Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Philadelphia Eagles

Like the Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles have been known to have a strong defense but are going to spend most of the off-season upgrading that side of the ball. Offensively, they will need to build depth along the offensive line and at running back but defense is the point of focus. The Eagles have pressing needs at pretty much every position on defense and with it being an uncapped year they could be in the market for some of the noteworthy free agents. However, head coach Andy Reid likes targeting his own players and looks to do so in the NFL Draft. don’t be surprised if Philadelphia does most of their work in the draft, as usual.

Team Strengths:

- Donovan McNabb (The Eagles also have Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick, but it’s McNabb that makes Philadelphia tick and he once again posted solid statistics in his 11th season)

- Talented Young Wide Outs (After just two seasons, DeSean Jackson is already a top tied wide receiver and second year receiver Jeremy Maclin has the talent to be just as good as Jackson. Philly is set at the wide out position for years to come)

- Brent Celek (No one can complain about his 76 receptions, 971 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Celek will once again be McNabb’s most reliable target on intermediate routes)

- Trent Cole (Cole is one of the best in the NFL at getting to the quarterback and his 12.5 sacks tied a career-high in 2009. At 27, Cole is entering his prime and he should be even better in 2010)

- Asante Samuel (The veteran cornerback is prone to get beat from time-to-time, but he did intercept nine passes in 2009 and is a threat to opposing quarterbacks trying to throw on his side of the field)

Team Needs:

1. Better Player from the Defensive Line - Cole, an end, is a bright spot for the Eagles but he’s not going to take over a game and could benefit from having a strong defensive end on the opposite side of him. Tackles Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkely are recent high draft picks that haven’t realized their full potential. Adding an first round draft pick at end or tackle would make sense for the rest of the defense and would go in line with head coach Andy Reid’s philosophy that you build teams from the inside out. Expect the Eagles to target tackles Dan Williams from Tennessee or Brian Price from UCLA.

2. Depth at Linebacker - The Eagles released Will Witherspoon. Jeremiah Trotter is expected to once again retire and outside of Akeem Jordan no one can stay healthy in Philadelphia The Eagles expect Stewart Bradley and Omar Gaither to return from season ending injuries and make an impact right away; however, the team needs to add depth at a position that has been hampered by injuries. A mid-round pick for this position is likely, but don’t be surprised if the Eagles make another trade here.

3. Address Their Issues at Safety - The top two safeties listed on the Eagles depth chart right now are Quintin Mikell and Sean Jones. Mikell is solid as a strong safety, but the Eagles need to target free safeties through free agency or the NFL Draft. Earl Thomas of Texas probably won’t be there when Philly drafts at No. 24 but they could possibly land someone like Nate Allen of South Florida in Round 2.

Washington Redskins

Given how active the Washington Redskins have been in the free agency market under owner Dan Snyder, many expected them to be big spenders this season, especially with the threat of an uncapped season ahead. Yet the Redskins did not sign defensive end Julius Peppers or linebacker Karlos Dansby or safety Antrel Rolle. Now, many people are wondering if there is a change of philosophy in Washington. Perhaps new head coach Mike Shanahan has gotten inside Snyder’s head, convincing the owner to build through the draft and player development instead of free agency. If that’s the case then expect to see a flurry of picks on the offensive side of the ball.

Team Strengths:

- Santana Moss (He doesn’t possess the world class speed that he once had but he is the staple in the receiving game and should fare well in Mike Shanahan’s offense)

- Albert Haynesworth (Fans and ownership grew frustrated with Haynesworth’s lack of commitment in 2009 but he’s one of the best run stoppers in all of football. Shanahan won’t put up wth his laziness and look for Haynesworth to earn his money this year)

- Veteran Linebackers (London Fletcher has been arguably the best true tackler in the NFL over the past decade. Brian Orakpo is young, physical and should be a force in this league and Rocky McIntosh is coming off a solid season and has been a consistent performer in each of his last three seasons)

Team Needs:

1. Improve the Offensive Line - To begin to rebuild this offense the Redskins will need a strong line, and they’ll need to start at the tackle position following the retirement of Chris Samuels. The Redskins did sign Artis Hicks from the Minnesota Vikings but Washington holds the fourth overall draft pick. Sure they could use it on a quarterback like Jimmy Clausen of Notre Dame or Sam Bradford of Oklahoma but is it worth it when they can potentially land an elite tackle prospect, such Russell Okung of Oklahoma State? However, if they decide to go with a signal caller, there are a ton of strong tackles in this draft, so perhaps the Redskins could pick one up early in the second round.

2. Adding Depth at Running Back - We all know how much Mike Shanahan loves his running backs and it just so happens Washington is in need at that position anyway. Clinton Portis’ best days are behind him and the Redskins cleaned house on all of his back-ups. Looking at the draft, Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech and Montario Hardesty of Tennessee would be good picks in the second round for the Redskins, as would Stanford’s Toby Gerhart. With Shanahan, it’s not a matter of if he picks a running back in the draft this year, it’s a matter of when.

3. Upgrade at Quarterback - The situation regarding incumbent starter Jason Campbell is a touchy one. One on hand he’s not the worst quarterback in the league and has shown, when he’s given time, that he can be an adequate quarterback. Not helping matters are the different systems he’s had to learn during his career. But Campbell may be beyond repair and Shanahan may not be in the mood for a reclamation project anyway. If that’s the case, then the Redskins would likely be able to choose from Jimmy Clausen or Sam Bradford at No.4 overall. However, if they decide to take a franchise tackle, the Redskins can target a developmental quarterback like Jevan Snead of Ole Miss or Dan LeFevour of Central Michigan later in the draft.

NFC Needs By Division:  NFC West  |  NFC North |  NFC South  |  NFC East

AFC Needs By Division:  AFC West  |  AFC North  |  AFC South  |  AFC East

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