The Eagles' free-agent signings of Walter Thurmond III and Byron Maxwell have largely resolved the team's cornerback crisis.
Given their additional flexibility, the Eagles could potentially use the 20th pick in the draft to address issues on the offensive side of the ball, as ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. said in a conference call with reporters Thursday.
"They're a team right now that could go several directions," he said. "You could think about if they want an offensive lineman, an outside linebacker, could you want a receiver?
"I think that could be a possibility there now for them: wide receiver."
With the departure of Jeremy Maclin to Kansas City, the Eagles have a hole to fill on the outside. Riley Cooper is on the roster, but struggled last season, earning the worst grade in the NFL among wide receivers by Pro Football Focus' rating system.
Jordan Matthews, the Eagles' slot man last season, excelled in that role as a rookie. He caught 67 passes for 872 yards and eight touchdowns. A move to Maclin's spot could be the logical choice.
But after those players, there's not much production left on the depth chart. Josh Huff spent most of last season on return duty, catching only eight passes. Will Murphy and Quron Smith haven't suited up for NFL games.
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There's little chance that Amari Cooper or Kevin White, the consensus top receivers in the draft, will be available by the time the Eagles are on the clock (see top wide receiver prospects).
Kiper, Jr. cited a pair of wideouts that could provide good value at the end of the first round: Arizona State's Jaelen Strong and USC's Nelson Agholor.
"Overall, catches in traffic, run after the catch, explosive out of his break, Nelson Agholor would be a guy, late first-round, that's gonna deserve some consideration," he said.
Agholor was limited at the combine after he dislocated a finger during receiving drills, but did his best work during the Trojans' season. He caught 104 passes for 1,313 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Strong, a Philadelphia native, has received plenty of first-round consideration. He caught 82 passes for 1,165 yards and 10 touchdowns last season for the Sun Devils and impressed in his pro day.
There are receiver-needy teams in front of the Eagles, of course, most notably the Chiefs, who pick two spots ahead at 18. Kiper cited Kansas City as a potential landing spot for Strong.
Likewise, picking Agholor could be a bit of a reach. Kiper felt that the Ravens, who pick 26th, could target Agholor, who has been a second-round pick in most mocks.
Lousiville's DeVante Parker, Ohio State's Devin Smith and UCF's Breshad Perriman have all also generated first-round buzz.
Eagles fans will likely shudder at the possibility of Chip Kelly taking a player at a slot above his talent level, given the struggles of last year's first-rounder, linebacker Marcus Smith. Smith appeared in only eight games last year and failed to record a tackle.
Kiper, Jr., for his part, felt that Matthews should have been a first-round pick and that Smith should have gone later. But the Eagles' roster is what it is right now and could use an additional weapon.
"If Matthews continues to develop, he's an elite receiver. He's a number one," Kiper, Jr. said. "But if you want another receiver in this draft, I think you can get one at 20."