean-Gilles battle Nick Cole for the starting right guard spot.

2) Running Back: Having a two-headed monster at the running back position is all the rage nowadays in the National Football League. There is no question Brian Westbrook is the starter and a bona fide MVP candidate every year, but he recently spoke about the importance of adding another playmaker at the position, saying he has “no problem” with it.

“You see that throughout the league. You see two or three guys who can play,” Westbrook said. “Any talent that you bring on this team – running back, quarterback, receiver, line – whatever it is, it will definitely help this team win and that’s what you’re looking for – to win football games.”

Many mock drafts project the Eagles to use one of their first-rounders on a running back to complement Westbrook. The most common names have been Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno and Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells. These two lead a very talented group of running backs in this years’ draft, which also includes Pittsburgh’s LeSean McCoy and Connecticut’s Donald Brown. If Moreno, who played high school football in Central New Jersey, is there at No. 21, the Eagles fans at Radio City will be chanting his name.

3) Tight End- The Eagles decided to let free agent L.J. Smith walk, ending six tumultous years in green. A former second-round pick with great potential, Smith failed to become the threat we all envisioned he would be. That leaves Brent Celek, about to enter his third year in the league, as the starter. While Celek has shown to be a reliable receiving option, including a strong postseason performance of 151 receiving yards and three touchdowns, he is not thought of to be a game changing type of player.

Which brings us to a name that has been linked to the Eagles in several mock drafts so far this year, Brandon Pettigrew. Far and away the best tight end prospect in the draft, Pettigrew is an excellent blocker who also has above average hands and quickness. The 6′5, 263 lb. Oklahoma State product could be a huge playmaker for Donovan McNabb and the Eagles offense. Since the tight end crop drops off significantly after Pettigrew, many Eagles fans are crossing their fingers that he falls to 21.

There you have it. The three biggest draft needs for the Philadelphia Eagles. Are they the only needs? Of course not, you can make an argument that wide receiver, safety, and cornerback could be on the list. While I agree that the Eagles could use another wide receiver, I highly doubt that they spend a high draft pick on one this year.

What do you think? Are these the three biggest needs? Who do you want the Eagles to take at Nos. 21 and 28?

Tags: Andre Smith, Andy Reid, Brandon Pettigrew, Brent Celek, Brian Westbrook, Chris Wells, Donovan McNabb, Jason Smith, Knowshon Moreno, L.J. Smith, Michael Oher, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles