While I get the obsession with our 4th pick, I really think that one pick is going to be largely inconsequential in the grand scheme of our turnaround. I just want them to get the guy right, don't care what position they choose. Luckily for us, many of the projected top players happen to be positions of need for us.
Let's talk about the roster, anyone else want to take a stab at veterans that we'll let walk and/or cut?
Here are my thoughts:
Quarterback:
KEEP -- Nick Foles (young, under contract for less than $800K per year through 2015)
CUT -- Mike Vick ($18mm in 2013 if we keep, another $55m beyond that)
CUT -- Trent Edwards (Chip will bring in his own guys as backups)
Running Back
KEEP -- LeSean McCoy (I wonder if they will try to get him to re-work deal, but probably not until next offseason -- either way he's staying)
KEEP -- Bryce Brown (Flashed too much and is locked up on the cheap to let walk)
KEEP -- Stanley Havili (A bit of a guess here, but he's under contract for another few seasons and is only FB on roster)
CUT -- Dion Lewis (Just don't see a guy who became 3rd fiddle being kept as they push for youth movement, new regime)
CUT -- Chris Polk (I'm assuming Chip drafts at least one RB)
Wide Receiver
KEEP -- DeSean Jackson (Some may hope otherwise, but Jackson is young, and is clearly already being promised a major role by Kelly. They'll give him 2013 to prove he fits in with new system)
KEEP -- Jeremy Maclin (He's only under contract through 2013, so I'm less convinced about his long-term future, but he'll have 2013 to prove his value to Kelly and his assistants)
CUT -- Jason Avant (Hate to see him go, but he's older, a Reid guy, and is due $2.7mm this year -- if he's willing to take major cut, maybe he stays)
CUT -- Riley Cooper (I see WR4/WR5 as classic areas for a new coach to replace with youth and his own system guys)
CUT -- Damaris Johnson (See Riley Cooper)
Tight End
KEEP -- Clay Harbor (Flashed when given a shot, and is under contract for 2013 at just $740K)
CUT -- Brent Celek (He's due $4.5 to $5mm each of the next four years, I don't see this as being a guy the new regime will want to commit to and build around)
Offensive Tackle
KEEP -- Jason Peters (I have major reservations about Peters' health BUT we know he can be an elite LT if he gets back to 100%)
KEEP -- Todd Herremans (Herremans is due a lot of dough, but I assume he's smart enough to re-work his deal and possibly move inside to guard again...this is more of what I HOPE than what I'm sure will happen)
CUT -- Demetress Bell (one of the worst signings in a string of bad FA deals in recent years)
CUT -- King Dunlap (he's a FA if I'm not mistaken, and we saw his limitations last year)
CUT -- Dennis Kelly (another guy that will fall prey to younger, Chip Kelly building blocks)
Offensive Guard
KEEP -- Evan Mathis (One of the best guards in the game and under contract for another four seasons)
KEEP -- Dennis Kelly (Started as a rookie and while I'm not sure he figures into the starting lineup, hard to see Kelly cutting a 2nd year kid who's cheap and has starting experience)
CUT -- Danny Watkins (A controversial one, but I see the team letting him go as one of those "shocking" moves to emphasize that this isn't Andy's team anymore)
CUT -- Mike Gibson (He's cheap and has a year left, maybe they keep him if he has a good camp but I see him getting cut if they go OL heavy in the draft)
KEEP? -- Nathan Menkin (Really have no opinion on this guy, but he's cheap and has two years left)
Center
KEEP -- Jason Kelce (Center is SO IMPORTANT to Kelly that I think he may be actively looking to replace Kelce, but he's only in 3rd season and is seemingly a lock at least to stay as backup)
CUT -- Everyone Else
Defensive End
KEEP -- Brandon Graham (Graham was one of the most disruptive players in the league on a per snap basis, and has experience as a 3-4 OLB from college)
KEEP -- Vinny Curry (He was a 2nd rounder last year, he's obviously sticking on the roster and will possibly be in line for major role)
KEEP -- Phillip Hunt (The breakout didn't come last year as planned, but he's young and cheap)
KEEP? -- Trent Cole (Controversial move here, but Cole is 30 years old and has shown signs of regression. He's buoyed by his monster contract, being owed $5mm in guaranteed salary this year)
CUT -- Darryl Tapp (He's an UFA so I'm assuming they let him walk)
Defensive Tackle
KEEP -- Fletcher Cox (Seems like he will flourish as a 3-4 DE and could be centerpiece of new defense)
KEEP -- Cullen Jenkins (He's guaranteed $4.5mm this year so hard to imagine they'll part ways)
KEEP -- Cedric Thornton (There's no real reason to have confidence in this call either way, but he's a high motor guy, is only 24 years old, and is cheap)
CUT -- Mike Patterson (Patterson has had a rough go of it healthwise and, while no fault of his own, doesn't seem to fit in a rebuilding plan at 29 years old and due $2.9mm)
CUT -- Derek Landri (He's a UFA and hardly someone the Eagles will prioritize)
Linebacker
KEEP -- Mychal Kendricks (An obvious piece to build around entering his 2nd season)
KEEP? -- Demeco Ryans (I'm not sure how much of Ryans' deal is guaranteed, but he certainly stays only if he's willing to redo his current deal which pays him $6.6mm in 2013)
KEEP -- Jamar Chaney (I don't know that he's got much of a role as an every snap player under Kelly, but he's young and under contract for another year)
KEEP -- Casey Mathews (He played for Oregon...hard to see him not getting a serious shot at a role)
CUT -- Everyone else (either let them walk in FA or be cut for younger players and 3-4 fit FAs)
Cornerback
KEEP -- Brandon Boykin (Given his age, experience and friendly contract, he figures to be no worse than our nickel back in 2013)
KEEP -- Curtis Marsh (Not as much a given as Boykin, but he's 24 and signed for multiple years)
KEEP -- Brandon Hughes (We haven't seen much of him on D, but he was arguably our best special teamer -- or at least one of the better ones)
CUT -- DRC (I realize most will think otherwise, but I think the smart move is to not re-sign him. I REALLY don't want to see them use the franchise tag on him, he's been awful over the last two years)
CUT -- Nnamdi (Look, I was as giddy as anyone when we signed Nnamdi, but he's been WOEFUL and I don't see him redoing his huge deal ($15mm '13 plus another $24mm beyond) so they'll need to part ways
Safety
KEEP -- Colt Anderson (He's an RFA and shouldn't start on defense but is a great special teamer)
CUT -- Everyone else? (Just don't see them keeping Nate Allen around. Kurt Coleman is a tougher call but I say they make a clean break)