Last month, the Philadelphia Eagles made a run at two of the dozen (or so) elite NFL receivers who command the attention of at least two defensive players whenever on or anywhere close to the field.
The Eagles were unable to lure Randy Moss, a free agent at the time, away from New England. Efforts to swing a trade with the Cardinals for receiver Larry Fitzgerald were unsuccessful as well.
But there’s another high-end wideout who might ultimately be coming to Philly.
GCobb.com (which has been nailing many an Eagles scoop this offseason) says that Eagles radio analyst Mike Quick says he thinks that the Eagles “will make a major move” at receiver this week.
Apparently, the Cowboys and the Redskins are in the hunt as well.
Williams, one of the rare first-round wideouts chosen by the Lions during the past decade who has turned into a solid player, is signed through 2008. But with receiver Calvin Johnson, the No. 2 overall selection in 2007, entering his second year and commanding a big chunk of cap space, the Lions have to ask themselves whether they should get try to get value for Williams now, or face losing him after the coming season. (They could also put the franchise tag on him and then trade him, but they would need roughly $10 million in cap space on the books in order to carry his one-year franchise tender until a trade would be worked out.)
For the reported suitors, the stakes are very high. Whoever doesn’t get Williams will have to face him twice per year.








April 21st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I’ve said it before on here and I’ll say it again:
Getting rid of your best offensive (Roy Williams) AND best defensive (Shaun Rogers) player in the same offseason does not make your team better, Mr. Millen.
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Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I can only hope he lands with the Eagles! He would be a marvelous edition to the team. He is a big target that McNabb can throw to, which would stretch the field. Thus, allow for the option to actually be, well, an option! Kevin Curtis would eat up the slot and L.J. might start drawing a LB. It is probably too good to be true however.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Dear Vinny Cerrato:
Get him.
Sincerely,
Coach Jim Zorn
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
You knew the Eagles would have to make a major play for an established WR at some point before the draft. They have the trade bait to lure an elite receiver away from someone and the determination to make it happen, especially with the Cowboys and the Redskins looking to upgrade at WR as well.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I didn’t know Freddie Mitchell was making a comeback! Or is it stinkston?!?!
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Unless Philly plans on giving up #19, it ain’t happening…
I’d do it, but I don’t think the Eagles will.
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Rating: 4.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:26 pm
this makes NO sense to me and i am an eagles fan and also a fan of roy williams. it would be foolish of detroit (and perhaps because it is detroit this will get done) to move him. he is a stud wr who can only help calvin johnson develop. detroit has no #2 wr on their roster and getting rid of williams could possibly set back cj. i would welcome the move if he came to philly but would be shocked because it just doesn’t seem to make sense. they will get something for him next year when they tag him and then trade him. detroit, i believe, has plenty of cap space and will only get more next year when the cap goes up and they cut kitna. the only way this makes sense is if detroit loves lito sheppard and he is the true cornerstone of the deal.
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Rating: 3.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Anybody considering a Lito Sheppard for Ocho Stinko trade possibility?
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
The Lions would be in pretty good shape if they could get something worthwhile worked out that included either the Eagles’ #19 or the ‘Skins’ #21 (plus probably a player or another fairly high draft pick this year or next year). Roy is expendable and overrated (as a huge Lions fan, I am on the edge of my seat every time the ball is thrown to Roy; every catch attempt has the potential of being turned into a touchdown, either for Roy with a spectacular run and catch, or for the other team after Roy bats the ball around with his fingertips a half a dozen times and loses it).
At #15 and either #19 or 21, the Lions could fill two HUGE holes at RB (Stewart/Mendenhall) and MLB (Mayo) and not really be worse for wear at WR (barring injuries to CJ or Furrey). It’d be a win-win for each team involved; hopefully the Eagles, Skins, or Cowboys can come up with a good enough offer. #19 and Lito Sheppard, who would play nickel in the revamped Lions secondary, would not be enough.
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Rating: 3.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Their 1st round pick isn’t the only option. Could be Lito Sheppard and a later pick. They have plenty of picks to work with and something the other teams are tighter on, cap space.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:37 pm
They don’t have to give up their first pick, I can guarantee you Lito is in the trade talks and we know Detroit needs help in the secondary
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Rating: 2.6 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Dear Jim Zorn,
There’s no way we’ll be able to get Roy Williams. I’ll be outmaneuvered and we will lose him to the Cowboys or Eagles.
1) We’ll sign Keyshawn off the street.
2) If we can’t get Keyshawn, we’ll trade up from #21 to draft Malcolm Kelly.
3) If someone else reaches on Kelly, we can get Chris Henry.
4) If all of that fails, you’ll just be expected to win with Anthony Mix.
Sincerely,
VinnyCerratoDraftGenius
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Rating: 4.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Man they can get R. Williams without giving up pick #19…They have 11 total picks and an elite corner on the trade block…That’s enough.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:49 pm
The Eagles NEED to make this happen. Realistically they have 2 seasons left with this core group of players before major changes need to happen. They have a talented roster and are an impact WR away from the Super Bowl.
If the Lions got Lito Sheppard and phillys #1 (19) they could be a much better team. Lito and Leigh Bodden would give Detroit two young talented corners. They could then either package their picks and move up for a Dorsey, or sit tight and grab a DT and RB at their picks.
This could be a trade where both teams win, although I know Philly would be worried about Williams wanting a new contract soon. They could be planning on making a run the next 2 years, with Williams playing out his contract this year and franchising him the next year.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Yeah the Eagles clearly have more to offer than the skins or cowboys - after red bragged so much about how hard the team tried to get moss, i’ve gotta believe the organization won’t get outbid.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Give up Lito Sheppard and this years 3rd Round Pick. With 11 picks in the draft they have the picks plus a Star Corner to get it done. Williams stretching the field, Curtis eating up the slot, L.J. smith coming off the Line, Westbrook carrying and also coming off the backfield. Whoooa Nelly. I’m getting goose Bumps GO EAGLES!!!!
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Rating: 1.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Frankly I think that the ’skins would be fine with any of the wide receivers predicted to fall to the second round. R.Williams isn’t an elite WR either, he’s more like a very solid posession receiver.
NFC better pray we don’t get our missing piece- a posession receiver. We would rule the division until we face the seahawks again and choke in the first round of the playoffs.
F dallas
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Love how the Eagles fans think they can get Roy Williams for anything less than the 19th pick by throwing in Lito Sheppard.
You don’t need elite CBs in the Lions (Tampa 2) defense. The Lions also recently acquired Brian Kelly and Leigh Bodden.
So again, if the Eagles want Roy Wiliams, the discussion starts and ends with #19.
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Rating: 3.5 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
That would be MAJOR, if the Philadelphia Eagles can land Roy Williams!
I’m sure the North Carolina coach is fast, too.
Naw but I think the Detroit Lions’ receiver like long jumped 25 feet or something. I was happy when I long jumped over 18 feet for high school track and field, which usually got the team points. But anyway, if Donavon McNabb had that weapon, then watch out for those Eagles.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Why would the Lions take a 3rd in this trade? Makes no sense, further why would the Eagles not trade their 1st to get him?
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Rating: 4.25 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 4:11 pm
As a Lions fan, I can only hope this happens…. Get a 3rd rounder and a scrub ex-Buc for Roy and move on…….
sooner or later Millen has to pull the trigger on the deal that gets him fired, doesn’t he ??
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Rating: 1.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
As an Eagles fan I have wanted this to happen, but it actually does work for both teams with 2 possible deals.
1. The Eagles #19 pick for Roy Williams straight up. The Redskins and Cowboys pick later in the round.
2. Lito and a 4th for Roy Williams. There is a lot to this because Lito is signed until 2011. Both teams get hit will similar dead money, but the Lions will have 4 years of low base salaries to work out a deal for a Pro bowl cornerback. They are still stacked with Johnson, Furrey and McDonlad as the recievers in a run oriented new offense. The Eagles signed Curtis and Brown to deals in the past few years so Williams new deal is easy to live with. Westbrook has to have some more money thrown his way because he will still be the engine that runs the offense. Donovan now has a chance to prove he should be around past 2008.
If Roy Williams ends up on the Cowboys or the Redskins there will be riots in the streets and Andy Reid’s past success will be completely forgotten. The fans (including me) will echo the team isn’t going for a Super Bowl, just trying to be competitive. It’s time to go all in with Roy Williams and allow the Eagles to pick the best possible talent with the remainder of their picks this weekend.
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Rating: 2.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
“Hey Donovan, Teach Roy our offense so Kolb can have a receiver.”
Love,
Big Red
Jokes aside, please come to Philly Roy! He’d do well in our town, celebrating first downs and handing the ball back quietly after a TD…and he is one of the most quotable receivers (when quotable means funny/engaging rather than “I love me some me.”)
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 4:17 pm
That’s all the Redskins need, eh? A possession receiver? Somebody call Meshawn! Seriously dude, no WR is going to make a 4 game swing for the Redskins, which happens to be exactly the number of games they finished out of first place last season.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 21st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Why are all these Eagles fans touting LJ Smith like he’s the second coming of Christ? I guess those fumbles mean nothing. Same with the drops in the end zone. Don’t you guys realize, the future TE is not LJ Smith. If it was, why would they have signed another dozen TEs in the off season?
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)