"We'll work something out. Something will be worked out," coach Andy Reid said Sunday.
Sheppard landed on the trading block because he isn't happy with his contract - he's signed through 2011 - and the Eagles don't have patience for disgruntled players. Philly signed Samuel to a $57.14 million, six-year contract, making Sheppard expendable.
Samuel, Sheppard and Sheldon Brown would give the Eagles perhaps the top cornerback trio in the league.
"It gives us one great opportunity for a nice secondary," Reid said. "The way to use him is just like we used Bobby Taylor, Al Harris and Troy Vincent. We just rotated all of them and they were all starters in our eyes. Just let them play, that's the way I look at this secondary."
Reid said Sheppard wouldn't be excused from minicamps.
"He's part of this football team, just like everybody else," Reid said.
With their eight draft selections on Day 2 of the draft, the Eagles bolstered their offensive line and defensive backfield and added players that should help on special teams.
Bryan Smith, a defensive end from McNeese State, was selected in the third round.
Smith (6-foot-2, 231 pounds) was a two-time All-American and Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year at the Division I-AA level. He was projected as an outside linebacker at the pro level, but the Eagles plan to use him at end.
"I don't know anything specific, but I know they want me at defensive end and I think that would be a good spot for me," Smith said. "I talked to the coaches and they said they were going to keep me at defensive end."
Smith, chosen No. 80 overall, likely will be a special teams contributor as a rookie.
"What we saw there was great speed and a real knack for rushing the passer," Reid said. "Keep in mind that we're trying to throw fastballs at the offense, and he's one of those types of players."
The Eagles took versatile offensive lineman Mike McGlynn with the first of their three fourth-round picks.
McGlynn, the 109th pick, can play anywhere on the offensive line. He started mostly at right tackle in his senior season at Pittsburgh.
"He's very much of the same mode as Jon Runyan," Reid said. "He's got a nasty streak to him and he'll fit in nice with our group of guys here."
McGlynn (6-4, 311) has the perfect attitude for a lineman.
"I'm just a tough, 100 percent (player)," he said. "I play hard, nasty guy that's going to come in and do the work that needs to be done. The front line guys don't get any glory and I don't need any glory. I just want to come in and get my job done. I describe myself as a blue-collar type of guy."
With their next two picks in the fourth round, the Eagles chose safety Quintin Demps and injured cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu.
Demps, the 117th pick, played safety and cornerback at UTEP. He'll probably be groomed as Brian Dawkins' successor at free safety. Demps, who had 17 interceptions in college, doesn't lack confidence.
"I'm a playmaker," Demps said. "The Eagles got a playmaker - a steal of the draft. I'm going to take what I can from Dawkins and come in there and play with passion. I'm not a Pro Bowl player. I'm a Super Bowl player. I'm ready to go. I'm fired up."
Ikegwuonu, the 131st choice, tore two knee ligaments while preparing for the scouting combine and isn't expected to play until 2009. Ikegwuonu is also awaiting the resolution of a legal matter. Ikegwuonu and his twin brother were arrested on charges of residential burglary and criminal trespassing in November 2006.
"Obviously I did my homework on that," Reid said. "We feel as though that will pass."
Once projected as a potential first-round pick, Ikegwuonu wasn't sure he'd be drafted at all.
"Considering the situation I went through in January and then the other issue I had, I was trying to go into this weekend as optimistic as much as I could," he said. "I have good people around me, so they kept my head up and I was just hoping for the best, but expecting the worst."
In the sixth round, the Eagles got another versatile lineman and a pair of small-school linebackers. Cal's Mike Gibson (6-3, 305) was the first of the three chosen. Gibson, picked 184th, played tackle in college, but is expected to move to guard or center.
Joe Mays (5-11, 245) from Division I-AA North Dakota State and Andy Studebaker (6-3, 251) from Division III Wheaton, were picked at No. 200 and 203, respectively.
With their only seventh-round pick, No. 230 overall, the Eagles drafted offensive tackle King Dunlap (6-9, 310) from Auburn.
Philadelphia traded a sixth-round pick (No. 191) back to Cleveland for a fifth-rounder in next year's draft. The Browns sent the pick to the Eagles in 2006 for center Hank Fraley.
On Saturday, the Eagles traded out of the first round for the second straight year and made two other deals. They acquired running back Lorenzo Booker from Miami and drafted Notre Dame defensive tackle Trevor Laws and California wide receiver DeSean Jackson with their two second-round picks.
Jackson, selected at No. 49, could make an immediate impact as a return specialist. He returned six punts for touchdowns in three seasons at Cal.
Laws, taken two picks earlier, provides depth behind starters Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley.
