With Quintin Mikell’s contract expiring at the age of 30, it’s time to consider the Eagles future at Strong Safety. Mikell’s production depends on the players around him. He’s not a difference maker and I’d be surprised if the Eagles re-sign him.
Kurt Coleman stepped in admirably when called on during his rookie year. The seventh rounder has many people thinking ‘steal of the 2010 draft’, but his size (5’11”, 195lbs) is a concern.
There are two potential free agents the Eagles would likely consider. I don’t see either team letting them walk though.
- Bernard Pollard (Houston Texans): Even though the Texans’ secondary had a rough year, I don’t see them letting Pollard go.
- DaWan Landry (Baltimore Ravens): Landry has been very productive for the Ravens. The question is if he’s a difference maker or the product of a great system.
Draft prospects
- DeAndre McDaniel (Clemson): McDaniel has the ability to play both safety spots and the Eagles love versatility. He had a decent senior year, but if he left after his 2009 season he may have been a Top 10 pick in the 2010 draft. The only knock on McDaniel is a June 2008 arrest for assault.
- Robert Sands (West Virginia): At 6’5”, 221lbs, Sands will probably move to linebacker in the NFL. Whatever position he plays, he’s a hard hitter with decent skills in coverage.
- Mark Barron (Alabama): Barron was very productive on a National championship defense. He has the size and ability to cover receivers and tight end.
- Shiloh Keo (Idaho): Keo probably won’t be a starter on the Eagles. What stands out with him is his punt return ability
Tags: Bernard Pollard DaWan Landry DeAndre McDaniel Mark Barron Philadelphia Eagles Robert Sands Shiloh Keo
I heard somewhere that Eric Weddle is scheduled to become a free agent. Worth a look?
Here’s a couple for the Eagles I would like them to look at
#1) Dwan Landry from the Ravens– He mostly play’s down in the box quite a bit for the Ravens which allows Ed Reed to roam and play centerfield and make plays on the passes/receivers.. Very sure tackler and of coure playing for Baltmore he’s PYsical.. He will be highly sought after and get a some big $$$.. Him with the EAgles would allow Nate Allen to play more Ceterfield whioch better suits Allen style of play.. would be a great tandem for years to come
#2) Romar Harper – Saints, a Pro-Bowler whose play slipped a little but is still a physical players
#3) Darren Sharper – Saints – coming off injured season, is getting a little old, but a 1 year stop gap player who could mentor some of the younger players the Eagles have
#4) Eric Weddle – Chargers- a tough nosed player who has a knack of being around the ball
#5) Melvin Bullitt- Colts- another hard hitting SAfety who has logged a lot of starting time due to the
injuries of COlts Bob SAnders over the last few years.. Could be a very inexpensive upgrade with him
Tradeable Players
I have always liked Buffalo’s Donte Whitner.. Maybe the Bill whjo need DT really bad would consider
a trade for a BUnkley or a Patterson with a mid-level Draft pick for Whitner..
Last year I suggested the Eagles to go after Safety Chris Harris who at the time was with Carolina
and was on the trade market, The Bears ended up trading for him and gave up a back-up LB and all he did was make thePro-Bowel and helped solidify the Bears Secondary as one of the best in the NFL ..
I like the Whitner trade idea.
Do the Eagles get some size at SS with Keenan Clayton. He’s listed at 229 lbs., was a top 10 high school safety and played both safety and linebacker at Oklahoma. He’s a tweener, but it would be nice to see the Eagles have a bigger player at a position rather than the constant undersized guys. It all comes down to if he can play.
Next step is see if they can swap their #23 pick and Kolb for a top 8 pick. I understand this probably can’t happen unless a CBA is worked out, but here’s my idea. Pick either CB Peterson or Prince something that both can play from day 1. Now you have a young stud, Samual, Lindley(who I like), Allan and Clayton as a good young secondary.
Next go out and spend some $ at gurd and/or DT.
I think going after Whitner would be a good idea. Clayton maybe able to make it at the safety position but that would mean giving him time to work at the spot throughout an entire off season and season. If he were to play safety for the Birds that would give you an enforcer back there as long as he could take care of the pass coverage.
Bethea was a LB turned safety and was successful during the transition….. I think the Eagles will go for clayton at SS…….. Besides he does have good speed… And great tackling abilities….. Or it might be Nate Allen at FS and Kurt Colemen at SS……. But it all depends on Nate Allen’s injury……. A big concern??????
Robert Sands is a BEAST………. Maybe he’ll fall to the 3rd round which I doubt……
Is anyone else tired of the Eagles trying to covert players into other positions? Clayton is Ike Reese re-incarnated. Whitner and Landry are a tad better then Mikell, but hardly difference makers. Plus, with Landry, you have to be careful with him playing next to a guy like Ed Reed. We all saw how Dawk carried Mikell’s sorry ass.
Coleman is the epitome of a backup special team player. He is NOT a starter.
Eric Weddle is a very solid player, but is not a huge playmaker. Atari Bigby is injury prone, but a hard hitting safety this secondary lacks. Deon Grant is also a decent stop gap until a draft pick is ready to take over.
Nate Allen will be a ballhawk because I like his instincts and his ball skills. He needs to improve as a tackler, but he’ll average five picks a year for the rest of his career.
Nate Allen will get his Int’s for sure, but the EAgles still need that physical prescence in the middle of the field and at that Safety spot that they haven;t had since Dawkins departure..
Look at the History there at Safety for the Eagels A Waters,W Hopkins, B Dawkins,heck even a
M Zordich and a T Hoage would lay the wood when Recievers come into the middle of the field..
This is not N ALlens or Mikell’s game.. they are Defensive Safties who play deep and keep everyinth in front of them.. But 1 of the 2 Safeties needs to be the agressor, the attack dog to keep the middle of the field clean of Receivers just running wide open with no fear…
eric weddle next to nate allen would be the real deal.
i live in san diego, around the corner from weddle and his family.
we go to the same pet shop, he is a good character guy (he is mormon) and all-around football player.
last year he tallied up the tackles, this year he showed more of his coverage skills.
SD loves this guy, he would be a definite upgrade over Q (although i like how Q worked his way up)
if we somehow pulled off an off-season consisting of nnamdi and weddle…
with a healthy bradley and brandon graham, DAMN
then the obvious last 2 spots to shore up would be the 3rd lb (i like fokou vs the run)
and to figure out who will be lining up next to dixon at DT.
there are quite a few LBs that will be available via free agency, i hope we go that route
(i love posluszny, but there are also other good choices you guys should check them out)
and save our draft picks for oline and line
we have the money, and we gamble with it here and there. sounds like a good off-season to do so
This is why the way that the birds failed to draft Earl Thomas last year when they had the chance still pi$$es me off….we are STILL trying to replace Dawk, and from the production we saw out of Graham last year, they made a mistake that will continue to haunt us like so many personel mistakes from the past.
Passing on Earl Thomas, starting Sean “the human speedbump” Considine and the 2009 straight up debacle at safety makes me think the Eagles may not have the best talent evaluators when it comes to the safety position.
Passing on Thomas who was consensually labelled as an immediate starter who could make an impact, to use 3 picks and take Graham was probably our dumbest move last off season. And thats saying something considering we acquired Ernie Sims.