Would QB Tim Tebow be a good fit in Philadelphia?
As if trading a future Hall of Fame quarterback within the division wasn't bad enough, the Eagles are now targeting a couple of quarterbacks in this month's draft.
The reports have been out there for a month or so that the Birds are doing extensive studies on Fordham quarterback John Skelton, a guy slated to go in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft, but now they're focusing on another quarterback as well.
According to Peter King of SI.com, the Eagles could seriously target former All-American Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
"I said a couple of weeks ago that the Eagles had sent offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and quarterback coach James Urban to Fordham to scout mid-round prospect Skelton at his Pro Day," King writes. I have heard the Eagles will now focus on Tebow and are likely to join the parade of teams working him out and spending time with him."
"With seven picks in the first four rounds, Philadelphia has the ammo to go get the developmental quarterback Reid always likes to have on his roster. So don't think they won't be in play for one of these players."
What is the thinking behind targeting another young quarterback already? Most teams would argue that you can never have too many quarterbacks, but when there are so many more pressing issues taking a guy like Tebow in the second or third round just doesn't make sense.
Skelton is a quality prospect in the fourth or fifth round, and he could provide some depth behind Kolb and take a year as the third quarterback until Michael Vick moves on, but there's just no room on the roster for Tebow -- the Birds already have a Wildcat quarterback in Vick and aren't in need of a tight end/H-back.
As a fifth round flier, Tebow would be a good pick, but not before that. Teams strive to find a starter in every round of the draft, but there's less expected after the third round. If he's taken in the later rounds, it won't be a big deal if he fails.
But, there is at least one team out there who likes him enough to consider him in the second or third round; Meaning if the Eagles want him they will be forced to reach -- something Andy Reid very rarely does.
Drafting Skelton in the fourth round wouldn't surprise me, nor would I condemn the pick, but anything more than a late-round pick on Tebow would be an absolute waste. I'm not convinced he's an NFL quarterback, and he's definitely not going to get the chance to prove otherwise in Philadelphia.