The Eagles got some new toys for Donovan McNabb during the NFL Draft and that should make him even better in 2009 than he was in 2008.  While not the runner he once was, McNabb still can run the ball when needed or buy time to chuck it.  McNabb still has a great throwing arm and he’s very sharp on the short stuff.  I’m looking for big things from McNabb in 2009 so Eagles’ fans should give the guy a break.  Kevin Kolb was thought to be the QB of the future for the Eagles a couple of years ago but he looks lost on the football field.  The Eagles even benched McNabb in one game last season and Kolb proved without a doubt that he wasn’t ready for Prime Time.  The #3 QB will be veteran A.J. Feeley who is probably the best quarterback that is number three on the depth chart in the NFL.  He is a solid backup QB who has problems when forced into starting duty.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON:  A-

The Philadelphia Eagles have been looking for a RB to take away some of Brian Westbrook’s work load and they got their man with LeSean McCoy.  McCoy is a lot like Westbrook as he’s a good receiver who often makes the first tackler miss.  He is a tad short at 5′10″ but he does have some power on his 215 pound frame.  McCoy played 2 seasons for the Pitt Panthers appearing in 25 games (22 starts) in which he carried the ball 584 times for 2,816 yards (4.8 ypc) with 35 TD runs.  He also caught 65 passes for 549 yards (8.4 avg) with 4 TD grabs at Pitt.  This was another outstanding pick for the Eagles as McCoy has a lot of upside.

The Philadelphia Eagles traded up two spots with the Cleveland Browns costing them a 6th round pick (#191 overall) for the right to select WR/KR Jeremy Maclin.  Maclin is 6′0″, 200 pounds and he’s a burner running 4.4 40’s.  Maclin is a dynamic receiver who has good hands but he’s a tad soft.  Maclin played 2 seasons for Missouri appearing in 28 games (26 starts) in which he caught 182 passes for 2,315 yards (12.7 avg) with 22 TD grabs.  He could force his way into the starting lineup this season with 2nd year WR DeSean Jackson at some point in 2009. 

Maclin is also a outstanding return man.  He returned 85 kickoffs at Missouri for 2,049 yards (24.1 avg) with 2 TD returns.  Maclin also returned 48 punts in college for 577 yards (12.0 avg) with 3 TD returns.  This was a outstanding move for the Eagles as Maclin has a ton of upside.

The Philadelphia Eagles have acquired left offensive tackle Jason Peters from the Bills for their first round pick in 2009 (28th overall), a 4th rounder in 2009 and a undisclosed late round pick in the 2010 draft.  The Eagles then extended Peters contract for 4 years which makes him signed for the next six.  The 27-year old, 6′4″, 340 pound Peters is a mountain of a man who is nasty in run blocking but he did allow 11.5 sacks last season so McNabb better keep his drops short.  Peters played in 13 games (all starts) for the Bills last season.  He has now played in 65 games (55 starts) in his 5-year NFL career to date.  This could wind up being steal for the Eagles as Peters is a quality offensive lineman.

The Eagles found two keepers out of the ten players they drafted last April.  But, their first pick (2nd rounder) DT Trevor Laws was not one of them.  He played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season (0 starts) and he made 12 whole tackles.  WR DeSean Jackson was quite a find for the Eagles in the 2nd round last season.  Many experts thought he was too small but they forgot to judge the size of his heart.  Jackson played in all 16 games (15 starts) in which he caught 62 passes for 912 yards (14.7 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He also carried the football 17 times for 96 yards (5.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Jackson also shined on special teams as he returned 50 punts for 440 yards (8.8 avg) with 1 TD return.  He also returned 1 kickoff for 17 yards and made 2 tackles last season.  The sky is the limit for Jackson in the future.  DE Bryan Smith was a third round pick last season for the Eagles and he was the only player to be inactive all 16 games.  OT Mike McGlynn tore his hamstring last season as he only played in 3 games (0 starts).  Free safety Quintin Demps was the other find for the Eagles last season in the 4th round.  He played in all 16 games (0 starts) for the Eagles and he made 18 tackles, defensed 1 pass, had 1 sack and he forced 2 fumbles.  He will get the chance to compete with Sean Jones to replace the departed Brian Dawkins in 2009.  Demps also returned 52 kickoffs for 1,314 yards (25.3 avg) with 1 TD return.  Fellow 4th rounder Jake Ikegwuonu missed his rookie season due to a torn ACL but the Eagles like him.  6th rounder (OT) Mike Gibson missed last season after injuring his shoulder in August.  Inside linebacker Joe Mays (6th round) only played in 2 games (0 starts) last season for the Eagles and he didn’t make any tackles.  Outside linebacker Andy Studebaker was signed by the Chiefs off the practice squad and he played in 6 games for them.  OT King Dunlap (7th round) injured his ankle in the pre season and it kept him out for the season.

GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C-

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  B-