Personnel Mistakes Philadelphia Eagles Did NOT Make In 2014

Jan 6, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive end Dee Ford (30) in action against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Following Along Blindly

One of the toughest challenges in the off-season is avoiding the hype of the NFL Draft.  Well respected football analysts become nearly deities in handing out a course for what a team should do in their NFL draft.   But their is a reason those analysts are not working for the team.   And as a result, they can only guess at the needs, the value place upon those needs, and the urgency the team has assigned to each need in the off season.

Mocking Drafts and signing free agents in the off season are easy to do for a fan.   But the actual effort of finding THE player is intimately more difficult.   It was clear in the 2014 off season that the Philadelphia Eagles had placed a premium value on finding an outside linebacker who could cover and set an edge and bring a pass rush.    Unfortunately, players who offered those skills were NOT in ample supply this off-season.    If rumors were true, the Eagles discussed an opportunity to trade for Miami Dolphin outside linebacker Dion Jordan, targeted Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Jason Worilds as a free agent before he signed his contract offer with the Steelers.   Two likely draft targets – Buffalo’s Khalil Mack and UCLA’s Anthony Barr – were projected to be drafted far sooner than the Eagles could hope to select.   So many had the Eagles projected to draft players who fit only a limited set of skills sought at that position.    But by doing so, the Eagles may get a good draft grade, but struggle with a player who is slotted to contribute immediately but who cannot deliver on time.

Once more, production over potential.   By staying true to their board, the team did not follow along blindly to with the popularity contests.  They made the choice that was right for the team.