As an avid fantasy football player, I start focusing on ranking and evaluating players after the draft and free agency. There's really not much else to talk about, and for those of you who are wondering which Eagles to draft this fall, this is the article for you. Last year, I was in three leagues, and I only had one Eagle on any of my teams: LeSean McCoy. Players like Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson get so much national attention and were coming off such successful seasons that there really was no way they could be good value picks. This year should be the opposite. After rough seasons for pretty much every Eagles except for McCoy and maybe Brent Celek, there should be some good buy-low opportunities out there if you want some Eagles on your team. Keeping in mind that I project players' numbers across a full 16 game schedule, here are my projections for the fantasy-relevant Eagles.

QB Michael Vick - 315/525, 4,150 passing yards, 26 TD, 14 INT, 90 carries, 660 rushing yards, 5 rushing TD, 4 fumbles lost. Vick is a fantasy monster when healthy. The catch is, he has by far the highest injury risk of any fantasy relevant quarterback in the league. That keeps him out of the top five fantasy quarterbacks in my rankings. I think he's a fourth round pick, but if you roll the dice on him, be sure to get yourself a solid backup. 

RB LeSean McCoy - 250 carries, 1,150 rushing yards, 50 receptions, 350 yards, 14 total TD. LeSean McCoy is definitely a top five pick in all formats this year, but he should experience a slight dip in numbers. Still, he has everything you want in your stud running back. He plays on a productive offense, he doesn't split carries, and he's as durable as they come. As somebody who took Jamaal Charles in the first round of one of my drafts, I can say that no running back is a sure thing, but McCoy is definitely not a risk in round one. There's no way he finds the end zone 20 times again and he'll probably get a slightly lighter workload, but he's a fantasy dream, especially in PPR formats.

WR DeSean Jackson - 65 receptions, 1,170 yards, 6 TD, 10 carries, 100 yards. I'm very curious to see how DeSean Jackson handles wealth. He will either play with less fear and finesse now that he has guaranteed money in the bank and the loyalty of a franchise, or he'll slack off and show even less effort than before. For this reason, Jackson is a bit of a risk. However, I think he genuinely cares about the team and will play looser than he did in 2011. He can be a football player now, not a businessman. Still, he's an injury risk and extremely inconsistent since the Eagles don't force feed him the ball. He's not good in PPR formats, either. Jackson's numbers should be better in 2012, but he's not a WR1 and should probably be taken in the fifth or sixth round.

WR Jeremy Maclin - 80 receptions, 1,100 yards, 8 TD. Jeremy Maclin is a breakout candidate this season. He's only 24-years-old and managed to post a career high yards-per-game total despite all the injuries and drama he dealt with in 2011. Some members of the Eagles' coaching staff believe Maclin will be the most improved player on the team in 2012, and he could be great value if you can draft him in the middle rounds of your draft. I just might rank him higher than DeSean Jackson once I publish my full projections.

TE Brent Celek - 50 receptions, 625 yards, 6 TD. Celek had a nice year in 2011, but part of that was due to turmoil at the receiver position. In 2012, I expect Vick to target Jackson and Maclin more often, which should eat out of Celek's opportunities. Celek will not be able to keep pace with some of the monster years tight ends are having nowadays, so he's just a late-round option. 

LeSean McCoy signed a 5 year contract extension worth $45 million, including $20.765 million in guaranteed money. This offseason, the Eagles have already signed DeSean Jackson, Todd Herremans, Evan Mathis, and Trent Cole to long-term extensions, and continue to lock up their young talent long term. 

Even though I think running backs make too much money given how quickly they fade and how replaceable they are in today's league, the McCoy deal was a good one for several reasons. One, McCoy is one of the few true workhorse backs remaining in the NFL. Two, aside from Michael Vick, McCoy is the most valuable player on the team. Defenses have a lot of respect for him, and he is a threat on any down as well as in the passing game. Three, you can make the argument that he is the best running back in the game today. He's explosive, has a nose for the endzone, and is durable (knock on wood). Nobody else in the league has his combination of speed, versatility, and consistency. I would give Adrian Peterson the edge over him, but now that he has a torn ACL, McCoy has to be in the conversation for the best back in the league. 

McCoy's contract is nowhere close to Adrian Peterson's monster 7 year, $96 million deal and received $10 million fewer in guarantees than Chris Johnson. Instead, he signed a very similar contract to Arian Foster's 5 year, $43.5 million deal with $20.75 million guaranteed. So, the money is very reasonable. The Eagles have averted a potential holdout, and can now turn their attention elsewhere. I would make sure Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie stays in Philly. I think he will emerge as an elite corner this year. His combination of length and speed is special, and he might be much tougher to retain next offseason.

The reason the Eagles defense fell short of expectations in 2011 was not due to a lack of talent, but because the team did not have an identity. The unit was caught in between two schemes and struggled in a period of transition. Jim Johnson football is gone. The Eagles are not a zone blitz team any longer. Instead, they are a press coverage team that wants to get pressure with four down linemen. Now that the team has gotten rid of some player who didn't fit the new system and added new ones who do, I expect much better continuity on defense. 

Jim Washburn's defensive line was one of the elite units in the league in 2011, but should be even better this year. The key contributors are all returning (unless you count Trevor Laws), and the Eagles added a first and second round pick to the mix. They'll also get former first round pick Brandon Graham back. This is a deep, explosive unit that will rotate players in and out and keep them fresh and relentless. The defensive line had the smoothest transition from the Johnson era to the Washburn/Castillo era due to the additions of Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins and Derek Landri. As those fluid pass rushers dominated the snap count in 2011, the shorter, stouter run defenders like Brodrick Bunkley, Mike Patterson, and Antonio Dixon had their roles reduced. Bunkley didn't figure into the team's plans at all. I expect the defensive line to maintain their level of play, but it's the players behind them who must step up in 2012.

The linebackers had a tougher transition. Prior to 2011, defensive tackles generally were tasked with occupying blockers, commanding double teams, and clogging up the middle. This kept offensive linemen from getting to the second level, allowing the linebackers to play a run-and-chase style, reacting to the football and getting there with speed instead of force. Now, the Eagles want their defensive linemen to make plays, not just free things up for the players behind them. As a result, the defensive line got much better penetration, disruptions in the run game, and pressure on the quarterback. However, their success came at the linebacking corps' expense as undersized players like Jamar Chaney, Brian Rolle, and Casey Matthews struggled to beat blocks and make plays in a phone booth. In the Eagles' new system, the linebackers must be downhill players who can be "thumpers" against the run as opposed to athletic guys with sideline-to-sideline range. New additions DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks will need to be comfortable with that style of play. Ryans definitely has the size to hold up in the middle, but Kendricks plays as more of a space player than a thumper on tape. However, Kendricks played behind only three down linemen at Cal and managed to be the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He had to deal with lots of offensive linemen in his face, and while he had his fair share of struggles, still found a way to be around the football and make plays. I anticipate Kendricks starting on the strong side, Ryans starting in the middle, and Brian Rolle on the weak side. 

While the linebackers were exposed in 2011, the real disappointment was in the secondary. There were no Pro Bowl players at linebacker, but the expectations on the back end could not have been higher after Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie joined Asante Samuel to form what was supposed to be the greatest trio of corners in NFL history. That fantasy was derailed quickly after the coaching staff assigned those three talented players some of the worst roles I could have imagined. Nnamdi Asomugha is dominant, except when he plays zone coverage, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is one of the best athletes in the entire league, and was plugged in as the slot corner, which relies on intelligence more than pure athleticism. Both players were quickly pegged as busts, but now that they will both be playing on the outside as predominantly press corners, I expect them to establish (and in Asomugha's case, re-establish) themselves as elite NFL corners.

The difference between the 2011 defense and the 2012 defense is continuity. In the NFL, it really doesn't matter what scheme you run. It's not that the 3-4 is more successful than the 4-3. It's not that zone coverage is more successful than man coverage. The key is to find a scheme that allows teams to maximize the talents of the players on their roster. In 2011, the Eagles did a terrible job of doing that, but in 2012, the sky is the limit for this defensive unit if  - and I know this is a cliche - they all get on the same page and play as a cohesive group rather than a bunch of individuals. Last year, nobody really knew what Eagles defense was. In 2012, when fans see those wacky defensive end stances and a pair of 6'2" corners up in their opponents' grills on the line of scrimmage, they'll know what team is on the field.

The top 100 players show that the NFL is doing has inspired me to rank the ten best current Philadelphia Eagles. I'm not necessarily basing these rankings on their 2011 performances, but their overall effectiveness and skill level. Here goes.

*ages on opening day (9/9/12)

10. Jeremy Maclin, WR, age 24: While Maclin is not a dominant player, he has been the most consistent target in the passing game for one of the league's most prolific offenses since his name was called in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He's a complete receiver with speed, toughness, and the ability to run every route. 2011 was a rough season for him due to some scary offseason ordeals as well as injuries during the season. He still led the team in receptions despite missing three games and posted a career best 66 yards per game. He benefits from defenses paying too much attention to DeSean Jackson, and could be in line for a breakout season in 2012. He flashes a nose for the end zone and can do everything you ask for as a receiver. I expect him to post his first career 1,000 yard season this year.

9. DeSean Jackson, WR, age 25: Most would consider this to be a bit low for DeSean Jackson, but he's too one dimensional to be considered an elite player. He has game breaking speed, which makes him a valuable weapon. He's a player who defenses must account for at all times, which frees the field up for his teammates. He definitely has a role on the Eagles, but he's purely a speed guy. Every team wants players with Jackson's ability, but some fans mistake him for a true number one receiver. Jackson is great at what he does, but he simply does not do as much as the players above him on this list.

8. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, age 26: This ranking may be a bit premature, but I think "DRC" will establish himself as a top corner in the NFL in 2012. He has rare length and speed at 6'2". He is one of two or three players to have ever run a sub 4.3 40 yard dash at taller than 6'1", and that allows him to blanket the tallest and fastest receivers in the league in press coverage. His skill set fits exactly what the Eagles want to do defensively, and he and Nnamdi Asomugha could form the best corner tandem in the league. Although he has not had a dominant season yet, DRC will flourish in his role in 2012 after being miscast as a slot corner in 2011. 

7. Michael Vick, QB, age 32: If this were a list of most valuable Eagles, Vick would be higher. However, this is a list of the best players, and all of Vick's teammates who ranked higher than him can make a strong case for being one of the top five players in the league at their position. Vick has rare talent from an athleticism standpoint and always seems to put points on the board. I consider him to be a franchise quarterback, but there's no doubt that he's a notch down from Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady. If he does a better job taking care of the football, he may move up this list.

6. Evan Mathis, OG, age 30: Evan Mathis was one of the best success stories in the entire league in 2011. He was brought in on the veteran minimum, but quickly won the starting left guard job and never looked back. He did not give up a sack all season and graded out as the best run blocking guard in the entire league by Pro Football Focus. He is extremely athletic and fit Howard Mudd's zone blocking system perfectly. His performance didn't go unnoticed, either, as the Eagles rewarded Mathis with a $25 million contract this offseason. 

5: Jason Babin, DE, age 32: Babin's career high 18 sacks last season speak for themselves. He is an elite pass rusher in the NFL. Jim Washburn wanted him in Philadelphia last offseason, and he certainly did not disappoint. He abused right tackles all season long and established himself as an elite pure edge rusher. The only reasons he's not higher on this list are that he doesn't play the run particularly well and that his sacks came in bunches, meaning that he was inconsistent in applying pressure at times.

4. Trent Cole, DE, age 29: Jason Babin got more recognition than Trent Cole last season, but Cole probably deserves more credit than his teammate for leading an elite defensive line in 2011. While Babin's 18 sacks dwarfed Cole's 11, those totals can be misleading. Cole played 80 fewer snaps than his teammate, and still managed to get 44 quarterback pressures to Babin's 37. He also plays the run much better than Babin. I will never forget how bad Cole abused Sam Baker in Atlanta, either. The Eagles clearly have a great pair of defensive ends, but I would have to give Cole the edge over Babin.

3. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, age 31: Asomugha got picked on by the media and the fans a lot in 2011, but not by many quarterbacks. There's a misconception that he didn't play well in 2011, but he actually surrendered fewer receiving yards than any of the year's Pro Bowl corners. He surrendered only 29 receptions for 376 yards the entire season despite playing much more zone coverage than he was accustomed to. Asomugha has the size and speed to be a dominant press corner, but the Eagles foolishly did not use him in that role as much as they could have. The Eagles will let him get physical with receivers at the line of scrimmage in man coverage in 2012, and I expect him to be the dominant player he was in Oakland.

2. LeSean McCoy, RB, age 24: I'll admit that when I saw LeSean McCoy play as a rookie, I wasn't sold on his potential. How wrong I was. After racking up over 1,600 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns as a 23-year-old, McCoy included himself in the conversation to be the best running back in the league. After Adrian Peterson's injury and Chris Johnson's slump, I'm not sure there's a better back out there. McCoy has elite vision and quickness. He can make defenders miss in a phone booth better than any player in the league and he has breakaway speed. Hopefully he can avoid the injury bug.

1. Jason Peters, OT, age 30: It's a shame that Peters will be unable to suit up in 2012, but there's no question that he's a dominant left tackle. He has great size at 340 pounds and rare agility for somebody his size. He rarely gets help as a pass protector and routinely handles great players like DeMarcus Ware and John Abraham. He is perhaps the best offensive lineman in the entire league. Howard Mudd even asks him to block two players on the same play when the coaches call a sprint draw, which was maybe the team's single most successful play in 2011. Peters simply dominates in every phase of the game at a position where one bad snap can cost your quarterback an injury. He is the best player on the Eagles' roster.

Just missed the cut: TE Brent Celek (age 27), DT Cullen Jenkins (age 31), OT Todd Herremans (age 29), LB DeMeco Ryans (age 28)

The front office and Andy Reid clearly have a lot of confidence in the offense because they did not invest much money or many draft picks on that side of the football.  In 2011, the group ranked fourth in total yardage and eighth in scoring. The unit consistently moved the ball up and down the field, and the Eagles were a tough team to shut down entirely. Still, the Eagles do not have an elite offense. 

In the NFL, the only way to have an elite offense is to have an elite quarterback. No other player can distribute the ball to all the firepower around him like the quarterback. Nobody on the field has more mental responsibilities or the ability to lead a last second drive. In that sense, Michael Vick holds the key to the Eagles' season. I firmly believe that.

Michael Vick is a unique player not just because of his remarkable athleticism or revolutionary style of play. He also finds himself in a unique situation. He's entering his age-32 season, and he still has not had the benefit of a full offseason of preparation as the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. In this way, he's an inexperienced veteran or even rookie. At the same time, it's hard to cast him in that role because he's a player who has gone through more ups and downs than even the most seasoned veteran. He has signed two different $100 million contracts. He's started 93 career games, but he's also been a backup. He's been a number one overall draft pick as well as a free agent. The point is, Michael Vick is special, and in the NFL, special is good.

However, most of the time, analysts and coaches talk about "special" in the context of long arms on a corner, burst on a pass rusher, or leaping ability for a receiver. When it comes to franchise quarterbacks, "special" tends to be avoided. With very few exceptions, teams want a guy who goes 6'5", 235, likes to throw from the pocket, and can outsmart pretty much any human being on the planet. 

Michael Vick has an opportunity to buck this trend. I love his skill set. He has a big arm, underrated accuracy, and remarkable speed and elusiveness. More importantly, I think he's just as big a competitor as some of the more fiery and vocal leaders in the league. He takes an absolute pounding over the course of the season, and due to the mistakes he has made in the past, has essentially forfeited his right to complain about anything for the rest of his career. 

America has lost its sympathy for Vick after the dog-fighting incident. Vick realizes that he will be crucified by the media if he complains about his teammates, coaches, or contract. All he can do is keep as low a profile as is possible for a superstar and work on his game. 

Vick must capitalize on this offseason to get better, and the coaches must capitalize on this offseason to build the offense around him. In 2009, the Eagles were Donovan McNabb's team. In 2010, they were supposed to be building around Kevin Kolb. In 2011, the coaches knew Vick would be the starter, but they  had very little time to work with him.

This season, the possibilities are endless. Vick's mobility and arm strength means that he has very few physical limitations in his game. The speed he is surrounded with on offense makes the unit even more dangerous. First, Vick must correct fundamental and mental flaws in his game. He turned the ball over far too much in 2011 and still has a ways to go in terms of reading defenses, both pre-snap and post-snap. He needs to show better ball security, he needs to feel the rush better, and he needs to avoid big hits. He wants to make plays, but he only hurts his own team when he puts his body in harm's way unnecessarily. If he can cut down on the mistakes and continue to develop chemistry with his speedy targets, the sky is the limit for the Eagle offense. However, that's much easier said than done.

Vick must take significant strides this offseason because time is already running out on his career. His learning curve is incredibly steep, and expectations could not be any higher. In Philadelphia, it's Super Bowl or bust every season, and 2012 will be no different. Adding speed to the defense and continuity to the roster one year removed from the 2011 free agency spending spree is nice, but Vick is the one who will have to lead the Eagles to a championship.

Most fans and analysts are impressed with the Eagles' newest draft class, but nobody knows how fast they will be able to make an impact. No rookie is in a position to simply stroll into a starting job. They will each have to outplay an established veteran if they want to be on the first team. 

Fletcher Cox, DT, 1st round: The Eagles clearly have big plans for Fletcher Cox. They traded up in the first round to get him and envision him as an impact player for seasons to come. However, his natural 3-technique position is occupied by Cullen Jenkins, a borderline Pro Bowl performer. In his rookie season, Cox will be handed nothing. He will have to compete with productive players like Derek Landri, Antonio Dixon, and Mike Patterson for playing time. I think he will stay at 3-technique and play behind Cullen Jenkins. In Jim Washburn's rotation, he could be in line for 35 to 40 percent of defensive snaps. It will be interesting to see whether the Eagles give Cox a crack at Mike Patterson's job. He doesn't have a nose tackle build, but they may feel pressure to get Cox onto the field as soon as possible.

Mychal Kendricks, LB, 2nd round: Indications are that Kendricks will start out on the strong side, where he will compete with Jamar Chaney for the top job. I get the sense that the Eagles want him to win the position battle, but he will have to prove that he can play with physicality on every down. Expect him to crack the starting lineup sooner rather than later.

Vinny Curry, DE, 2nd round: With Trent Cole and Jason Babin still at the tops of their game, there's no way Vinny Curry will start in 2012. However, he will compete with Brandon Graham, Darryl Tapp, and Phillip Hunt for a backup job, where he would be in line for about a third of defensive snaps. If he proves he can stop the run well, he could play on the left side on early downs, keeping Babin fresh for more obvious passing downs. 

Nick Foles, QB, 3rd round: The Eagles are envisioning either Mike Kafka or Trent Edwards as Michael Vick's primary backup, but Foles is in no danger of losing a roster spot. In the most likely scenario, he will be third on the depth chart and use 2012 to adjust to the NFL. He's a big, strong player who has starter caliber tools, but he played in a dink-and-dunk offense at Arizona and needs to be able to go through his progression faster. Andy Reid is happy to have him, but don't expect much of a contribution in 2012.

Brandon Boykin, CB, 4th round: Brandon Boykin was one of the most versatile players in all of college football, and that will help him get on the field. Georgia used him as a dynamic return man, as a corner who played a lot of snaps both in the slot and outside, and even as an offensive weapon. He has scored rushing touchdowns, receiving touchdowns, return touchdowns, and safeties. He has to be considered a front-runner for the kick return job and maybe even the punt return job, depending on how the Eagles want to use DeSean Jackson. Boykin should also be in the mix as the team's slot corner. He's much more athletic than Joselio Hanson, although it's not a given that he would beat him out. Hanson has been a nickel corner in the NFL for a long time and probably understands the intricacies of the position much better than the rookie. However, there's no question that Boykin was a steal in the fourth round and will make an immediate impact for the Eagles.

Dennis Kelly, OT, 5th round: I haven't gotten to watch Kelly play, but I know that he is facing an uphill battle if he wants to unseat Demetress Bell, Todd Herremans, or King Dunlap as one of the team's top three tackles. In the past, the Eagles have only carried three tackles, but I think they'll keep four this year. Even if they do, Kelly will still have to beat out D.J. Jones and Thomas Welch, two prospects the Eagles expect to compete for roster spots. Kelly will not see the field in 2012 and is strictly a developmental project for Howard Mudd.

Marvin McNutt, WR, 6th round: One of the most productive receivers in college football, Marvin McNutt was a steal in the sixth round and will compete for the fourth receiver job in Philadelphia. I think he's a more physical version of Riley Cooper. Both have good size at around 6'3", 215, coupled with deceptive speed and crisp route running. They can both separate, but they also have inconsistent hands. McNutt is better after the catch and plays with a more aggressive mentality. If he can contribute on special teams, I expect him to be active on game days.

Brandon Washington, OG, 6th round: A left tackle at Miami, Brandon Washington has good enough feet to succeed in Howard Mudd's system. He will kick inside to guard because he's on the short side for an offensive lineman. The Eagles also needed to add depth along the interior of their offensive line. Washington will have to compete with some journeymen for the third guard job, but should have enough talent to beat them out. I think he makes the final roster.

Bryce Brown, RB, 7th round: Bryce Brown is a very interesting story. Many people rated him as the best player in the entire country coming out of high school, and after a promising freshman season at Tennessee, flamed out in college for various reasons. He transferred to Kansas State and never got back in a rhythm. He essentially has no college production whatsoever, but he's a big, powerful guy who can run. He will be in the mix for the number two running back job, but if Dion Lewis and Chris Polk beat him out, he could be headed for the practice squad.

Training camp is a great time of year because fans and coaches get to see rookies and new additions in live action for the first time. Battles for roster spots, starting jobs, and playing time are heated, and the Eagles run a competitive camp. I'm eager to find out who will seize their opportunity and win a job that was up for grabs.

6. Backup running back - The Eagles admitted that they gave LeSean McCoy too many touches in 2011, and they will be more conscious of wearing him down this season. Right now, Dion Lewis is the number two man, but the team generally prefers bigger, more physical backs as change-of-pace players. That means that the door could be open to rookies Bryce Brown and Chris Polk. Both play in the 220 pound range and have nice combinations of power and speed. Lewis is the shiftiest of the bunch. Polk is a downhill runner, and Brown is a player who can finish runs and also look very fluid as a receiver coming out of the backfield. In all likelihood, the loser of the Polk-Brown battle will wind up on the practice squad while the winner will give Lewis a real run for his money for the number two job. I really like the youth and potential in the Eagle backfield right now. They have three unproven, talented, and hungry players fighting for two roster spots and one primary backup job.

5. Outside linebacker - In 2011, the Eagles had a bunch of young linebackers who just haven't put it all together yet. Now, the addition of DeMeco Ryans will force guys like Jamar Chaney and Casey Matthews back outside, creating a logjam and plenty of competition. On the strong side, rookie Mychal Kendricks and Jamar Chaney appear to be the main candidates. They have similar styles of play as they are both short, thick, and fast. I get the sense that the Eagles want to start Kendricks as soon as possible, which means that Chaney really has to step up his game. In the NFL, once you relinquish your starting job, chances are you'll never get it back. On the weak side, Brian Rolle is the lead dog. He may have to fend off the loser of the Kendricks-Chaney battle or Casey Matthews, but I think he gets another crack at the job. 

4. Backup quarterback - Odds are good that Michael Vick's backup will have to step in and start at some point in the 2012 season. The only returning Eagles is Mike Kafka, who is the most familiar with the playbook. Trent Edwards is the veteran challenger. He has the most overall experience of the bunch, and I remember times when he didn't look so bad in Buffalo. I wonder if he can shake off the rust from being out of football last year. The wild card is Nick Foles, the third round pick out of Arizona. The Eagles don't expect him to come into camp and knock off two veterans, but I think he may do just that. He has a much stronger arm than Kafka and if he can pick up the system quickly, he could be in the thick of the battle. Of the three quarterbacks, Foles is the only potential future franchise quarterback. He's big, he's tough, and he can make all the throws. I don't think he's quite ready for the NFL yet, but I wouldn't feel confident about Kafka or Edwards starting a regular season game, either. Hopefully one of the three emerges.

3. Defensive tackle rotation - The Eagles have six tackles they really like, and only four will get significant playing time. Cullen Jenkins will be the starting 3-technique. After that, the picture gets muddy. To me, Cedric Thornton is headed for another year of the practice squad. The Eagles love his skill set, but there's no way he's one of the four best tackles on the roster. That leaves Mike Patterson, Fletcher Cox, Derek Landri, and Antonio Dixon. Those are four starting caliber players vying for one starting job. It seems almost criminal to leave one of them out of the rotation entirely. The competition will be fierce. Will Fletcher Cox get a shot at the 1-technique? I think he's a much better fit as a 3-technique, but he has no path to a starting job there. One idea is to cut Mike Patterson, who is owed over $4 million this season. It would be a tough move to make, but there simply is not enough playing time to keep everybody happy. Jim Washburn might have more talent to work with than any other position coach in the league.

2. Safety - This is a classic training camp battle. Two players. One job. Kurt Coleman vs. Jaiquawn Jarrett. Coleman has the experience. You pretty much know what you're getting with him. He can be physically over-matched, but he flies to the football, plays with heart, and doesn't embarrass himself. He maximizes his physical ability and is ideally a third safety who can play either spot or in the nickel. Jaiquawn Jarrett has more potential, but is less proven. This is his first full offseason and needs to get more comfortable with the speed of the game. He can lay the wood, but did not show that ability last season. If he can play fast and furious without making mental mistakes, he will probably win the job. The coaching staff really wants him in the starting lineup to be a hammer against the run, but that won't happen if the mental aspect of the game is still dragging him down.

1. Defensive end rotation - The number one thing I look forward to in training camp is one-on-one drills, and the defensive ends vs. the offensive tackles in pass rush/protection will be fun to watch. Nobody will take Trent Cole or Jason Babin's jobs away from them, but there is still playing time to be won by the third and fourth ends. I want to see what Brandon Graham looks like. This may be his last chance to prove that he's not a bust. I think Vinny Curry might establish himself as the third best pass rusher on the team, though. I think he's more explosive than people realize. What about Darryl Tapp? He used to be a solid third defensive end. His roster spot is in jeopardy this offseason due to his age and salary. Phillip Hunt also flashed some ability in 2011. Will he make the team? The bottom line is that the Eagles have 12 players they like a lot on the defensive line. Eight will be in the rotation, and at least one or two guys will get cut. Right now, my best guess is that Cedric Thornton gets sent to the practice squad and Darryl Tapp gets cut. The competition will make this group even better, and this defensive line will be 

In this day and age in the NFL, success all starts with the quarterback position. I love that the Eagles added so much speed, youth, and talent to the defensive front seven, I have said all along that backup quarterback was the team's greatest need. The type of season Michael Vick has in 2012 will be much more important to determining the team's record than who starts at strong side linebacker. Vick absolutely holds the key to the Eagles' success this season. 

Believe it or not, this year will be Vick's first offseason as the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, and he has a lot of learning to do. If he can stay healthy and limit turnovers, there's no telling how good the Eagles could be. The reality is that he is not 22-years-old any longer, and he cannot play as such. He must start beating opponents with his head. He must do a better job of protecting himself. He must find a way to be aggressive without making mistakes. Very few people in the world know if Vick is willing to meet the challenge. I don't know what kind of work ethic he has or how bad he wants to win, but I do know that if the Eagles are serious about winning the Super Bowl, Vick is the player who will have to lead them there.

What if Vick does go down with an injury, though? Do the Eagles just quit? I'm not sure that they have a player who can step in and give the Eagles a chance to win for a five or six game stretch if Vick gets hurt. Right now, Mike Kafka has to be second on the depth chart. Besides Vick, he's the only returning quarterback on the roster, but he has a lot of work in front of him. To be honest, I don't know how high his ceiling is. I'm not sure he can challenge defenses vertically, and if he can't, he's no more than a third string player. He has a lot of questions to answer in the preseason.

Rookie Nick Foles has a bigger arm than Kafka, but it's tough to tell how prepared he will be for the NFL in just a few short months. He's bigger, tougher, and stronger than Kafka, and overall, he's the superior long-term prospect. In the preseason, though, he will have to prove he is the superior player to Kafka NOW. I would give him a fair shot at winning the number two job, though.

Trent Edwards is the final player to watch. Of all the Eagles' backups, he has the most starting experience. He has better physical tools than Kafka and if he can shake some rust off after spending 2011 out of football, he might have a shot at the number two job, too. It's really all a matter of who emerges in the preseason. It doesn't really matter who it is, as long as somebody steps up. The Eagles did not find a reliable backup this offseason, and they had better pray that it doesn't come back to haunt them.

Most people like what the Eagles accomplished in the draft, and it's easy to see why. They got very good value and addressed many needs in the process. Overall, the Eagles come away from this weekend with a faster defensive unit, and speed is critical at this level. They also come away with depth along the offensive line, at quarterback, and at running back, three areas where they were paper thin. One of the most underrated roles that they filled today was return specialist, where Brandon Boykin figures to step in as the primary kickoff return man and give the offense better starting field position. I'm not sure this is a great draft class, but I'm coming away from this weekend much more confident about the youth on the roster than I did last year or the year before. I know it's way too early to tell, but I think the 2012 draft class will be one of the top three in Andy Reid's tenure. Without further ado, here's my take on all of the picks and how they fit in both in the short term and in the long term.

• 1st round - Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State - A favorite of Jim Washburn's, Cox is an athletic, penetrating defensive tackle who fits the wide 9 system nicely. He can make plays in the backfield and will probably start out as Cullen Jenkins' backup at the 3-technique and play between 35 and 40% of defensive snaps. If he can sharpen up his pass rush moves, he will have pro bowl ability down the road.
• 2nd round - Mychal Kendricks, LB, California - The Eagles envision Kendricks as a SAM linebacker  who will compete with Jamar Chaney for a starting job. They are similar players. Kendricks is short, solidly built, and has remarkable speed. He has legit sideline-to-sideline range and is explosive, especially as a blitzer. He's a run-and-chase linebacker who is not consistently physical. Sometimes, he delivers a big blow, but he gets engulfed by blockers and absorbs contact instead of initiating it. I think he is athletic enough to run with tight ends in man coverage.
• 2nd round - Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall - The Eagles think very, very highly of Vinny Curry, who was one of the most productive pass rushers in the country in 2011. He tallied 11 sacks last season and has a relentless motor along with NFL burst and power. I don't think he's special, but he has everything you look for in a 4-3 defensive end. He'll play around a third of the defensive snaps in relief of Jason Babin or Trent Cole. He could also be Babin's successor at left end.
• 3rd round - Nick Foles, QB, Arizona - Nick Foles fought admirably at Arizona with little talent around him. He's huge at 6'5", 243, and can take hits in the pocket, but has next to no athletic ability. He has a good, strong arm, and a chance to be successful. I don't see him beating out Mike Kafka or Trent Edwards for the number two job, but he has more upside than either of them and Andy Reid may consider him to be the quarterback of the future.
• 4th round - Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia - I had a feeling the Eagles would be interested in Boykin, and I was right. He fits in perfectly as an inside corner and a return man. While he's undersized, he has plenty of speed and plays physically. He will get a shot at beating out Joselio Hanson for the nickel job, and will be an immediate upgrade as a kick return man. The Eagles could also use him as a punt returner if they want to save DeSean Jackson for offense and critical situations.
• 5th round - Dennis Kelly, OT, Purdue - I'll be honest, Dennis Kelly was not on my radar at all. I don't know much about him, and I've never seen him play. What I know is that he's 6'8", 321, and will fight for a roster spot. Historically, the Eagles have only kept three tackles, which would be bad news for Kelly, because he sure isn't beating out Demetress Bell, Todd Herremans, or King Dunlap. 
• 6th round - Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa - The receiver class was very deep this year, and the Eagles got themselves an enormous steal in the sixth round. Iowa's Marvin McNutt posted a ridiculous 82/1,315/12 stat line in 2011 and backed up his performance with a solid combine. He is a big bodied player at 6'3", 216, but can also run. I view him as a more physical and sure handed Riley Cooper, and am intrigued by him as a potential red zone weapon. If he can play special teams, he could win the fourth receiver job and provide excellent depth.
• 6th round - Brandon Washington, OG, Miami - Washington, like most former Hurricanes, is an athlete, and Howard Mudd wants athletes executing his zone blocking scheme. He was a two year starter at left tackle for Miami, but will kick inside to guard in Philly. He has talent and should provide excellent depth behind Evan Mathis and Danny Watkins. He definitely has starter ability, and could take over for Mathis at left guard down the road.
• 7th round - Bryce Brown, RB, Kansas State - The Eagles took a flier on Brown, who is a player I'd love to know more about. He was rated as the very best high school player in the country by some before going to Tennessee. At 6'0", 220, Brown has size and is very strong. He also has sub 4.5 speed and receiving ability. He has an Arian Foster type skill set, but had a lot of issues in college. After a promising freshman season at Tennessee when he racked up almost 600 yards and 4.6 yards per carry in the SEC, he barely played as a sophomore and transferred to Kansas State. He almost dropped out of college entirely. This is a young man who does not have his life on track yet, but his talent is undeniable. He looks like he will be stashed on the practice squad.
• Undrafted free agent - Chris Polk, RB, Washington - The Eagles wasted no time grabbing one of the most highly coveted player of the UDFA market. Polk was regarded by most to be a third round prospect, but slipped through the cracks. He's a physical, patient runner who is committed to the game. He's a much better bet to make the roster than Bryce Brown, although he is not as explosive. I like Polk to make the team as the change-of-pace power back behind LeSean McCoy.

Overall, I've been quite pleased with the Eagles. They have found good value and managed to scrap the annual third round head-scratcher from their routine. Heading into today, I think the Eagles need to find a return man, a player who can compete for the slot corner job, and some interior offensive line depth. They can kill two birds with one stone by taking a player like Georgia's Brandon Boykin, who is an impressive athlete and natural slot corner. On the offensive line, I like Michigan center David Molk a lot as well as Wake Forest guard Joe Looney. But I really wanted to discuss the day 1 and 2 picks, though.