Feb. 26, 2008

Updated at 8:35 p.m. EST Thursday, Feb. 28

The biggest move to date has been the franchising of TE L.J. Smith, who could sign an extension but at least will be back for another year. The move sends a clear indication to many that the team is gearing up for one more run at a title next season, which likely should end those persistent Donovan McNabb rumors. It also could stoke talk of the Eagles going into the open market and spending some money, as they have in the past when they added DEs Jevon Kearse and Darren Howard. The irony, of course, is that Kearse was hacked from the roster before the start of free agency and Howard may suffer the same fate, which would provide the team with more cap space. The positions the team may target include safety, which is thin in the draft but decent in free agency, especially with familiar divisional names such as Giants S Gibril Wilson; cornerback, which has one big name — the Patriots’ Asante Samuel — and some other intriguing ones; and wideout, though the team is said to be comfortable with the players it has at that spot. None of the team’s unrestricted free agents is a lock to return, but a few could stick, such as Thomas Tapeh.