Rumors and speculation about the future of cornerback Lito Sheppard have been rampant since the Eagles acquired the prize of the free agent market, Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel, in late February.

Team president Joe Banner acknowledged on Tuesday that other teams have shown "significant interest" in acquiring Sheppard's services. Banner said that the Eagles have to make a determination whether it's best for the team to move him or bring him back. As of now, Banner said "the best thing to do is keep him."

"You don't see many 26-year-old Pro Bowl players who there is even a possibility of acquiring," said Banner. "If you look at the history of player trades, you'll see a very short list of players that age, that caliber of player, that kind of character. There is significant interest, but the reason there is interest is because he's a good player, which is a compelling reason, also, to keep him. We'll just have to weigh the options of keeping him or whatever else is available, and in the end (head coach) Andy (Reid) will make a decision as to which he thinks is better."

No Eagle has more interceptions since 2003 than Sheppard with 17 interceptions over that span. Three of them were returned for touchdowns. A first-round draft pick in 2002, Sheppard is the only player in NFL history with two 100-yard interception returns for touchdowns. Both of them came against Dallas (2004 and 2006) and are the longest interception returns in Eagles history.

The Eagles can stick with Sheppard and still have plenty to work with on draft weekend, which is April 26-27. They have 11 picks, which is tied for the most in the NFL. And judging by the Eagles' recent draft history, they are not afraid to wheel and deal.

"We're open to being aggressive. Certainly we've had some conspicuous trades up, and even used some significant ammunition to trade up," said Banner. "We've also traded down. It's really all going to depend on how the draft falls. Frankly, right now that is a wild guess. Anybody running these mock drafts, the teams don't even really know yet, or have decided who they are going to pick. But, between now and the draft, you'll have a pretty good guess. You'll see that if there is a guy you really like and he's within range, you'll go and get him. On the other hand, if you get to your pick and there is a group of guys you still feel really good about, you may try to pick up some extra picks. It really depends much more on how the draft goes in front of you than it does on your own grades."

In 2004, the Eagles traded their first and second-round picks (No. 28 and 58 overall) to San Francisco to move up to No. 16 and grab guard Shawn Andrews who has twice been named to the Pro Bowl. Just last season, the Eagles traded their first-round pick (No. 26 overall) to Dallas for a second-round selection that was used on quarterback Kevin Kolb, a third round pick that became linebacker Stewart Bradley and another fifth-round choice.

The Eagles own the 19th overall pick in this year's draft. One of the biggest factors in possibly making a move, especially in the first round, depends on the interpretation of a new draft pick value chart that has been circulating amongst a group of teams including the Eagles. Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson is credited with coming up with the original version of the chart in the early '90s, which assigns a point value to every selection. So if the Eagles want to move up in the draft, say to the No. 15 spot, they would use the chart as a guideline to offer fair compensation.

But this year a revised chart has been crafted because of the increased amount of guaranteed money that first-round picks receive.

"There is no question that the dynamic of the first round has changed very dramatically," said Banner. "There is no question, in my mind at least, that the old system is no longer applicable for trades in the first round. The question is, do we have a viable replacement about which is a consensus that it makes sense?

"I don't think there's anybody who could intelligently argue that you don't have to (use a new chart). Even if you work off the old chart, but kind of adjust it in your head, the old chart does not make sense anymore with the economics of the guaranteed money in the first round."