Drafting a QB in April doesn’t make a lot of sense, but generally the Eagles follow George Costanza logic:  Take your first instinct and do the complete opposite.

A pretty impressive two minute drill there, although the clock stoppage after 1st downs in college football changes the dynamic completely.  The Eagles sure could use that (both a QB who can execute and extra time outs).

While all the attention is currently focused on Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez, Kansas State’s Freeman could end up being the top QB of the ‘09 draft.  He looks like an NFL QB (6′6″, 248 pounds), can run the ball (4.97 40 yard dash, 14 rushing TDs last season) and not only has a strong arm but also throws efficiently (20 TDs, 8 INTs, 136.5 QB Rating in ‘08 season).

Freeman reminds me of a young Donovan McNabb; a playmaker both throwing and running the ball, but absolutely needs to refine his accuracy, touch and pocket passing game.  Definitely a boom or bust prospect, Freeman could become the next Aaron Brooks just as easily as the next McNabb.  I don’t see the Eagles drafting QB early, but if Freeman slips into the second round of the draft the Eagles may consider picking him up.

I’d rather have a young McNabb backing up the real McNabb than a young A.J. Feeley backing him up like we do now.

McNabb, like the SOB Nation, is looking forward to getting some questions answered in the 2009 off-season.

The Eagles’ Quarterback position has been discussed in great detail during this off-season, mostly due to McNabb airing his grievances out through the media.  Some fans want to see McNabb leave town, others just want him to shut up.

Regardless of what the fans want, McNabb will the Eagles starting QB in ’09 unless he decided that he doesn’t want to show up.  A hold-out from McNabb is unlikely, but the Eagles may look to sure up the QB position by adding a veteran through Free Agency.  Jeff Garcia’s available…

Although equally unlikely, after the jump you will find a list of all notable NFL QBs becoming free agents in ’09.

Click here for the full list of 2009 NFL Free Agent QBs.

I honestly don’t care about the QBs throwing in the 2009 Combine.  I’m much more concerned about the standing of the Quarterbacks currently on the Eagles roster (McNabb & Kolb) than those available in the draft.  The top of the draft class isn’t that strong, but there are a few Quarterbacks who I think will eventually make a real impact in the NFL.

It seems unlikely that the Eagles will use a high draft pick on a QB, but potentially could look for a project player in the middle or later rounds.  Lets focus on those who looked good at the Combine:

I'm not sure if Matthew Stafford has what it takes to make it in the NFL, but that girl does

• Matthew Stafford - Participated in positional drills, the 40 yard dash (4.84), vertical jump (30.5″) and broad jump (8′11″).  Nothing special in those numbers, but that isn’t Stafford’s game.  We’ll see what he really is in the NFL, but I don’t think any Quarterback can succeed in Detroit right now.
• Mark Sanchez - I think Sanchez is an intriguing NFL prospect, and his performance at the Combine only helped his cause.  At 6′2″ 227 pounds, Sanchez is a gun-slinger with some of the longest arms and biggest hands of all this year’s QBs.   His 4.88 40 was among the best of the Quarterback class, as well as his 32.5″ vertical, 4.21 second shuttle, and 9′8″ broad jump.  Sanchez will bring fire power to whichever NFL team’s offense that drafts him, plus lots of interceptions.
• Pat White - His stock was falling pre-Combine, but I think Pat White’s workout will help him on draft day.  The big question has always been his ability to play the QB position in the NFL, and did what he could, throwing well on Sunday.  For those who considered White more of a project offensive player, he put up an impressive 4.50 second 40 and 35″ vertical jump, both best among QBs.  Troy Smith was drafted in the 5th round of the 2008 draft, and I expect Pat White to be drafted before that in 2009.
• Josh Freeman - May have push himself into the 1st round of the draft with his Combine workout.  Freeman could have been better in positional drills, but his size and athleticism shined through.  He’s 6′5″ 248 pounds, and put up a 4.97 40, 33.5″ vertical leap, and an athletic 9′11″ broad jump.  You can’t coach Freeman’s size and athleticism, and if he’s available at pick #21 I would have to consider drafting him.

Quarterbacks the Eagles have met with at the Senior Bowl (a bunch of little white guys):

Rhett Bomar, who was booted from Oklahoma for breaking NCAA rules, is one of the QBs the Eagles met with at the Senior Bowl.

• Graham Harrell - The Texas Tech QB only participated in the 40, and ran it poorly with a slow 5.07 second dash.  Harrell was a tough college player, but his small hands and average size don’t translate well into the NFL.  He’s a late round gamble at best.
• Rhett Bomar - Isn’t the biggest QB at 6′2″ 225 pounds, and his hands were among the smallest of Combine QBs at 9″ long.  That said, he ran a solid 4.82 40 and put up the 225 bench press 25 times, second most of QBs.  Bomar left Oklahoma University after breaking NCAA rules in 2006, and the stigma from that incident will hurt his draft stock but one man’s lose is another’s gain.
• Nathan Brown - A small guy at 6′1″ 219 pounds, Brown’s got a pretty live arm but some questions about his size and mobility.  He tried, but didn’t do much to answer these questions with a 4.91 40 and a 4.44 second shuttle, one of the slowest among QBs to complete the drill.  Brown seems too small to be a pro QB, but his arm strength and accuracy keep him in the discussion.

To me there aren’t any sure things in the QB class of 2009.  I won’t be convinced of Stafford until he plays an NFL game and Sanchez is a situational boom or bust, so my favorite QB may be Josh Freeman.  It’s possible that all three will be taken within the first 20 picks of the draft.

Of the three QBs which the Eagles met with at the Senior Bowl, they all showed the common thread of being late round system quarterbacks.  Rhett Bomar is the most interesting to me as it seems like his stock is deflated due to him getting paid just like every other big time college athlete.  I need to read more about Nathan Brown too.

When it comes down to it, I hope the Eagles are following my lead and looking more deeply into positions like RB, OT, S, WR, DE, CB, etc. rather than  QB.

Donovan's been all smiles this offseason, and a new contract would keep the good times rolling.

McNabb & I haven’t been on the same page recently.  Throughout his campaign for a new contract, which began in Tampa two weeks after the NFC Championship game, I’ve been trying to figure out where he’s coming from.  Right when I think I’ve got it, he goes and says something like he expects a “financial apology” for being benched.  Hey Don, you were benched because you were playing terribly, you don’t get a raise for that.  That said, it makes sense a lot of sense to give McNabb what he wants and re-work/extend his current contract.  Donovan has always shown the type of ability to become a Hall of Fame QB, but hasn’t been able to reach his ultimate goal (some call that “choking in big games”) and continues to surround himself with controversy.

But what other QB has been attacked throughout his career like McNabb has?  Donny was booed on draft day, victimized by Rush Limbaugh’s ignorance, and survived the cancer that is TO.  Plus he puts up with the general day-to-day scrutiny of the Philadelphia media dissecting his every action and word looking for something to critique.  McNabb has stood tall for the most part, yet always seems to toss in a couple whiny words.

Now he’s asking to re-work his contract, what he and Fletcher Smith call a “financial apology” for being benched against the Ravens.  As insane as that request sounds, I know there isn’t another QB even remotely available who can give the Eagles a better chance to win the Super Bowl in ‘09 or beyond for that matter.  So without further ado, the case for resigning Donovan McNabb:

The Numbers -

• The Eagles have only been to 6 NFC Championship games, and Donovan McNabb was the team’s quarterback in 5 of those games.  He, much like the Philadelphia Eagles, has never been able reach the next level and win a Superbowl.  Although it doesn’t reflect well on McNabb that he was at the helm for most of those loses, but we’ve had a better shot to make it happen over the past 10 years than any other stretch in Eagles history.Mortenweig

• But let’s not judge the future by the past.  Who is this quarterback today?  McNabb turned 32 a few months ago on November 25th, and during the 2008 season was among the top 10 NFL QB’s in completions, yardage and TDs.
• Not everything about the numbers are pretty, and the main complaint about McNabb is his mediocre 60% completion rate.  In 2008, Donny attempted 571 passes, 4th most in the NFL.  The one-dimentional nature of the Reid/Mornhinweg offense contributes to McNabb’s completion percentage issues, which drives down his QB rating as well.
• Since 2002, only Manning, Brady, Brees and Farve have thrown more TDs than McNabb.  Donovan has has the fewest INTs of the five quarterbacks, but also has the lowest completion percentage.  When healthy, McNabb is right up there in the “best quarterback not named Peyton or Tom” conversation.

Uncapped 2010 -

• As it stands today, the NFL will not have a salary cap for the 2010 season.  Nobody manages the cap better than Joe Banner, and if there is no cap in ‘10, re-working McNabb’s deal in could present some interesting possibilities for this year.  In the new contract (extension), Banner could divert money currently due to McNabb in ‘09 into the uncapped 2010 season, thus allowing the Eagles to be even more aggressive in the 2009 free agent market.

Kevin Kolb -

• The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.  As detailed earlier, McNabb’s numbers paint the picture of a top-tier NFL quarterback, even though the perception of his performance has not always matched up.  Imagine what this city would do to a mediocre QB.
• To date, the Eagle’s heir apparent at QB has not shown anything to make me confident that the team is in competent hands if the Birds were to part ways with McNabb.  If Kolb isn’t the answer, then who is?  Another high draft pick?  Sign an aging veteran?  Both of those options are too risky for me and don’t bring us any closer to the Super Bowl.

He needs a Super Bowl just as much as we do.

Certainty -

• From the outside looking in, it seems like McNabb’s current push for a contract extension is tied to his lack of certainty and confidence in the Eagles front office.  Hard to blame for being skeptical, the Eagle’s front office have been notorious for abruptly cutting ties with aging players, regardless of past performance.  In McNabb’s eyes, resigning with the Eagles is the only way to end the questioning and scrutiny from the media once and for all.  Who knows, maybe that weight off his shoulders is all he needs to get over the hump.

At the end of the day, Donovan McNabb is an elite quarterback, even if he is a step behind greats like Brady and Peyton Manning.  It’s not like those guys would be available if the Eagles were to cut ties with McNabb.  All we would be left with is the task of finding a new franchise QB, which is an extremely hard thing to do and the fastest way to get your team into “rebuilding mode”.

It’s easy to pin the blame on McNabb for the team’s inability to win a Super Bowl, but I argue that we wouldn’t have been in a position to consistently compete for Super Bowl’s without McNabb.

What do you say?

This is the first in what I hope will be 9 part series of posts detailing each position and the Eagles needs at the position leading up to the official beginning of the off-season - free agency.

If the Eagles make another Super Bowl run in 2009, it'll be on #5's shoulders

2008 Review

For the first time since the 2004 season, Donovan McNabb actually made it through an entire season without missing a game due to injury, but his season was still a story of peaks and valleys.  No other quarterback seems to have such extremes between his highest highs and lowest lows as our very own #5.  McNabb started off the season with a 3 touchdown game against the Rams, but then threw just 3 more touchdowns over his next 3 games.

This was the story of McNabb’s season, and in a way, his entire career with the Eagles.  When he was on in 2008, he was one of the best in game.  When he was off though, he made Kevin Kolb look like a good idea.  The seven quarters of football he turned in against Cincinnati and Baltimore were by far, the worst consecutive quarters of football McNabb has ever played wearing an Eagles jersey.  He rebounded nicely though, albeit against some weak defenses outside of the Giants and finished the season with pretty good numbers.  His 3,916 yards were a career high, his 23 TDs were the most he’s thrown since 2004, and he completed over 60% of his passes for just the third time in his career.

Position Needs

There’s rampant speculation that McNabb wants out of Philly and that his current tour of talk radio appearances is being done in an effort to make that happen.  The bottom line though is that McNabb is under contract for two more years with the Eagles and doesn’t have a whole lot of power here.  There aren’t going to be too many teams beating down the Eagles doors for a 32 year old quarterback with a history of accuracy and on field regurgitation problems.  Joe Banner has already said McNabb will be back in 2009 and no matter how much McNabb wants one, a new contract is probably not all that likely.

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