PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles' signing of Miles Austin this week might make it seem less likely that they will target a wide receiver high in the NFL draft. But I think it might mean the opposite.

The draft is in four weeks. The last thing a team wants to do is go into that unpredictable crap shoot with an overwhelming hole on its roster. That leads to drafting for need, which leads to reaching for needs rather than drafting based on your grades. It leads, in other words, to mistakes.

The presence of veterans like receiver Miles Austin means coach Chip Kelly and the Eagles won't have to reach to fill needs in the draft. Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Before signing Austin, wide receiver was arguably the biggest hole left for Chip Kelly to fill. Now that he is in the fold, the Eagles could still draft any wide receiver that catches their eye. Their commitment to Austin doesn’t make them less likely to draft a quality receiver for the long term.

Over the past couple weeks, it seemed reasonable to wonder why the Eagles weren’t interested in one of the more attractive free agent wide receivers still on the market. How about San Francisco’s Michael Crabtree or Oakland’s Denarius Moore? They would seem to have more upside than the 30-year-old Austin.

But signing one of those receivers would probably have required a larger commitment, and that would likely have had an impact on the Eagles’ plans. Austin falls into the middle: He signed a modest one-year deal and could be a starter or a backup. If the Eagles draft a receiver, Austin’s role could change based on the rookie’s progress. If the Eagles don’t draft a receiver, Austin could be insurance against the ability of young receivers Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff to take on larger roles.

Kelly’s comments about safety Earl Wolff last week at the owners meetings had a similar feel to them. Asked about the hole at safety -- a hole larger than the one at wide receiver -- Kelly said he looked forward to seeing how Wolff did during offseason practices. That might mean Kelly sees Wolff as a reason not to force a pick for a safety.

Allen Barbre fills that role at right guard, where Todd Herremans' departure created a hole. Guys like Barbre, Wolff and Austin don’t necessarily qualify as automatic starters. But they provide some peace of mind at key positions so the Eagles aren’t under the gun to fill those spots in the draft.

Kelly reportedly went to Tampa, Florida, on Thursday to work out USC wide receiver Nelson Algholor, who has also reportedly visited the team’s practice facility. According to a list of visits maintained by the guys at Birds 24/7, five wide receivers have visited the Eagles. That is more than any other position.