Obviously, it will not be Michael Vick since Nick Foles is coming off a sensational sophomore season in the NFL and Vick has stated he wants to go somewhere he can start. That won't be in Philadelphia anymore. If one of the top five quarterbacks in the draft drop down to No. 22, where the Eagles sit, though, GM Howie Roseman has said he would not hesitate to take the player. If not, look for the Eagles to be “joshing” as in Josh McCown or Josh Freeman.
They will most definitely sign one and probably draft another. The Cleveland Browns placed the franchise tag on center Alex Mack, so Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward is going to hit the free agent market. The Eagles have a clear need at the position which opens spots in the draft to fill other needs. The Eagles have plenty of money and will not be outbid for Ward, so he is the most likely free agent acquisition of this offseason.
Lamarr Houston of the Oakland Raiders is only 26-years old and someone the Eagles have their eyes on as a 3-4 defensive end. Even though he played in a 4-3 for the Raiders last year, Houston is big enough and quick enough to play the same spot in the 3-4. At 6-foot-3, 302-pounds, Houston had six sacks and two forced fumbles and appears to be to fit that solid-but-not-spectacular profile the Eagles have used to fill free agent spot the last two season. The Eagles need somebody who can sack the quarterback. Trent Cole led them with eight, but as a team they had just 37, which clearly is not good enough. The Eagles are well aware that the tread is beginning to wear on Cole’s tires.
There has been some recent rumors that the Eagles are willing to ship DeSean Jackson, but that’s not likely. What is more likely is for them to find someone to take the kick return responsibilities away from the explosive Jackson and have him concentrate on putting up big numbers as a receiver. Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears is available, but he would be hard to pry out of the second city. Eagles’ fans can always dream, can’t they?
It’s no secret that Kelly was not enamored with the performance of kicker Alex Henery, who missed a 48-yard field goal in a 26-24 playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints. Afterward, Kelly said “he’d have to make a decision” about Henery in the offseason. If he can get someone like the popular David Akers, a fan favorite with the Eagles, making that decision on Henery will be a lot easier. Akers, though, is 39 and both he and Kelly know he can only be a stopgap measure until the Eagles can identify their kicker of the future. It’s probably not Henery, who was 22nd in field-goal percentage with the Eagles last season.
