How Can the Eagles Replace Jason Peters?

As we’ve all probably heard by now, Eagles Pro Bowl LT Jason Peters ruptured his Achilles tendon and will most likely miss the entire 2012 season. The impact of Peters’ injury on this offense can’t be overstated. He was arguably the best player on the roster last season, and had a spectacular year. The Eagles main goal this offseason was continuity on the offensive line, and with the extensions for Todd Herremans and Evan Mathis they thought that’s what they had for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, with Peters’ injury the Eagles will be forced to replace their best lineman. Offensive tackle was the one spot the Eagles thought they were set at for the next few years, but now they will have to scramble to find a replacement. There are numerous (albeit not as good) ways they can try to cope with this devastating injury.

One option would be to move Todd Herremans to LT and slide King Dunlap, who they re-signed yesterday, over to RT. However, Herremans established himself as a very good RT last year and is comfortable there. Mike Vick is also a lefty QB, so it makes sense to have Herremans continue to protect his blind side. Dunlap is a big body and is working hard to improve his technique, but it’s unlikely that he could hold up as a full-time starter. He has done well in limited reserve duty, though, so it’s nice to have him for depth.

Another option would be to sign a free agent. The top OTs (and really, the only two left on the market) are the Bills’ Demetrius Bell and the Chargers’ Marcus McNeill. Bell started 6 games last year for the Bills and surrendered just 1 sack after starting all 16 games in 2010. Bell is a decent player, and he’d certainly be an upgrade over King Dunlap, but he seems to have an inflated perception of his worth. He’s visited numerous teams this offseason and hasn’t signed anywhere yet. Reportedly, teams are offering him RT money and he wants LT money. If the Eagles think Peters will be back next year, it doesn’t make much sense for them to sign Bell to the long-term contract that he’s obviously looking for. Bell is scheduled for a visit with the Eagles after (if?) he leaves the Steelers’ facility this weekend.

The Eagles have also reached out to Marcus McNeill’s representatives and will probably schedule a visit. The former Charger is an elite LT when healthy, but he’s missed 12 games over the past 2 years with knee and neck injuries. He’s only 28, though, and was a Pro Bowler in the past. With all the Eagles’ cap space (approximately $16.2M), they can afford to offer the 6-7, 335 pound McNeill a hefty 1 year contract. This would give them a very good LT for this season without any long-term commitment after the season to clear the position for Peters’ return from injury. However, if McNeill gets hurt again, which is a distinct possibility, the Eagles would be right back where they are now: without a LT. This move would come with some risk, but I think it’s the best option.

Kareem McKenzie has been a good RT for a long time with the Giants, but he’s coming off a poor year despite starting all 16 games. He’s 32, and knows the NFC East well from his time in New York. The Eagles could probably sign McKenzie for a cheap contract and slide Herremans over to LT if Bell and/or McNeill are unwilling to take 1-year contracts. Since these are the only 3 starting-caliber OTs left in free agency, the Eagles may decide to look to the draft for their new LT.

If the Eagles use a 1st or 2nd round pick on an offensive tackle, it should tell us that they’re pessimistic about Peters’ recovery time. Peters is already 32, so if the Eagles address the OT position in the first 2 rounds we should assume that Peters might not be ready for the 2013 campaign either. The Eagles will probably make a decision about the future of the LT position after Peters’ surgery. If the timetable for recovery is lengthy, they could look to address the position through the draft. When it comes to offensive tackle in this year’s NFL Draft, it’s Matt Kalil, and then everyone else. The USC product is a star in the making and projects as a perennial Pro Bowler at LT. The Vikings should take him at #3, but for some odd reason they’re looking to trade down in the draft. The Eagles could move up to 3, but it would require the #15 pick, as well as both of their 2nd rounders and probably a 2013 1st or 2nd rounder as well. It would be a steep, steep price to pay, but the Eagles don’t have many holes on the roster. If they’re convinced that Kalil is a franchise LT and that Peters won’t be the same player he was before the injury, Andy Reid could pull the blockbuster trade.

The next option in the draft is Reilly Reiff. The Iowa alum was a very good college player, but he disappointed at the Combine, measuring in with short arms, a red flag for an offensive tackle. He will probably be taken by the Bills at #10, assuming they don’t re-sign the previously mentioned Bell, so this would require another trade up in the draft. I wouldn’t want to make that trade, because it’s still giving up a lot for an OT who isn’t even the best in the class this year. However, Andy loves drafting lineman, and he’s traded up for players like Brandon Graham, Jeremy Maclin, Shawn Andrews, and Jerome McDougle in the past, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Again, this move would have to indicate that Peters might be done in Philadelphia.

The next prospect is RT Jonathan Martin, who protected Andrew Luck at Stanford last year. He’s seen as somewhat of a project, and drafting him would move Herremans over to LT. He would probably be a slight reach at pick 15, but it would be risky to move back for him because the Bears could take him at 19. He’s also a better run blocker than pass protector, which doesn’t fit in with what Andy Reid likes to do on offense. After these 3 players there’s a drop-off to the next tier of tackles in the draft. This next tier includes players like Mike Adams from Ohio State and Zebrie Sanders from Florida State. One of the two (or another similar prospect) would be available at the Eagles’ 2nd round picks, so they could still address a need in the first round like LB or Safety. However, it might be a stretch to say that either of these players would be ready to match up against Demarcus Ware, Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan, and the rest of the murderers’ row of pass rushers that ply their trades in the NFC East.

The Eagles, unfortunately, have been put in an extremely difficult spot by the sudden injury to Jason Peters. If I was running the team, I would sign Marcus McNeill to a hefty, incentive-laden 1 year contract and also draft an OT like Adams or Sanders in the 2nd or 3rd round. It would provide them with an above-average LT for the 2012 season, as well as depth. Adams/Sanders could compete with Dunlap for the backup job this year, and could also provide depth in the future since Dunlap is only on a 1 year deal. Evan Mathis has been injury-prone for much of his career, and the Eagles may need to slide Herremans back to LG at some point in time. The Eagles do have a variety of options to replace Peters, but they must choose a course of action. Throwing King Dunlap into the fire at LT this year simply isn’t a viable course of action for a team that considers themselves to be Super Bowl contenders this year.