Jeff Garcia is not likely to be back for a third stint.


Heading into the draft the Eagles had a need at free safety and backup quarterback, among many others. Two veterans, Darren Sharper and Jeff Garcia, were rumored to be the solutions to those problems, but that appears highly unlikely anymore.

Nate Allen, taken in the second round, will probably become the starting free safety. He will compete with Marlin Jackson, but Jackson is a more natural cornerback and, with a need for depth at that position, will probably be moved back to corner.

The only other competition, Quintin Demps, has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff and will be lucky if he's even given a fair shake. His mental mistakes have overshadowed a lot of the positives he brings and he might be nothing more than a backup/special teams player at this point.

Then, in the fourth round, the Eagles addressed their need for a third quarterback by drafting Northewestern's Mike Kafka. Andy Reid is apparently comfortable enough with Michael Vick as the man to take over if Kevin Kolb were to go down, so having a young guy as the emergency third quarterback makes more sense than a veteran like Garcia.

Kafka will be given a year to develop and watch from the sidelines with absolutely no pressure to get thrown into a game situation, then will take over as Kolb's backup next season once Vick is allowed to walk.

They say backup quarterback is the second-most important position on the team, so it would make sense the Eagles would want to develop a guy they trust behind Kolb.

The Birds have made it plainly obvious that an incredible youth movement is taking place and will continue to take place, and a 34-year old safety and 40-year old quarterback clearly don't fit in with that movement.
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The Eagles got a close look at what Sharper can do.


It's no secret the Eagles have a lot of holes to fill with the upcoming draft, and I don't think I'm shocking anyone when I say most of those holes are on defense. But do the Eagles seriously believe they can fill all of these holes with rookies?

Something tells me Andy Reid doesn't believe that, and neither do any realistic fans. So, in order to make a real push towards the Super Bowl in 2010, the Birds must find other ways of filling these gaping holes.

Enter Darren Sharper. Sharper has always been a ball-hawking free safety, and is exactly what this young, but talented, Eagles team could use.

While I believe the talk of having a "leader" is always overrated and overblown, it wouldn't hurt to have a veteran like Sharper now that a guy like Sheldon Brown is now in Cleveland.

With Sharper in the mix, the Eagles could draft a safety like Myron Rolle out of Florida State or Rashad Jones out of Georgia in the third round or so, and let the rookie learn behind a guy who has shown he still has what it takes to be one of the best, even at 34 years old.

Then Reid and GM Howie Roseman could focus on drafting a defensive end and linebacker in the first two rounds. Both positions need a significant upgrade, but free safety is the position truly lacking a starter.

Quintin Demps and Macho Harris have shown they're not starting-caliber free safeties, and Marlin Jackson is a huge unknown who might best be suited as a backup cornerback.

Sharper would be willing to play on a one-year deal, as he did with the Saints last year, and would be a terrific stop-gap at free safety while a rookie is groomed. The Eagles don't like signing older players, but if he's playing on a one-year deal, there's very little risk -- especially when we look back at his nine-interception 2009 season.

Not only that, but he's coming off a knee surgery (although minor), so he's precisely what the Birds are looking for in a free agent.
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