Posted: Monday, May 2, 2011, 4:20 PM | 43 comments |
 
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One team has already reportedly offered a 2012 first-round pick for Kevin Kolb. (Steven M. Falk/Staff file photo)

The draft came and went this past weekend, and because teams were not allowed to trade players, Kevin Kolb remained an Eagle.

And so the obvious question is: What happens now?

While there's no clear answer, we know (as has been the case for some time now) that the Eagles will have to settle for future draft picks or players for Kolb, whenever they are allowed to deal him.

Which brings us to a note from SI.com's Peter King in his Monday Morning Quarterback column. King reports that a team has already offered a 2012 first-round pick for Kolb.

Point is, Kolb doesn't want to be in Philadelphia; he wants to have a chance to get a starting job somewhere else, and Reid has promised him to try to make a deal if it benefits the Eagles. He already has an offer of a first-round pick in the 2012 draft from an unknown team. The window for the 2011 league year opened and closed quickly last week; players like Kolb who want to be traded and free-agents who want to hit the market have to wait for the league year to open before moving. That could happen this week if the Eighth Circuit forces the NFL to open doors and end the lockout.

One thing to keep in mind is that King's report presumably came from someone on the Eagles' side of things, considering that he said it was an "unknown team." There's always the possibility of the Birds trying to create a favorable trade market.

But the draft provided some clarity on which teams might still be interested in. In the first two rounds, six QB-needy teams drafted that position: the Panthers, Titans, Jaguars, Vikings, Bengals and 49ers.

Some have Tweeted at me, saying that doesn't necessarily mean those teams should be counted out as Kolb suitors, but I disagree. Kolb will only turn 27 next season, and any team that decides to pony up the compensation to acquire him will likely be looking to sign him to a long-term deal and make him their guy for the next several years.

At the same time, the teams that spent a first- or second-round pick on a quarterback likely want that guy to take over the starting role in the next two-to-three years. For example, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier told 1500 ESPN Twin Cities that ideally, he'd like Christian Ponder to be the starter in Week 1 of next season.

So while it's still possible that one of the teams that drafted a quarterback would still make a move for Kolb, it's highly unlikely.

Keeping that in mind, there are still some potential suitors for Kolb. Here are some teams that still might be in the market for a quarterback: the Bills, Cardinals, Browns, Redskins, Seahawks and Dolphins.

Of that group, Seattle, Miami and Arizona probably stand out. None of those three teams selected a quarterback over the weekend, although there have been several reports that the Cardinals could take a shot on veteran Marc Bulger.

The Seahawks might be the favorites to land Kolb at this point. Seattle has come under fire by many draft analysts for its draft.

Asked about the team's plan at quarterback in an interview with Danny O'Neil of The Seattle Times, general manager John Schneider said, "We had a plan going in, and we still have our plan. We just can't execute that plan right now."

Meanwhile, in his column, King said he had a feeling the Seahawks had "a specific player in mind" to fill their QB need.

Sure seems like the pieces fit from my perspective.

From the Eagles' perspective, the danger in trading for a 2012 pick is simple: They have no clue what that pick it's going to be, and everything depends on how the team that trades for Kolb finishes. There are probably trade provisions that could be put into place to help with the uncertainty. For example, maybe the deal stipulates that if it's a first-round pick between 16-32, the Eagles would also receive a fourth-rounder.

We'll just have to wait and see, but the Birds' front office will likely have to get creative to get a deal done.

The one thing that seems pretty certain right now is that Kolb is gone unless the Eagles just can't find a trade partner. Andy Reid would normally be tight-lipped about such matters. Over the weekend, he didn't even want to address the obvious question surrounding David Akers' future after the Eagles drafted kicker Alex Henery in the fourth round.

But when asked about Kolb, Reid doesn't seem to hide the fact that the Eagles will be looking to deal him once they are allowed to.

"We know the people that were interested in Kevin before we were given the restrictions that we were given and the rules that we were given where we couldn’t talk," he told reporters over the weekend. "So we know where we left off there and we’ll see how things work out once everything’s lifted. Who knows? Who knows when we’ll be able to do that, but we’ll look at it. And I will tell you the same thing I said before, I’m going to keep my ears open but that doesn’t mean that anything is going to open."

One final thought on the subject. The market could very well shrink if the lockout drags into the season. Kolb's impact might be limited if he's not able to practice at all with the new team this offseason. Potential suitors might shy away from dealing a high pick to the Eagles when they very well could have a shot at Kolb as a free agent in 2012 anyway.


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Posted by Sheil Kapadia @ 4:20 PM  Permalink | 43 comments
43
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:49 AM, 05/02/2011
    i firmly believe Kolb will be dealt within minutes of trades being allowed, whenever that is. right now the Appeal and the stay is not looking good for the players. So, it may not happen until July. Just more fun for us Eagles fans, but i truly believe also that Buffalo could also be in the mix. For them to have faith in Fitzgerald is crazy. But Seattle and Arizona are likely spots, i don't think Buffalo would surrender a 1st round pick for Kolb as it is usually top 5 every year. Seattle would most make sense as they draft usually later in 1st, which would make sense.
    crohnkiller
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:59 AM, 05/02/2011
    The one issue with Seattle trading for Kolb is what they've already invested in Charlie Whitehurst. To make a significant offer to get Kolb would almost be admitting that he was a mistake. As much as I'd like to see them get something for Kolb at this point, I have to wonder what the plan is for a back-up. If it's Kafka, I think everyone should be fired in the front office NOW.
    beegal99
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:15 PM, 05/02/2011
    How about Whitehurst and a 2012 First for Kolb?
    Mr. Smith
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:22 PM, 05/02/2011
    Do we really want another 1st round draft pick in Reid's hands? Would that really be worth more than having a starter level backup QB like Kolb on the bench to come in when Vick gets hurt, and even if the new rugby player makes the team, Vick's history makes injury very probable.
    atp2007
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:35 PM, 05/02/2011
    As long as we get a 1st round pick, I'm fine with it.
    p-diddy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:44 PM, 05/02/2011
    They need to get more than a Seattle first rounder.
    P Even
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:44 PM, 05/02/2011
    Hopefully we can trade Kolb for a 1st round pick and considering that seattle had a bad draft and everybody in the NFC West got better, I believe they will finish last with or without Kolb so hopefully they make the mistake of giving the Eagles a 1st round pick for Kolb and then go on to win 5 or 6 games that way the Eagles could have there own 1st round pick and an early one. Lets say in the 7-16 range.
    briandawkins20
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:43 PM, 05/02/2011
    beegal, if you read the article you will see Seattle
    'general manager John Schneider said, "We had a plan going in, and we still have our plan. We just can't execute that plan right now."' if they can't execute the plan right now, clearly whitehurst isn't their guy.

    MPatt24
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:47 PM, 05/02/2011
    If the Eagles' brass thinks Kolb is good, then they should trade Vick. Vick will likely not survive this season, physically, but could bring 2 #1s in trade.
    armchairGM
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:40 PM, 05/02/2011
    KK for the Cardinals 1st rd pick Patterson the cb.
    Joe at the shore
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:41 PM, 05/02/2011
    Cleveland; mark it down. Andy has pictures of Tom Heckart naked. But then he'll sign Vince Young.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:09 PM, 05/02/2011
    get a 1, then pickup a veteran backup. Would love to trade for Patrick Peterson straight up, but doubt that would happen. Laugh all you want at Fitzpatrick in Buffalo, but he has done more than Kolb as a starter.
    peteike
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:48 PM, 05/02/2011
    As for the end of the lockout:

    "That could happen this week if the Eighth Circuit forces the NFL to open doors and end the lockout."

    Exhale! Don't Hold Breath!
    Susan Nelson made a ruling - injunction in a labor dispute - that had NEVER been made, in the history of American jurisprudence. That should help make things a little more obvious how this will play out.

    Within her 89 pages of pure drivel, she relied entirely on what everyone else knows is a sham - the "de-certification" of the NFLPA. The players' legal position is predicated on a pure fiction.

    Most judges -- appointed for life -- understand their role within a system of elected officials. Most of them are loathe to jump into the middle of a national labor dispute and decide the whole outcome.

    On December 10, 2010 - as Senate Democrats were changing their door signs to "Minority" - Nelson was confirmed for the biggest repository for activist judges - the federal District Court (trial court) in Minneapolis. And coincidentally, out of 32 possible cities, the NFLPA "randomly" chose to sue in Minneapolis.

    After starting a lawsuit, the NFLPA wants it to end before the higher-ups in the judiciary consider the law governing the issues in the case. So they rushed off to court, and want to rush right back out before the law properly is applied to their complaint.

    And they chose to cut off negotiations with the federal mediator.

    And WHO am I supposed to have sympathy for?

    When an adult, house-broken canine poops all over the hardwood floor, it may find itself sleeping out in the dog house. And NFL players find themselves in the same spot - locked out.

    If it doesn't end too quickly, the competitive balance can be preserved that has helped the NFL be America's most successful franchise. Keep them doors locked!
    montgomeryhopkins
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:12 PM, 05/03/2011
    I'm destined for desert, too. But only if I finish my diner.


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About Sheil Kapadia
Sheil Kapadia is in his fourth season writing about the Eagles and the NFL for philly.com. His earliest memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with his Dad. He's not a beat writer or an Insider, but is here to discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or by clicking here

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