I had the whole case for signing McFadden outlined, and the post was scheduled for 7:30 tonight.  Of course, the good-for-nothing Cardinals had to ruin everything and sign McFadden to a 2-year, $10 contract at like 6:00 PM.

Not only does this impact the Eagles depth at corner, but also could undermine the sinister plot to trade for a #1 WR.  Trading Sheldon for Boldin doesn’t work if the Cardinals are now content with the CB depth.

Although frustratingly tardy, click here to check out the now outdated case to go after another quality CB like Bryant McFadden

Joselio Hanson took the place of any potential Free Agent Cornerback catch

Cornerback is a position of strength for the Eagles, but there is still some uncertainty as to what the group will end up looking like at the start of the ‘09 season.  Two Pro Bowlers in Asante and Sheldon at the top clearly, and Hanson resigning means he is still the nickel.  Where will Lil’ Lito go?  Is Nick Graham our dime corner, or will it be a player brought in through the draft?

What about the Free Agents?

The group of CBs in Free Agency this year is pretty deep, and there are quite a few players available who could help upgrade the Eagles secondary.  The 5-year $21mil deal that Joselio Hanson signed the other day really sets the bar for what nickel/dime corners get in Free Agency this year, and it may be a more fiscally responsible option for the Birds to draft a CB.

Click to see the highlights from the 2009 NFL Free Agent Cornerbacks

I'm pumped you got resigned too, Joselio.

The Eagles locked up free agent to be Joselio Hanson with a five year, $21 million deal ($6.8 mil guaranteed) late Friday night.

“We are happy to keep Joselio in Philadelphia with a long-term contract,” said head coach Andy Reid. “He’s become a productive and valuable player on defense for us over the last few years, especially in nickel situations. Good cornerbacks are certainly a valuable commodity in this league and Joselio definitely fits that category.”

This was a great move by the FO.  Hanson is a very solid young CB and at worst is a good nickel back for the Eagles defense.  He is also young enough that he could potentially step in and replace Sheldon Brown as a starter if his play starts to decline as he reaches his 30th birthday next month.

Speaking of Sheldon, could the five year deal Hanson got mean Sheldon might not be around all that much longer?  He is signed through the 2012 season, but according to EaglesCap.com, the Eagles wouldn’t take a salary cap hit at all if they were to cut Brown anytime before then.  Brown’s contract is pretty reasonable in light of all the crazy contracts corners have been getting.  Brown will only be earning $3.2 mil in 2009 so I don’t see the Eagles parting ways with him much before the end of his current deal.  I still think Sheldon could be an eventual replacement for Dawkins at free safety.

As sure-handed L.J. Smith proved in '08, having a "Franchise" tagged player doesn't always help your franchise.

Philly.com is reporting that, per a “team source”, the Philadelphia Eagles will not use the franchise tag on any of their 2009 free agents.  That means that Brian Dawkins, Sean Considine, Joselio Hanson, Correll Buckhalter, Tra Thomas, Jon Runyan, and L.J. Smith will either willingly sign with the Eagles, or leave for greener pastures.

The franchise tag was created to allow teams the opportunity to hand-cuff a player into a one-year, guaranteed contract.  In theory, the team wins by holding onto the player for another year, while the player wins by getting a one-year guaranteed contract worth the average salary of the top-5 highest played player at their respective position.  In reality, teams like the tag because it allows them to underpay star players, while players hate the tag because it removes the security of signing a long-term contract in their prime.

Last year’s usage of the franchise tag on L.J. Smith is a prime example of the reality of the franchise tag.  The Eagles lost, paying L.J. $4.5 million for stats that didn’t rank in the top-20 at his position.  L.J. lost, as his value dropped significantly after a poor 2008 campaign and he will most likely be forced to sign a “prove it”, short-term deal with another team.

So the Eagles are putting it out there that they will not use the tag at all.  Knowing the Eagles, that means they very well may end up using the tag.  Either way, here’s the SOB take on the 2009 Eagles free agents and the franchise tag:

• Brian Dawkins - Safety - $6.3mil franchise tag - Although the safety position carries the 4th lowest value of any position, the Eagles will be able to resign Dawk for less.
• Sean Considine - Safety - $6.3mil franchise tag - Laughable.
• Joselio Hanson - Cornerback - $10.0mil franchise tag - In 2007, the franchise tag for CBs was $5.9mil, amazing how much it has increased.  No nickel corner in the league is worth $10mil/year.
• Correll Buckhalter - Running Back - $6.6mil franchise tag - Buck has given the Birds his all, but the Eagles aren’t running a charity.
• Tra Thomas - Offensive Tackle - $8.5mil franchise tag - Using the tag on Thomas is a real option.  The Eagles absolutely have the cap room to afford putting the tag on Thomas, even if we are overpaying for him.  Keeping Thomas around for one more year gives the Eagles flexibility to draft for the future while maintaining Thomas as a security blanket during any growing pains.
• Jon Runyan - Offensive Tackle - $8.5mil franchise tag - I’d love to have Runyan back, and I’m hoping that Runyan signs a contract that will allow him to finish out his career in Philadelphia.
• L.J. Smith - Tight End - $4.5mil franchise tag - Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.

So far in ‘09, thirteen players have been given the franchise tag, two of which are kickers/punters.  Outside of Thomas, Dawkins or maybe Runyan, there is no player worth the tag, and it looks like the Eagles may not be the only team not to use it.

As we get closer to the February 27th start of NFL Free Agency, we take an in-depth look at unrestricted free agent Joselio Hanson.

2008 Season Overview:

• Hanson has fought for everything he’s ever gotten in his career.  He came into the league in 2003 after being signed as an undrafted free agent by the 49ers.  After being cut and playing a year in NFL Europe, the Eagles gave him a second chance in 2007.
• In 2008, Hanson came in fighting for a roster spot as the 4th cornerback, tops.  However, Lito Sheppard’s constant complaining and subsequent benching provided Hanson an opportunity that he made the most of.  Hanson put up 28 tackles, one sack and his first career interception in 2008, and was the Eagles starting nickle cornerback for the majority of the season.  It all hasn’t been good from Hanson, but he has grown into a fairly consistent player of late.

Hanson has played well, but an upgrade may be in order

2009 Outlook:

• Coming into the 2008 season, Philadelphia’s secondary was looked at as one of the best in the NFL.  But with Sheppard’s imminent departure, and 279 yards and 4 TDs the Cardinals put up through the air in the NFC Championship game, all of the sudden there are some serious questions at corner.  Asante and Brown are both Pro Bowl caliber players, but after that who’s left?  Sheppard and Hanson are the only backup corners listed on the Eagles official depth chart, although Jack Ikegwuonu (coming off horrible injury), Dimitri Patterson (5th year CB coming from KC), and Trae Williams (never played in an NFL game) are all on current roster.
• Hanson’s play has consistently improved throughout his two year career with the Eagles.  If both he and Sheppard leave via free agency and trade/cut respectively, the Eagles will absolutely need to test free agency to get a known quantity at corner, and will probably need to address the position in the draft as well.
• Corner is a postition that many teams, including the Eagles, place a lot of value in, and this was evident in last year’s free agent market.  In 2007, ex-Charger CB Drayton Florence, more of a #2 corner than a #3, was bumped to the nickel spot when the team drafted Antonio Cromartie.  Last year the Jaguars signed Florence to 6-year, $36 million contract in free agency.

Will he be a Bird in ‘09?

• I’d take him, but I’d rather sign Corey Ivy.
• Hanson may get snatched up by a team desperate for help in the secondary.  I don’t expect Hanson to be offered the sort of contract that Florence was, but it would not surprise me if there is legitimate interest out there.  Hanson has shown improvement and comfort in Jim Johnson’s scheme, but I’m not sure how much upside the 5′9″ corner really has.  With that being said, I’m only letting Hanson walk if we are ready to pull the trigger in free agency on an improvement at nickel corner like Phillip Buchanon or Corey Ivy.