Important decisions the Philadelphia Eagles must make sooner rather than later

Is it time to finally invest some coin in the safety and tailback positions?

They aren't premium positions in the eyes of Eagles leadership. Then again, most NFL organizations don't value safeties and tailbacks as they do edge rushers and offensive/defensive linemen. However, if your favorite team lacks talent in both areas, it's noticed immediately.

That doesn't mean Philly needs to break the bank to upgrade either position. We shouldn't expect them to, but there needs to be more of an investment than we have seen lately. The offensive and defensive deficiencies we have seen as of late will continue unless that decision is made.

This time, the offensive and defensive lines can be addressed later in the NFL Draft... maybe.

Speaking of devalued positions... Let's talk about the revolving door the Eagles have had at linebacker. It may be time to drive a wedge in the machine.

The Eagles have typically taken offensive or defensive linemen early in the NFL Draft. Sometimes, they have taken both. Howie Roseman learned that from Andy Reid. There's nothing wrong with that, but despite needing more help along the edge, they're relatively stocked in both areas now.

Meanwhile, they're watered down at the defense's second level, and we can argue that they don't have much behind Darius Slay and James Bradberry. Here's something worth noting. They haven't taken a linebacker in the first round of any selection meeting since 1979 (Jerry Robinson). They haven't taken a defensive back in Round 1 since 2002 (Lito Sheppard).

It may be time to invest early draft capital into positions that have often been fed with leftovers. That doesn't mean the Birds will oblige us by taking this advice, but think about something. The best NFL teams field great linebackers, don't they?

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