Eagles Free Agents: Who Should And Should Not Be Kept?

Seeing as it seems like a bunch of Eagles sites are doing this, I figured why not me. This year's free agency may prove pivotal to future Eagles success even if unrestricted free agency is itself limited because of the uncapped year coming up. The Eagles have some decisions to make and some people that will need bringing in, but lucky for them, they have only a small handful of people that absolutely need to bring back or else face cries of "Fire Andy Reid Now!" from yours truly. For the sake of easiness, here is that list and who I think should be kept and let go in alphabetical order.

WR Jason Avant: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and oh good grief Andy Reid you are a moron if you don't pay Jason Avant. The guy just has "it". He has solid hands, has the ability to make plays, and is a great option when defenses are zeroing in on DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. On 3rd and long situations, whenever McNabb throws to Avant, I feel good at least about the play call. Yes, this is one of the few that the Eagles absolutely must keep and lock up regardless of the price.

DE Jason Babin: I really could careless about Jason Babin. He plays with heart and he never gives up, but his skills just are not that impressive. He got some good playing time and got 2.5 sacks, but if the Eagles keep him to compete at training camp that's fine and if they let him walk, fantastic.

G Nick Cole: Notice it is G Nick Cole, and not C Nick Cole. Nick Cole sucked at center but he was a rock at guard this year. While I would not empty out the bank to pay to keep him, I would be happy to see him competing for a starting position at guard this summer and I would not be bummed at all if he won it.

LB Omar Gaither: Goodbye and good riddance. Every once in awhile he would make a play as an outside linebacker, but as a middle linebacker. I thought he was beyond useless. Not only should the Eagles not bring him back, I don't think that Reid will keep him. He started 2 seasons and ended up demoting him both times. Happy trails!

LB Chris Gocong: I like Chris Gocong. He is not the greatest, but I would bring him back to training camp to compete for a job. He battled injuries all year and this season was not the greatest for him, but I think he has quite a bit of potential. Besides, Stewart Bradley will bac back next year. That LB crew revolved around him at MLB and like I said, when he went down, that sent the Eagles linebackers into a season long tail spin. Give Gocong another chance.

CB Ellis Hobbs: Hobbs was injured during the year and we did not see totally what he could do, but as a kick returner, he did show some potential. Then again, Hobbs may want to be a starting CB again in this league. If he is willing to just be a 3rd or 4th corner as well as starting kick returner, keep him, if he wants to walk to test the market as a starting corner, let him walk and don't think twice about it.

G Max Jean-Gilles: I'm pretty sure he started at least one game at every position possible on the offensive line and was useless in each one of them. Okay, maybe it just seemed like he started every position because he was brought in whenever there was an injury and the Eagles needed a quick fix, but regardless, he was useless. Let him walk.

S Sean Jones: The Eagles themselves do not need to be nuked, but their starting safeties certainly do. Macho Harris is young and has a lot of learning to do, Sean Jones is a veteran who fared no better than the young kid. See ya, Sean!

LB Akeem Jordan: See Chris Gocong.

P Sav Rocca: The Eagles took a chance when they brought in the Aussie with a huge leg a few years ago to unseat Dirk Johnson as the starter. Rocca is embarrassingly inconsistent. He'll shank one one time and his very next punt will be a 63-yard bomb. The Eagles can do better than that. For comparisions sake, I'd resign him to have him compete for the starting job, but it would not be disheartening at all if the punter they brought in takes the job from Rocca.

TE Alex Smith: After being the back-up to Brent Celek, Alex Smith figures to drop to 3rd string tight end next season when Cornelius Ingram returns to the Eagles after being injured in training camp. That being said, Ingram was frequently injured during his college career and spent his first year in the pros on IR, so keeping Smith around in case the injury bug bites Celek again would not be the worst idea in the world. Keep him for that reason.

LB Jeremiah Trotter: If he never plays another game in an Eagles uniform, they will be better for it. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but his prime is past and while he was not as bad this year as I initially feared he would be when they signed him off the streets, he is not going to get any better. The Axe Man deserves better than to push his career too far and become a complete laughing stock. Besides Stewart Bradley is coming back. Assuming Bradley does not get hurt again, we won't even need Trotter.

FB Leonard Weaver: For the first time during his time in Philly, Andy Reid had a viable running back at his disposal. So much so that he insisted on using him in 1st and 10 situations in the playoffs at Dallas! While that is a bit of misuse there, Weaver is the short yardage back that the Eagles always needed the past decade but never had until now. This is another of those players that I will be calling for Andy Reid's head if he does not lock him up long term. Church Van is the man and as long as Andy Reid uses him right (not a given), he is invaluable to this team. Another one of the few that the Eagles must keep and lock up regardless of the price.

LB Tracy White: A very solid special teamer who came in to play some linebacker during some games and was not awful at it. He is not a must nor would I give empty my wallets for him, but I would be much happier to see him return than to see him depart.

Sure it is awhile until free agency starts but with these lists popping up everywhere now and with the memory of the players still fresh in my mind, now was the best time to do one. Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments!