The Eagles need 33-year old David Akers to rebound from a rough 2007 season in which he left a lot of points on the field.  Akers played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season and he connected on 24 of 32 (75%) field goal attempts.  Akers also converted all 36 of his extra points.  Akers seems to be starting to look his age and the Eagles can’t afford him messing up in 2008.  Akers has now played in 141 games in his NFL career and he has made 197 of 244 field goals (80.7%).  Akers has also made 308 of 312 extra points (98.7%) in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C

The Eagles appear four deep with decent TEs for 2008.  It all starts with 28-year old L.J. Smith who has been one of Donovan McNabb’s favorite targets in the past.  He needs to stay healthy to be effective however which he wasn’t very often last year.  Smith played in 10 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 22 passes for 236 yards (10.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Smith to rebound with a big season in 2008.  Smith has now played in 73 games in his NFL career and he has caught 194 passes for 2,227 yards (11.5 avg) with 15 TD grabs.

23-year old Brent Celek had a solid rookie season in 2007 for the Eagles.  Celek played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 16 passes for 178 yards (11.1 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Look for Celek to have a decent season if he can hold off Kris Wilson and Matt Schobel for playing time.

26-year old Kris Wilson was brought in as a free agent during the offseason from the Chiefs where he was playing a lot of fullback.  Wilson is a good blocker in the running game and he has good hands despite not having the speed to go deep.  Wilson played in all 16 games for the Chiefs last season and he caught 24 passes for 180 yards (7.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also carried the football 3 times for 7 yards (2.3 ypc) last season.  Look for Wilson to get his fair share of the playing time at TE for the Eagles but it will be mostly be on running downs.  Wilson has now played in 46 games in his NFL career and he has caught 42 passes for 345 yards (8.2 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Wilson has also carried the ball 4 times for 13 yards (3.3 ypc) in his career.

29-year old Matt Schobel appears to have the odds stacked against him as far as playing time goes in 2008.  Schobel played in 15 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 11 passes for 108 yards (9.8 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Unless there is an injury it might be hard for Schobel to move up on the depth chart.  Schobel has now played in 94 games in his NFL career and he has caught 115 passes for 1,260 yards (11.0 avg) with 12 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C

The Eagles like to move the ball around on offense but the receivers need to start carrying more of the load on offense so that the Eagles don’t overwork Brian Westbrook and cause him to break down.  30-year old Kevin Curtis has stepped up as the #1 WR of the Eagles.  He’s fearless despite being on the small side at 6′0″, 186 pounds and he’s really quick.  Curtis played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 77 passes for 1,110 yards (14.4 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Look for him to have another big season if he can stay healthy.  Curtis has now played in 67 games in his NFL career and he has caught 213 passes for 2,824 yards (13.3 avg) with 18 TD grabs.  Curtis has also carried the football 8 times for 33 yards (4.1 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.

The Eagles keep waiting for Reggie Brown to live up to his potential.  He has issues with drops that have held him back in his career.  Brown played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 61 passes for 780 yards (12.8 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Brown also carried the football 5 times for 36 yards (7.2 ypc) last season.  Look for Brown to improve his numbers in 2008 as he will maintain his focus all season long.  Brown has now played in 48 games in his NFL career and he has caught 150 passes for 2,167 yards (14.4 avg) with 16 TD grabs.  Brown has also carried the football 9 times for 65 yards (7.2 ypc) with 1 TD run.

The Eagles have not been pleased with the performance of Jason Avant in his first two seasons in the NFL.  Avant has played in 15 games for the Eagles this season and he has caught 23 passes for 267 yards (11.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Avant better come to play this season or he could really take a drop on the depth chart.  Avant has now played in 23 games in his NFL career and he has caught 30 passes for 335 yards (11.2 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

Hank Baskett certainly looks the part at 6′4″, 220 pounds but he’s plays soft for his size.  Baskett played in all 16 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 16 passes for 142 yards (8.9 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Baskett is at a crossroads with the Eagles as they appear to be running out of patience with him.  Baskett has now played in 32 games in his NFL career and he has caught 38 passes for 606 yards (15.9 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

Rookie DeSean Jackson is small at 6′0″, 166 pounds but he’s as fast as lightning.  The Eagles will use Jackson on returns this season but they also have a need at WR and Jackson could earn the #3 job with a good training camp and preseason.  Jackson played in 13 games (10 starts) last season for California and he caught 65 passes for 762 yards (11.7 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Jackson can certainly get deep and Donovan McNabb still has the arm to get the ball down the field so expect some fireworks between the two this season.  Jackson finished his career at California playing in 37 games (33 starts) in which he caught 162 passes for 2,423 yards (15.0 avg) with 22 TD grabs.

Greg Lewis is also on the small side at 6′0″, 180 pounds but he can really fly.  Lewis played in 15 games for the Eagles last season and he caught 13 passes for 265 yards (20.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Lewis is in a battle for a roster spot but he will have no trouble finding a job if he doesn’t make it with the Eagles.  Lewis has now played in 74 games in his NFL career and he has caught 108 passes for 1,452 yards (13.4 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Lewis has also carried the ball 6 times for 29 yards (4.8 ypc) this season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B-

The Eagles generally prefer to run out 3 WR sets to using a fullback.  Still, Jason Davis and Luke Lawton will battle it out in training camp.  The odds favor Luke Lawton in this battle due to the fact that he has played in the NFL before.  The Eagles acquired Lawton from the Colts for a 7th round pick.  Lawton is 6′0″, 245 pounds but none of his skills as a football player really stand out.  He played in 11 games for the Colts last season (0 starts) and he carried the ball 5 times for 13 yards (2.6 ypc).  Lawton also caught 4 passes for 29 yards (7.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Lawton played in 4 games before last season but he didn’t touch the football.  Don’t expect miracles out of Lawton because the Colts didn’t use a fullback much either last season.

Jason Davis is 5′11″, 240 pounds but no one really knows what he can do because he hasn’t set foot on an NFL field yet.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  D- 

The Eagles appear to have really top depth at running back for the 2008 season.  Brian Westbrook will be the main man in the running attack again this season for the Eagles.  Westbrook is a great receiver out of the backfield and he is surprisingly strong as he can handle the heavy work between the tackles.  Westbrook  played in 15 games (all starts) last season for the Eagles and he has carried the ball 278 times for 1,333 yards (4.8 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He also caught 90 passes for 771 yards (8.6 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  All Westbrook has to do is stay healthy to have another very solid season for the Eagles in 2008.  Westbrook has now played in 85 games (64 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 1,014 times for 4,785 yards (4.7 ypc) with 27 TD runs.  He also has caught 347 passes for 3,207 yards (9.2 avg) with 23 TD grabs.

Correll Buckhalter finally stayed healthy in 2007 and he was effective.  The Eagles have their fingers crossed that he will be able to stay healthy again in 2008.  Buckhalter played in 14 games (2 starts) for the Eagles this season and he carried the ball 62 times for 313 yards (5.0 ypc) with 4 TD runs.  He also caught 12 passes for 87 yards (7.3 avg).  Buckhalter has missed a lot of time due to health problems in his NFL career so he likely has a lot left in the tank.  He has now played in 60 games (14 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 400 times for 1,786 yards (4.5 ypc) with 16 TD runs.  He also caught 59 passes for 606 yards (10.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs.

2nd year running back Tony Hunt will have to fight to keep his NFL job as he didn’t do much as a rookie in 2007.  Hunt played in 8 games (0 starts) for the Eagles last year and he carried the ball 10 times for 16 yards (1.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He is a strong runner between the tackles but he doesn’t have enough speed to get around the corner.

The Eagles acquired RB Lorenzo Booker on draft day this April and he will have a good chance to win the #3 RB job this year.  He played in 7 games (1 start) for the Dolphins this season and he carried the ball 28 times for 125 yards (4.5 ypc).  He also caught 28 passes for 237 yards (8.5 avg) for the Fins.  Look for Booker to catch a lot of passes that Westbrook used to as the Eagles will try to keep him in one piece.

Ryan Moats will have a fight on his hands to make the Eagles’ roster.  He did not carry the ball last season for the Eagles.  Moats has now played in 15 games (1 start) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 77 times for 347 yards (4.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He also has caught 4 passes for 7 yards (1.8 avg).

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A