It appears the Birds have taken the lead in the Leonard Weaver sweepstakes. The former Seahawks fullback was easily the best fullback in this free agent class, but must have had some unrealistic demands because every visit has ended the same: Weaver negotiating with another club.
This could be the real deal though, and it will be nice to have a true fullback again. Weaver is 26 and comes from a west coast offense, so he seems like a perfect fit for the Eagles. He has good speed and has showcased some big play ability, and most importantly he's improved his blocking at the NFL level. In an offseason filled with difficult decisions, this would certainly be a crowd pleaser and an easy way to improve a big hole on the offense.
Weaver spoke with Dan Schwartzman on 950 ESPN on Wednesday night.
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- Why does anybody want the Eagles to sign Orlando Pace? If you think Tra Thomas can't play, Pace is a guy whose body and game has broken down to the point where even when he's healthy, he's ineffective. He was once the premiere left tackle in the NFL, but he's only a shell of that now, and no one should count on him to deliver even one more quality season. After all, there is a reason the Rams don't want him anymore.
- On a similar note, the Rams would also like to get rid of WR Torry Holt. If they don't cut him, Holt is probably worth around a fourth round pick this year, though his contract may also require restructuring. He'll be 33 this season and has been in decline for the past few years, but he can still play at a pro level so it wouldn't be a bad pickup. At the same time, don't expect him to return to 1,000-yard season form. He won't take over many games with quicker, younger receivers all around him.
- One thing I keep hearing is since the Eagles have so many picks, they must be preparing to make a big move in the draft. Don't hold your breath.
The front office will likely use those picks to acquire players or move up in the draft, but they don't have as much firepower as it seems. Most of the team's selections are later than the third round, and those picks simply aren't worth very much. Fifth rounders aren't going to be of much use if the team plans to move up in the first or trade for a player like Anquan Boldin, so you can quit dreaming about such a scenario.
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That's not to say they won't cause a splash either, I'm just not seeing the link specifically between a host of late round selections and any serious moves.
- Out of all the wide receivers out there who are rumored to be on the trade block or could wind up there, the player who actually is probably the most appealing to the front office is Braylon Edwards. At 6'3" and 215 lbs., Braylon is built in the mold of a true #1. His career YPC of 15.6 indicates his ability to push defenses back, which creates a lot more room underneath for the rest of the offense to work.
He had a severe case of the dropsies last year and has yet to consistently show up every week, but he's also never had a real QB. At 26-years-old, there is still time for him to evolve into a great player every week, especially with somebody like Donovan maximizing his potential. Plus, if the Browns are actually interested in trading him, he can probably be had for a mid-round bargain.
As of now, Edwards is not officially on the trade block.