Wednesday, May 1, 2002

ProFootballWeekly.com asks personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on the hottest topics in football. 

Falcons in position to sign veteran wide receiver after June 1

Although the Falcons signed 12-year veteran WR Jeff Graham on April 26, they are likely to still be in the market for one of the receivers who will be let go June 1. The WR depth chart is still quite thin in Atlanta, and another veteran wideout would be a big help to young QB Michael Vick.

Buchsbaum: The reason the Falcons took a running back — T.J. Duckett — in the first round of the NFL draft instead of what most people feel is their most pressing need, wide receiver, is because as of June 1, a number of quality wide receivers such as Derrick Alexander, Keenan McCardell and Michael Westbrook will be coming free and they feel they will be able to sign one because they have the money left to pay a top free-agent receiver. On the other hand, there are no quality running backs available anymore, and there doesn’t figure to be any after June 1.

Eagles looking for another running back

Dorsey Levens visited Philadelphia Monday as the Eagles try to find a running back to replace Correll Buckhalter, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in minicamp April 26. Levens, the fourth-leading rusher in Packers history, was cut for salary-cap purposes in February. He’s looking for a place where he’ll play more than he did in Green Bay. Philly could be the best option. Former Bengals and Redskins RB Ki-Jana Carter also is slated to visit.

Buchsbaum: It’ll be interesting to see what the Eagles do at running back now that Correll Buckhalter is done for the year (with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee). Will they go after a veteran running back to team with Duce Staley, whom they seem to not really trust as their featured back anymore? Or will they give rookie Brian Westbrook a chance to show that he can rotate in and out with Staley and do the job?

Eagles may want to add depth at middle linebacker

Philadelphia hopes that fourth-year LB Barry Gardner can fill the void left by Pro Bowl MLB Jeremiah Trotter, who signed with NFC East rival Washington as a free agent

Buchsbaum: The Eagles may go with a veteran middle linebacker as insurance against Barry Gardner not being able to replace Jeremiah Trotter. The fact that Trotter signed with a division rival, the Redskins, must really irk the Eagles, who let him go without compensation.

The Archives
2001 - 2002 Season