For Eagles, this is day Sheppard is likely gone

By Bob Brookover

Inquirer Staff Writer

All the speculation finally becomes something more today when the NFL draft begins at 3 p.m.

Cornerback Lito Sheppard, barring some unforeseen development, will become a member of another team, and we'll all get to see what he brings in return. Early yesterday evening, it was the New Orleans Saints' second-round pick that qualified as the best offer on the table.

A league source said five teams had made offers for Sheppard. The St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were among those teams, and the source said the Eagles were still hopeful when they went to bed last night that some team would improve its offer today.

The Saints' second-round pick is the 40th overall. Another league source said the Rams were unwilling to give up their second-round pick, which is the 33d overall. In a normal draft year that would be the first pick of the second round, but this year it is the second pick because the New England Patriots were stripped of the 32d overall pick in the first round.

New Orleans is in definite need of help at corner even though free-agent cornerbacks Randall Gay and Aaron Glenn signed with the team this off-season. The Saints finished 30th in pass defense last season.

Some reports Thursday said that Tampa Bay was the front-runner to land Sheppard, but the league source said the Bucs did not have the best offer on the table as of early yesterday evening. There was also speculation that the Bucs might include Michael Clayton in a deal for Sheppard, but the source said the Eagles were not interested in the veteran wide receiver. Tampa Bay has the 52d overall pick in the second round.

The league source said the Eagles were still considering keeping Sheppard, but that remains an unlikely scenario. It's no secret that Sheppard is unhappy with his contract. He is signed through 2011 and is scheduled to make $2 million this season. The source said that Sheppard wants his contract sweetened, but that he is not asking to be treated like an unrestricted free agent.

If, as expected, the Eagles do land another second-round pick, it would give them more leverage to move up in the first round of today's draft. The Eagles, whose pick in the second round is the 49th overall, could use one of those picks to get a player they want but might not still be on the draft board when they are scheduled to make the 19th overall selection.

Eagles general manager Tom Heckert said Monday that there were definitely some players the team would be willing to move up the draft board to take, and the player who seems to fit that bill best is Virginia offensive lineman Branden Albert, who isn't expected to be around when the Eagles make their selection.

Albert played primarily at left guard for Virginia, but most teams believe he could also have the ability to slide out to left tackle. If the Eagles want Vanderbilt's Chris Williams or Pittsburgh's Jeff Otah, it might also require them to move up from 19th.

The other potential pick that could require a move up the draft board is Michigan State's Devin Thomas, who is considered the best wide receiver in the draft. With it looking highly unlikely that the Eagles are going to acquire a top veteran wide receiver via trade, it still seems possible that they might go after Thomas, who was also an outstanding kick returner in his final season with the Spartans.

If the Eagles do acquire an additional second-round pick, it would give them a total of 12 draft picks, including four of the top 80 selections. It's possible the Eagles could remain right in the 19th spot in the first round and select someone like Miami's Kenny Phillips, who is considered the best safety in the draft.

Anything is possible, but the good thing is we've finally arrived at draft day, and we'll get some answers instead of more speculation. The other good thing is that the first 2009 mock draft isn't due out until Monday.