There is still the draft. There are still possible trades. So the make-up of the 2009-'10 Eagles is far from complete.
But at this point I see the current Eagles squad being slightly better than the 2008-09 version.
If you slide Shawn Andrews out to LT, the Andrews brothers are an improvement over the aging Thomas and Runyan. Weaver is a significant upgrade over Klecko. Sure you can't replace the leadership and passion of Dawkins, but the stats for Sean Jones shows a guy whose on-the-field play might only be a notch below Dawkins. Factor in the continued maturation of the LBs and DTs and the overall D is stronger.
I would say the only position that the Eagles are currently weaker at is back-up RB. The production of Buckhalter is going to be tough to replace (even if the Eagles never used him enough). But Weaver will be a better short yardage alternative to Buck.
So if the 2009 version is better how do they match-up to the current make-up of the other NFC East teams?
Cowboys:
Gone: LB Kevin Burnett, DE Chris Canty, CB Anthony Henry, QB Brad Johnson, CB Adam Jones, WR Terrell Owens, S Roy Williams
Added: LB Keith Brooking, QB Jon Kitna, DE Igor Olshansky, S Gerald Sensabaugh, LB Matt Stewart
Brooking is another Zach Thomas, Olshansky and Canty cancel out each others' production, and Williams (WR) will not duplicate even a down year for T.O. The Cowboys are no better than last season, possibly a bit worse at this point in the off-season.
Redskins:
Gone: DE Demetric Evans, P Ryan Plackemeier, CB Shawn Springs, DE Jason Taylor, LB Marcus Washington
Added: RB Anthony Aldridge, P Zacrey Atterberry, LS Jeremy Cain, G Derrick Dockery, RB Dominique Dorsey, FB Jonathan Evans, DB Michael Grant, DT Albert Haynesworth, P Dirk Johnson, K Dave Raynor, OL Isaiah Ross
The Redskins may have overpaid for his services but Haynesworth will no doubt improve a defense that is already top-5. On the flip side the 'Skins have done little to improve an Offense that ranked in the league's bottom third in points per game, total yards per game, and passing yards per game. Their D will make them better, but when you finish in the division basement you need more than just slightly better.
Giants:
Gone: S James Butler, RB Reuben Droughns, S Sammy Knight, CB Sam Madison, RB Derrick Ward
Added: DT Rocky Bernard, LB Michael Boley, S C.C. Brown, DE Chris Canty, TE Lee Vickers
Their Defensive Line has a chance to be down right dominant (especially with the return of Osi). But with an inexperienced Bill Sheridan leading the D, can the overall unit still be as dominant as it was under Spags?
On offense there is still no replacement for Plaxico and Bradshaw will have a difficult time replacing the production of Ward. Unfortunately the Giants are still the class of the division, but the gap between them and the Eagles isn't a big as people think.
Right now the standings would look similar to 2008, with the Giants in 1st. But the Eagles hold the most draft picks and the most cap space so there is still time to close the gap.
