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For the past nine seasons, the Eagles have not had to truly worry about their offensive tackles.
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William Thomas and Jon Runyan have held down two of the most important positions on the field, left tackle and right tackle, with consistency and excellence, starting a combined 270 games for Philadelphia.

That number may get to 300, but probably not much farther.

Thomas is 34 years old, and Runyan is 35, and each has one year left on his contract. Beyond that, their status as Eagles is uncertain, especially given Philadelphia's unwillingness to pay aging players.

"Obviously it's something we'll have to deal with at some point, one way or another," general manager Tom Heckert said. "It's tough because they're both still playing very well. So I don't know how you go and say, "He's got three years left.' "

Nobody will be surprised if the Eagles take an offensive lineman with their first-round pick, the 19th overall, in this weekend's NFL Draft. This class of prospects is especially thick with talent at offensive tackle, and as many as six could go in the first round alone.

But this wouldn't be the first or even the second time the Eagles have made plans for life after Runyan and Thomas.

In 2004, Philadelphia traded up to take Shawn Andrews out of Arkansas, and "the Big Kid" has since developed into a two-time Pro Bowl selection at right guard.

A few weeks ago, head coach Andy Reid said he would not hesitate to move Andrews out to tackle, indicating that was the plan all along.

In 2006, the Eagles spent a second-round draft pick on USC standout Winston Justice, touting him as the team's future at left tackle.

But for Thomas' early season knee injury, Justice might still be an untarnished jewel of possibility. Instead, he started one game at left tackle, against the Giants in Week 4, and melted down as the Eagles yielded 12 sacks and lost 16-3.

"To be honest, we still think Winston can play," Heckert said. "Throw out the Giants game. Andy will be the first one to admit it. We didn't do some things we probably should have for a guy we knew was getting thrown into the fire.

"We think Winston is going to be fine."

Under Reid, the Eagles have not typically been the kind of organization that gets caught without a backup plan. Maybe at punt returner, but not at left tackle.

That's where the 2008 draft class comes in.

Michigan's Jake Long, the top tackle prospect of the group, is already signed as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dolphins. A tier below him, however, there is a group of four that could be within the Eagles' reach, particularly if they are willing to trade up five or 10 spots.

Ryan Clady from Boise State, Jeff Otah from Pittsburgh, Chris Williams of Vanderbilt and Gosder Cherilus of Boston College will all almost certainly hear their names called in the first round, and USC's Sam Baker is a fringe first-rounder as well.

"I think (if) you talk to a bunch of different teams they'd probably have those five guys (ranked) all different, and some teams even including Jake Long," Heckert said. "I think they have them graded all different ways. I think they're all going to be good players." Reach Sean McCann at smccann@courierpostonline.com

http://www.courierpostonline.com/app...804240340/1015

[K Train]

if michael oher didnt break my heart this would be the best tackle class ever lol

[falcon_91]

and if Gaither had decent grades!