The Philadelphia Eagles enter this offseason with a major question mark at the NFL's most important position.
While quarterback Nick Foles provided a serious glimmer of hope with his efforts in the 2013-14 season, he showed this past year that, while he is a talented and capable quarterback, he's also athletically limited and more dependent on the pieces around him in order to succeed than head coach Chip Kelly is probably willing to accept in his signal-caller. Mark Sanchez only confirmed what most in the NFL already knew and Matt Barkley continues to exist as a complete unknown.
With the offseason officially upon us, rumors and reports have begun to swirl of what Kelly, the new Grand Poobah of Eagles player-personnel, will look to do to upgrade the position - or if he'll indeed do anything at all.
One avenue that has already been discussed at length is the draft and his former star pupil at Oregon, quarterback Marcus Mariota.
The Heisman-winner is expected to go in the top portion of the draft - though reports have emerged that Mariota could slip on draft day - and the Eagles don't select until 20th in the first-round.
In his latest mock draft, ESPN Draft Analyst Todd McShay reveals that he knows Kelly wants to acquire Mariota - big surprise, right? - but isn't sure what Kelly is willing to give up in order to make it happen.
"The question everyone will ask is whether Chip Kelly will be willing to trade up to draft his former QB at Oregon, Marcus Mariota, particularly if Mariota starts to slide down the board a little bit," McShay writes. "I know from talking with Kelly previously that he thinks the world of Mariota, but I have no idea how much he's willing to give up in order to go get him."
McShay has Mariota falling to the New York Jets at six, but said that he believes the quarterback "could slide even further."
Another avenue for upgrading the quarterback position is free agency, generally viewed as a barren wasteland when it comes to the quarterback position. But a recent report from NJ.com says Kelly is very interested in former Tennessee Titans quarterback, Jake Locker.
"At least, that is the informed-opinion of a long-time player agent, who has another quarterback about to be a free agent," writes Mark Eckel of NJ.com. "According to the agent, who requested anonymity, there will be interest from the Eagles and head coach/personnel czar Chip Kelly in the 8th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft."
It's unclear what role the former first-round pick would be brought in to fill. He has proven both injury-prone and erratic during his short NFL career, but possesses the physical tools - 6-foot-3, 223-pounds - to be an elite quarterback.
The 26 year old has never appeared in more than 11 games or thrown more than 10 touchdowns in a single season during his four-year career.
