Whostays,who goes, what do we need?

[MDS]

We need a reciever.

[Tomahawk]

We need a reciever.

GET OWENS!!!!

[PhillyFan]

I only scanned the free agency list and top 20 draft prospects, so I really don' thave a good handle on who's available yet, but here are some initial thoughts. 

LB's - Jones is likely going nowhere.  You already have one hole to fill, getting rid of him creates a second.  There's only so much you can do in one off-season and they've got other needs as everyone has pointed out.  Re-sign Adams as a special teamer if you can.  Look at guys like Will Witherspoon from Carolina, Andra Davis from Cleveland, maybe Cato June (but he's an RFA) to replace Adams.  Julian Peterson is longer in the tooth than those guys and will cost a lot more money - I just don't see that happening.  The Birds might consider Ahmad Brooks, AJ Hawk, etc. depending on their draft position, but I have another guy in mind for round 1.

DT - Absolutely a need here.  They've gotten no push this year, but again, you can't dump them all.  Patterson and Walker definitely stay.  Rayburn probably stays.  Look at free agents like Ryan Pickett, Damione Lewis, Rocky Bernard, Larry Tripplett to add to the rotation and give a bit better pass rush up the middle than you're getting right now. 
Consider drafting a DT in the 2nd or 3rd round.  I really don't know what's out there in the middle rounds yet. 

DE - Freak is obviously one, Cole is going to get time at the other.  Maybe McDougle comes back as your 4th or 5th guy.  Kalu and Juqua Thomas?  Who knows with them.  There just isn't much help at DE in the free agency market.  Abraham isn't worth the big money he will probably command.  Robert Mathis is an RFA and won't be going anywhere.  Raheem Brock?  Kyle Vanden Bosch?  Aaron Kampman?  Nothing too exciting there, but depening on the money they are all probably better than Kalu or Thomas.  IMO this is where you go in round one - you get Mario Williams, but you'd probably need to trade up for him.   

WR - Ugh, where to begin.  Greg Lewis and Todd Pinkston are basically the same except Pinkston is taller.  Both just can't be physical, both have some decent speed downfield, neither can be your primary guy.  Reggie Wayne is obviously the best FA out there, but who knows how that's going to unfold.  If he stays available, you almost have to go after him.  If not, the best you can do is probably bring in a David Givens or Joe Jurevicious to give you someone who is at least reliable at catching the ball.  Then maybe back to the draft in the 2nd through 4th rounds.  If that's the way it goes, you better hope and pray that Reggie Brown comes up big. 

OL - If a stud o-linemen free agent stays available, maybe you go out and grab him to anchor your line like they did with Runyan.  Hutchinson is a free agent for now, I'm not sure who else might be available.  If you get a guy like Hutchinson, you let Runyan go and shuffle the line accordingly w/ Andrews at RT.  If not, you probably have to bring back Runyan for a year or two, unless you really want to hurt your depth.  Clarke and Jackson look like they may be able to beat out Hicks and Fraley - meaning Fraley might be gone and Hicks becomes a backup unless they let Runyan go w/o brining in another starting G or T. 

RB - Westbrook and Moats are here.  Do they bring back Gordon?  Buckhalter will be back fighting for a spot, but obviously you don't factor him in at all until he shows he can be a factor.  Realistically there isn't much they can do via free agency - with Westbrook here you can't pay out big money to a James or Alexander.  Maybe a reconfigured offensive line with a healthy Westbrook and having Gordon and Moats with a full year in the system get you a productive three headed monster? 

FB - Josh Parry stays unless they draft somebody or Tapeh somehow gets right and can actually play.  Interesting idea to throw out - what if the Steelers cut Staley?  Do you bring him back to replace Parry at FB?  He knows the blocking and passing schemes and is more of a threat to catch the ball than Parry obviously. 

TE - They need a backup to LJ.  Can Spach be that guy?  There isn't much in free agency there.  Maybe a TE in the early middle of the draft (rounds 3 to 5).

S - They need to figure out what to do long term b/c Dawkins isn't getting any younger.  Reed was the heir apparent, but he can't be counted on any more.  Mikkell is really you're only backup safety right now, although you have Considine coming back from injury.  He didn't really show much before he got hurt though. 

CB - They're standing pat here - maybe they draft a guy mid to late to throw in the mix.  Ware has one more chance to show something or maybe they think he can be Dawkins' backup at FS??

K - Akers.

P - Does Dirk Diggler recover?  If not, here's another big question mark.

QB - It's time for Detmer to go.  They need a real backup QB, but there's not much out there.  Maybe the Titans cut McNair and he can backup McNabb, but he'd probably retire instead.  If not, unforunately Jeff Garcia is the most reasonable backup available in free agency considering the money, experience, and familiarity with the system.  They also need to get a young guy they can work with in the draft somewhere.  It's not likely we'll see much better here. 

KR/PR - Unfortunately nobody stepped up in Reed's absence at KR and the PR just sucked.  How much was a factor of blocking and how much was it the factor of the return guys?  I just don't now.  But they have to improve here.  Randle El is an interesting free agent name b/c he could be a 3rd or 4th wide receiver, a return guy, FG holder, and emergency QB.

Definitely lots of question marks.  Depending on who is available and how the draft order shakes out, they'll have to come with their own strategy and priority. 

FYI - for the draft - the Eagles have the Colts and Cowboys 4th round picks, and they traded away their 6th round pick.  Maybe one of those 4's help you move up in the 3rd and 4th round when packaged w/ your own pick if there's a guy they want to get or maybe they get you a 3rd next year.  Obviously who knows with the compensatory picks, but I guess they might get something for Burgess.   

[Mad-Lad]

do you think they'll experiment using Trent Cole at LB next year?  could be interesting if he was able to move around a bit.

[DH]

Oh and one other thing. Stop getting guys from Rutgers!

Blow me.

[stalker]

Oh and one other thing. Stop getting guys from Rutgers!

Blow me.

You would like to have sex with a man??  You must be gay! A Scarlet Knight (perhaps the gayest nickname in all sports) I gather.

[The BIGSTUD]

Who goes:

Sean Landeta
Josh Parry
Reno Mahe
Greg Lewis
Chad Lewis
Dhani Jones
Keith Adams - or he stays for special teams only
Lamar Gordon
Tra Thomas
Juqua Thomas
Darnerien McCants
Billy McMullen
Terrell Owens
ND Kalu

Who stays:

Jon Runyan
Rod Hood
Quintin Mikell

Needs:

Two linebackers
Defensive tackle
Defensive end
Wide receiver or two
Offensive guard/tackle
Punter
Fullback
Backup quarterback

[DH]

Oh and one other thing. Stop getting guys from Rutgers!

Blow me.

You would like to have sex with a man??  You must be gay! A Scarlet Knight (perhaps the gayest nickname in all sports) I gather.

Oh, It's 3:30. School must be out. Don't forget to do your homework, son.

[joel in providence]

lito?? yeah he got torched a bunch of times this year, but lordy, where the hell do you find another starting-caliber free-agent cornerback?
good god, what a bad suggestion. of all the places to start trimming the fat, cb is not even close to the priority...

i actually think dhani will come back. i just do.

the people i WANT gone the most: mahe, artis, mahe, parry, mahe, mcmullen, mahe, hollis, mahe, kalu, mahe, the training/strenght & conditioning staff... and did i mention mahe?

[Diomedes]

and did i mention mahe?

Nope.  You pretty much left him out...Mahe lover!!

[joel in providence]

i want to see mahe get like 30 carries in one of the final games this season. just to get me motivated for the off-season cuts.

[Diomedes]

30 carries for 45 yards.  That's hot.

[Feva]

30 carries for 45 yards.  That's hot.

If Mahe were to get that, how can you get rid of a guy after he doubles his career high?