Roster Breakdown: Tight Ends

Roster Breakdown: Tight Ends

The bond that Donovan McNabb and LJ Smith has shared since Smith was made a 3rd round pick by the team in 2003 is one that can be viewed as a great situation as one thrives off the other, but we haven’t seen that as of late due to injuries to both men. It becomes important then that if Smith wants his big money as a free agent, or if he gets it here from us next year, he will have to come out and play the best football of his career and also hold off the other guys as well.

Smith is arguably one of the most prolific tight ends to suit up for the Eagles outside of Keith Jackson, and his all around athletic ability has always made him Donny’s favorite target inside the red zone. But ever since he took over for Chad Lewis, who retired after the 2004 season, he has yet to put it together, for two years due to McNabb getting injured and then last year when McNabb struggled early and then Smith came back too quick from sports hernia surgery and went right back onto the injured list. With both men coming back at 100% after a great late season run, look for Smith to return to his ways as a big red zone touchdown machine.

We saw, in spurts, what 5th round pick Brent Celek was capable of last year, and he should get more time to prove himself regardless of what Smith’s status in the lineup is. Celek often played more then most rookies we had been known to play due to the injuries to Smith and also Matt Schobel as well, sometimes making him the only tight end we would carry on the team for a week. His blocking will need to be worked on a little bit, but his pass catching ability is pretty strong as is, and he MIGHT even be starting as soon as 2009, depending upon the progress he makes in year two in the NFL.

It is a homecoming of sorts for Kris Wilson, who grew up around the Philadelphia area and went to high school here before going to college at Pittsburgh and learning for four years behind arguably the best tight end in the game Tony Gonzalez in Kansas City. Wilson is an unproven commodity because of this, but the fact that they would sign him for three years shows perhaps there is something the team knows at we don’t know however.

But what I do know however is this signing cannot mean good things for Schobel, who we signed back in 2006 but he has failed to prove his worth, going as far to let Celek push ahead of him last year for playing time when Smith was hurt. Schobel will be fighting to keep his spot on the team now.

What I think happens: Smith and Celek are locks, and while the signing of Wilson doesn’t mean he is going to make the team per se, I would be worried if I am Schobel and I think he is going to have to fend off Wilson until the final cuts. Look for Wilson, due to his pending upside, to earn the last spot.