With the First Pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles Select...

[Rome]

The Eagles taking a developmental offensive lineman in the first round would be a slap in the face to all those who consider themselves Eagles fans.  This could very well be Donovan's last shot in Philly.  They owe it to him to get as many weapons between now and September as possible.  I don't care if they have to draft five wide receivers in the first four rounds.  Odds are they'd hit on at least one of them and that's what this team needs more than anything.  Hell, I'd even go so far as to say draft all offensive skill position players in the first three rounds and then see who sticks because everyone but Westbrook, Curtis & Brown currently on the team are more than expendable, and that includes L.J., Hunt, Buck, Avant, & Baskett.

Take the best available wide receiver at 19 or package some of your picks and move up if you have to.  If there is another playmaker available early in the second round, then trade Lito and go up and get him.  Then take another at your pick in the second round, even if that pick is a running back or say Fred Davis from USC.

Whatever.

Just no more offensive linemen early, please.  Next year?  Fine.  No problem.  But not this year.

[troyhstewart]

Mike Mayock and several other places I've read have all said basically there is no way Albert makes it past the Eagles pick.  Some teams think he can play OT in the NFL and he would be the 3rd OT drafted.

[ice grillin you]

i dont think he makes it there either and was shocked to see mcshay think he may be

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The Eagles taking a developmental offensive lineman in the first round would be a slap in the face...

etc etc blah blah

Whatever.

Just no more offensive linemen early, please.  Next year?  Fine.  No problem.  But not this year.

I hear you.  I think IGY's distinction is the difference between a guy who would be an immediate upgrade in the same vein as Shawn Andrews was to be in 2004 (oopsie on the broken leg) and a guy looked as developmental.

[Rome]

Is there an offensive lineman who'd be available at 19 or even in the top 10-19 who would immediately step in as a starter over anyone already there?

I can see them drafting an offensive lineman, obviously, but I think they have to roll the dice with the five starters they already have and draft skill guys in 2008.  If it's an 8-8 disaster again then this thing is getting blown up anyway, and Runyan & Thomas will likely be out in 2009.  Then you start to rebuild with a new offensive line and Kolb at QB.

Draft skill guys now to take one more shot at a Super Bowl.  If it doesn't work out, then fine, start to rebuild with Kolbsy and a new offensive line.

[Rome]

Branden Albert is on ESPN First Take right now.

[ice grillin you]

Is there an offensive lineman who'd be available at 19 or even in the top 10-19 who would immediately step in as a starter over anyone already there?

i dont think theres much of a chance of albert being there at 19 but id be thrilled with that pick if he fell...you could plug him right into herremans spot for the next 10 years...andrews albert combo would be ridiculous

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Is there an offensive lineman who'd be available at 19 or even in the top 10-19 who would immediately step in as a starter over anyone already there?

I can see them drafting an offensive lineman, obviously, but I think they have to roll the dice with the five starters they already have and draft skill guys in 2008.  If it's an 8-8 disaster again then this thing is getting blown up anyway, and Runyan & Thomas will likely be out in 2009.  Then you start to rebuild with a new offensive line and Kolb at QB.

Draft skill guys now to take one more shot at a Super Bowl.  If it doesn't work out, then fine, start to rebuild with Kolbsy and a new offensive line.

IGY said Albert would be an upgrade over wost manneans (and presumably MJG).

[Rome]

Albert's value seems to be all over the place.  Kiper has him going at 5 to KC, right?  Other mocks have him going in the late first round.  War Room Report has him going at 23 to the Stillers and Scouts Notebook (goeagles99 from the EMB) has him going at 15 to the Lions.

Who knows?

[SD_Eagle5]

http://gcobb.com/content/view/1251/1/

Eagles Looking To Trade Up In 1st       
Written by Garry Cobb     
Wednesday, 02 April 2008 
I've spoken to a source that told me that the Eagles will look to use cornerback Lito Sheppard in a trade that would allow them to move up in the first round of the draft. Apparently, they really want an offensive tackle and don't believe their guy will last until #19. 

It's well known that the Eagles want to unload the unhappy corner, but early reports were that they wanted a high-end wide receiver in return.  With just about all of those options exhausted, I'm hearing that he will be used to improve draft position. 

Andy Reid and company have proven in the past that they aren't afraid to move up in the first round to get a lineman.  In 2003, the Eagles traded halfway up the first round from the #30 slot to the #15 slot to take Miami DE Jerome McDougle.  The following year in 2004, they traded up to the #16 position and nabbed Arkansas offensive lineman Shawn Andrews.

Clearly the offensive tackle which the Eagles are after is Chris Williams of Vanderbilt or Jeff Otah of Pittsburgh.   This guys are both slated to go in the first round and they have been moving up on the board.   With Jon Runyan and William Thomas getting near the end of their careers the Birds need to have somebody to replace them.

[ice grillin you]

i will be pissed if all they get for lito is to move up a few draft slots (yes i know they will get some sort of low round pick(s) as well)

[reese125]

I second that to the highest degree

That is literally a fold your hands and pray move.

[methdeez]

The eagles have so many more draft picks than they can keep already, I can't imagine them using a player to move up when they could use 2nds, 3rds, 4ths, etc.
To me nothing is worth trading Lito for except an active player.

[General_Failure]

They're too incompetent to get a player for him, as we've already seen, and they want to unload him. Get ready for that offensive lineman.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

...preferably one with two first names like Branden Albert.