When Baylor guard Danny Watkins received his No. 1 Eagles jersey from Comissioner Roger Goodell, I noticed a dozen or so firefighters going crazy in the mezzanine. I ran up there and learned that Watkins, a part-time firefighter in his hometown of West Kelowna, British Columbia, had paid to fly five of his buddies to New York City.

Watkins, a former rugby and hockey player, has only been playing football for four years. Captain Lionel Batteman said Watkins' strong work ethic and good heart allowed him to achieve the lofty status of an NFL first-round pick despite being such a newcomer to the sport.

In addition to his hometown crew of Batteman, Captain Patrick Harmata, Captain Todd Moore, Chief Wayne Schnitzler and firefighter Richard Bliss, Watkins also had some of New York's Bravest cheering for him at Radio City.

Earlier in the day, Watkins and his West Kelowna buddies visited Engine 5 in Greenwich Village, the oldest active firehouse in New York City, and instantly bonded with the local unit. Engine 5 was decimated in the attacks of Sept. 11th, and Danny and his colleagues got a first-hand account.

Having met Danny, I can't help to think the Eagles did real well with taking this solid, genuine young man with their 23rd pick overall.

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-- MATTHEW WEISS
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Well, obviously the draft is important for every team. Teams that struggled in recent seasons will look to continue the rebuilding process. Teams that have had great success will aim to keep the roster well stocked. The Eagles fall somewhere in between.

The foundation of talent is there. Several skill positions are already locked and loaded. Michael Vick is coming off a career year; DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin provide a some nice options in the passing game; and LeSean McCoy is a more-than-adequate running back who proved that he belongs in this league last season.

All that said, the Eagles are lacking a bit of a persona when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. Even since Brian Dawkins and even Lito Sheppard left town, there have been coverage problems in the secondary. There's no depth at linebacker. Injury issues continue to linger for Stewart Bradley, who can't seem to get through the better part of a season.

It's pretty clear that the Eagles will be looking to beef up the defense. With 10 picks, the Eagles brain trust can turn things around in a hurry--targeted positions, in no particular order, will likely be cornerback, linebacker, safety, right guard, and even defensive end. Brandon Graham didn't exactly show that he was the complimentary opposite for Trent Cole last season, but not many DEs can come into the league and leave their stamp in just one season. That said, Graham has never had the prototypical size of of DE, and that isn't going to change.

I'm not Mel Kiper--I don't study draft boards and try to keep up with the endless speculation. Most times I find it to be an exercise in futility. Aside from the first few picks, everything else can change dramatically if one teams makes a shocking pick, as it can definitely have a domino effect.

In the first round, with the 23rd overall pick, I'd look for the Eagles to take Brandon Harris, the right cornerback out of Miami. There's a pressing need that can be handled early and Harris seems to be undervalued in most mock drafts. But with so many needs, it's hard to say with any kind of conviction what position they will target first. As long as it's on the defensive side of the ball, I don't think Birds fans will have a problem.

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-- SEAN JOHNSON
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Last week, a story on Philly.com had a few quotes from Eagles president Joe Banner. His quotes suggest that the Eagles will be very active in free agency, and are not afraid to spend a lot of money. He also said that they are not afraid to tie up a lot of their payroll in one position. The first thing most fans will think of when they hear that: will we make a run at Nnamdi Asomugha? Philly is already paying Pro-Bowl money to Asante Samuel, but would not be afraid to pay two corners big-time money.

Landing Asomugha would drastically improve a secondary that was shaky at times last year. With Ellis Hobbs’ retirement, the team must upgrade the corner position this offseason.

The cornerback is widely regarded as one of the two best players at his position in the NFL. He is the prized possession of this free agency class. To provide some perspective of Asomugha’s dominance, he was only thrown at 22 times last year. That is less than two times per game.

With him and Samuel on the field at the same time, you have two corners who are capable of locking a receiver up in man coverage. This would also free up linebackers and safeties to blitz more, and would give the Eagles one of the best pass defenses in the NFL.

It would cost the team a lot of money, considering that many teams will make a run at him. With Michael Vick at the tail end of his prime, we do not know how much longer the Eagles have to win a super bowl with this core of players. I think the team should pony up the money to try and land him. It would make the Eagles the favorite to repeat as NFC East champs, and make them a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

-- STEVEN MILLER
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Now that the season is over and the fans are (hopefully) over the first-round loss to the Packers, it is time to start looking towards the offseason for the Eagles.

Here are the key players who are pending free agents:

• Michael Vick: He is by far the biggest player that could hit free agency for the Eagles. Vick had a stellar year, and was a big part of a great regular season for the team. Even with the presence of Kevin Kolb sitting behind Vick, the team will certainly bring Vick back next year. Expect the Eagles to place the “Franchise Tag” or him, which designates Vick to a one-year contract worth $16.4 million dollars. It is a big price tag, but after next year, they will have a much more clear picture of Vick’s ability to be a franchise quarterback in to his mid 30’s. They could sign him to a long-term extension, but in the end, I expect him to get the franchise tag.

• Jerome Harrison: The running back did a good job spelling LeSean McCoy this year. He is a power running back who has had success in the past with the Cleveland Browns. However, they traded for him when Leonard Weaver got injured, and they both fill a similar role as a short-yardage back. I could see the Eagles letting Harrison walk.

• Ernie Sims: The outside linebacker racked up 55 tackles and two sacks last season. The former Detroit Lion played fairly well this season, and it will be interesting to see what he commands for a new contract. The team does not have a solid replacement for him at this point, so it would be big if the Eagles could lock him up. With a big contract coming for Michael Vick and others, the team might not have enough money to sign him if Sims expects a big contract. Sims may test free agency.

• Ellis Hobbs: The 27-year-old cornerback is a very good player. He suffered from a serious neck injury last year, and is reportedly contemplating retirement. Hobbs is a crucial part of the Eagles pass defense, and they would need to find a replacement in free agency if Hobbs really did retire. He made close to $2.5 million last year, and would most likely need a sizable pay raise to come back to the Eagles next year.

-- STEVEN MILLER
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There’s an old adage that speaks to the cruel nature of sports. It reads “There is only one team who is happy at the end of the season: the one who wins the championship.”

Eagles fans are very familiar with this adage. Many times this decade, the Eagles have fielded great teams who are expected to compete for championships. When they have fallen short in the playoffs this decade, fans encounter bitter despair and disappointment.

Regular season success is only so sweet, and when the team lost a tight game against a very good Packers team, they experienced the feeling Philly fans know far too well.

In retrospect, it was an exciting season that had many great moments. The team made great strides and is set up well heading into next year.

The biggest thing to take away from the season was the emergence of Michael Vick. Yes, he threw a bad interception to end the season, and did not play particularly well down the stretch. He was clearly banged up in the Vikings game, and did not look healthy in the playoff game. I am still convinced that when he is healthy, he is one of the five best quarterbacks in the game, and I expect another big season next year.

The Eagles will return all of their young skill players. DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy all improved this year. With that core returning to a team that averaged the third-most points in the league, the Birds should again have one of the fastest and most explosive offenses in the league.

The offensive line was not great, and allowed the fourth-most sacks in the league. They contributed to a running game that was much improved from last year. The Eagles don’t have many glaring holes, and this unit may be their weakest. With the luxury of having so few issues to address, the front office can afford to spend a high draft pick on an offensive lineman. I expect them to improve the unit in the off-season.

The defense experienced some ups and downs, and ended up in the middle of the pack as far as yards and points allowed. The emergence of Trent Cole and Kurt Coleman were great signs. They could use another corner, especially if Ellis Hobbs departs in free agency. Last year they hit on a lot of defensive players in the draft, and if they have a similar result this year, it could be an above average defense heading in to next year.

Losing in the playoffs is always disappointing. The team is set up for long-term success, and again should be a contender next season. While the adage I mentioned earlier has plagued Eagles fans far too much, there is another adage that Eagles fans can look towards for optimism: “If you knock on the door enough times, you will eventually make it in to the house.” They have been knocking on the door the last decade, and will be knocking on that same door again in the next few seasons. Let’s hope they can finally get let inside the house.

Eagles fans deserve it.

-- STEVEN MILLER
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