The Philadelphia Eagles have become one of the most exciting teams in the NFL the past couple seasons.
On the field, head coach Chip Kelly has his up-tempo, always on the offensive, warp speed program setting NFL scoring records and dropping bombs - literally and figuratively - on opponents.
Off the field, Kelly just won a perceived power struggle with former GM-turned vice president of football operations, Howie Roseman, and now has full control of the draft, trades, free agency and the 53-man roster.
One position Kelly has yet to find a definitive answer for, and one that he's now got free reign to solve as he sees fit, is quarterback. Mark Sanchez is again a free agent and probably won't return; Matt Barkley is still an unknown to the outside world and Nick Foles has shown flashes, but little consistency.
Luckily, there just so happens to be a player from the college version of Kelly's up-tempo, break-neck program in Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota, who just declared for the draft Wednesday and would, no doubt, greatly pique Kelly's interest.
The problem, as spouted by any number of draftniks, is that Mariota is expected to be off the board long before Kelly and the Eagles select at number 20 overall in the first round next April.
Trading up will be nearly impossible - and, frankly, stupid - so if Mariota goes where he's currently projected to, Kelly will have almost zero chance at his former star pupil.
But as we inch closer to the draft, opinions that differ greatly from the accepted draft wisdom keep trickling out.
"Everybody talks about, 'Is he going to drop? Is he going to fall?' I don't know if he was ever all the way up there to begin with," said Daniel Jeremiah on an episode of 97.5 The Fanatic on Wednesday, according toTim McManus of Philly Mag. "I think there's a chance he could slide down a little bit."
And he's not the only one seeing potential red flags.
ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has voiced concerns over Mariota's ability to make all the necessary throws in his transition to the professional level.
Former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer has opined that Mariota could potentially fall, questioning his readiness to lead a pro-style offense.
And ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper thinks FSU's Jamies Winston could end up being the first quarterback off the board due to concerns over Mariota's overall pro prospects.
From now until late April, evaluations will change and opinions will continue to alter, but it's always interesting to take a look at both sides of the coin, especially when so many out there are offering seemingly definitive prognostications for the notoriously hard-to-predict NFL Draft.
