If Not Houshmandzadeh, then Who?

It’s February, which means the annual “upgrade the receivers” chants are growing louder. We are fifteen days from the opening of free agency and the name TJ Houshmandzadeh is becoming more popular than a cheesesteak from Pat’s. And if you believe the rumors, Anquan Boldin could be on his way to Philly. For the record, I don’t buy it.

As enticing as it is to imagine a receiving corps of DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis and Housh, we should temper our excitement a tad. These are the Eagles after all. The odds of them opening the checkbook for a 32 year-old wideout – who is roughly the same size as Jackson and Curtis – are not good. Not to say TJ couldn’t help, but a bigger, more physical receiver seems more appropriate.

Of course, guys like Larry Fitzgerald don’t grow on trees. But there are plenty of 6’4″ guys available in free agency and the draft. Rich Hofmann over at the Daily News wrote an interesting article suggesting a few other names who might help the Birds’ red zone woes. I’m not sure I agree with Rich, but he makes some good points.

My personal opinion is a dominant pass-catching tight end who can also block is the number one priority. Remember when Donovan had Chad Lewis? It was Lewis who caught two touchdowns in the NFC Championship win over the Falcons. What if he hadn’t broken his foot on the game-sealing touchdown grab and was available to play in the Super Bowl?

The point is, Lewis gave Don a reliable red zone threat who rarely dropped a pass. A quality tight end can make all the difference to a quarterback. Maybe that’s why the Eagles did their best to acquire Tony Gonzalez back at the trade deadline. If it wasn’t for ex-Chiefs‘ GM Carl Peterson’s high demands, Gonzalez would have been wearing Eagle green.

In my humble opinion, Brandon Pettigrew is the name that should be circumventing the offices at NovaCare. He is an imposing package of size and skill. He can catch, run and block like few other prospects in recent memory. His ability to operate between the hashes allows more space for outside receivers to roam. If he can pick-up the Eagles’ complex offensive scheme quickly, he could pay huge dividends by mid-season.

Adding another weapon in the passing game is an absolute, but it doesn’t have to be a wide receiver. The Birds can score points. Their problem is finishing drives. If a tight end like Pettigrew can solve those issues, I say go get him. No matter what it takes.