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Although frustratingly tardy, click here to check out the now outdated case to go after another quality CB like Bryant McFadden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