The Philadelphia Eagles, despite leading the NFC East at 9-4, have some quarterback questions to address during the offseason.
Nick Foles showed signs of major regression before breaking his collarbone in Week 8. Rumors swirled that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman had soured on Foles even before he went down with injury.
Mark Sanchez has thrown for at least 300 yards in three of his five starts, but he's no one's idea of a long-term solution. As a result, the Eagles have naturally been linked to Oregon quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Marcus Mariota due to his ties with head coach Chip Kelly.
If the NFL draft were held tomorrow, Philly would have the 27th pick, meaning it would be very difficult for them to trade up to a position where Mariota would be available. However, nothing is impossible. The Eagles would have to determine what the potential cost would be for such a move.
The Washington Redskins traded three first-round picks and a second-rounder for the right to move up four spots to No. 2 and draft Robert Griffin III in 2012. Would the Eagles be willing to top that deal?
"He's a special player, and he's just got a gift for playing football," Kelly said yesterday. "He's just everything you want. He can throw the ball. He can run. He's the most talented kid I coached in college."
The Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars both used high draft picks on quarterbacks last year and are projected to land in the top five of this year's draft. It's possible that either team would be agreeable to a deal with the Eagles if the price was right.
Could the 6-foot-4, 219 pound Mariota be exactly what the Eagles need to complete their team? There's no doubting his athleticism and ability. Mariota has thrown for 3,783 yards with 38 touchdowns against only two interceptions while completing 68.3 percent of his passes this season. He's also rushed for 669 yards on 117 carries (5.7 Yards per carry average) and 14 touchdowns.
If Kelly is entertaining this idea, he'll have to ask himself if Mariota is the missing piece to put this team over the top? Any deal of this magnitude would be a sacrifice of the future to win now.
