With Tra Thomas’s departure to Jacksonville, the Eagles have a huge need to address at the left tackle spot.  We already know the Eagles have stockpiled draft picks.  The Eagles have 12 picks in this year’s draft and they don’t intent to keep them all.  The Eagles traded Lito Sheppard and Greg Lewis to acquire more draft picks that they can deal to either move up in the draft or use a combination of picks to go after Bills LT Jason Peters.  Peters is a 6′4″, 340 lbs., 27-year-old LT with 6 years of experience.  He would be a much needed addition if the Bills are willing to deal him.

Adding a veteran tackle like Orlando Pace is another idea.  Pace was just released by the Rams.  With all the recent injuries, I’m wondering if he’s serviceable at all, but if the Eagles have to draft a tackle, they will want to add a veteran as some “insurance.”

We know that the Eagles wanted a tackle in last year’s draft.  Chris Williams was their guy.  His stock skyrocketted in the days leading up to the draft and the Bears took him with their 14th pick.  The next guy on the Eagles radar was Brandon Albert, but the Chiefs traded up to grab him before the Eagles could make their move to get him.  This prompted the Eagles to trade out of the first round and they still got another guy that they wanted: DeSean Jackson.

Last year was much deeper at tackle than this year’s draft, so I’m wondering what the Eagles thoughts are this year on drafting a tackle.  Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe should be locks to go in the top 10, so they are way out of the range for the Eagles to trade up.  Andre Smith would be another top-10 lock if it wasn’t for his breakdown at the combine.  Perhaps an impressive Pro Day will put him back at the top of the board and a team like Cincinnati could jump on him with their 6th pick.  That would put Michael Oher as a potential guy the Eagles could target, but would have to trade up for.

We also know the Eagles want to get their hands on Brandon Pettigrew to fill the TE spot left by the departure of L.J. Smith.  With the Eagles drafting at 21 and 28, I expect the Eagles to package some of their late-round picks with each of their first rounders to move up a few spots to secure Michael Oher and Brandon Pettigrew.

If the Eagles don’t find a trading partner and have to stay put and the top tackles are off the board, what do the Eagles do?  Do they draft another position of need (RB) or do they go with the next best tackle?  Who knows.  William Beatty and Eben Britton are the consensus next-best tackles.  The Eagles would also have their choice of Beanie Wells, Knowshon Moreno, or LeSean McCoy at pick 28, but the Eagles never draft a RB in the first round and RB is deep in this year’s draft.  I wouldn’t be opposed to waiting until round 2 or 3 to grab a RB.  There are great options in the later rounds.  Iowa’s Shonne Green and NC State’s Andre Brown are good options in round 2, but I think the Eagles will have their eyes set on Texas A&M’s Mike Goodson as a 2nd or 3rd-round target.  If the Eagles go OT/TE with their first two picks, I would definitely jump on taking Goodson with a 2nd-round pick.  Goodson posted a 4.54 40-yard-dash at the Combine, but improved that to a 4.43 at his Pro Day.  Plus, his skills at catching the ball out of the backfield have been praised, which is a prerequisite to be an Eagles RB.

Watching Material (Remind you of Brian Westbrook at all?)

Other good news: FB Leonard Weaver may sign with the Eagles!