A report emerged on Tuesday that the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns have engaged in continual discussions concerning a trade that would send recently acquired Philly signal-caller Sam Bradford to the Browns in exchange for one of Cleveland's two first-round picks in the 2015 NFL Draft and young quarterback/knucklehead Johnny Manziel.
A new report today, from Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, alleges that the report is only partially true and that the quarterback being discussed as part of the Browns compensation to the Eagles isn't Manziel, but is, in fact, former Oregon signal-caller Marcus Mariota.
"In talking to a source within the Browns organization, yes there has been some discussion of Manziel possibly being traded, but that's not really what the Eagles are looking for because if the Eagles are going to make this trade and send Bradford on to get draft picks back, the whole point is to put together a package of draft picks that will eventually get them to Marcus Mariota," reports Cole.
"That's the plan as of now for the Eagles."
This wouldn't be the first time - and almost assuredly won't be the last time - that the Heisman Trophy-winner is connected to the Eagles.
Philadelphia head coach Chip Kelly oversaw Mariota's work for a season at Oregon during which time, Mariota completed 230 passes for 2,677 yards, 32 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
Somehow, his numbers became increasingly more eye-popping as his college career progressed. Mariota finished his junior season for the Ducks with 304 completions for 4,454 yards, 42 touchdowns and four interceptions. He added 135 rushing attempts for 770 yards - a 5.7 yards per carry average.
He's, seemingly, the perfect fit for Kelly's power zone read offense - a player able to perform in a cerebral manner, distribute the ball effectively to his playmakers without risking turnovers and take yardage with his legs when it's available.
Still, Mariota is likely to be taken early in the 2015 NFL Draft, probably at No. 2 overall. The Tennessee Titans currently hold that pick in their possession, but rumors have emerged in recent days that they're not completely enamored with Mariota and that they'd be willing to trade the pick for a high level of compensation.
It's difficult to determine the exact value the Eagles and Kelly would likely have to offer the Titans in order to move from their current spot in the first-round, 20th, to No. 2, but Dave Mangels of Bleeding Green Nation took a stab at that Wednesday, citing a plethora of historical precedent.
"If the Eagles are going to move up to the top 5 from 20, they are going to need to give up at least an additional 1st , a second day pick (most likely a 2nd), and either an additional high pick or a combination of players and lesser picks," Mangels concludes. "If they could find a way to get another first in the middle of the round, say, 12th overall from Cleveland, then that pick, 20 and either a second day pick, or player and a lesser pick, or two players should get the job done. Anything significantly more would be overpaying for a QB."
The Titans will surely look to garner as much value as possible if they're truly willing to trade the second-overall pick and it's likely the Eagles won't be the only team attempting to move up.
Mangels' projected compensation seems well-reasoned, but the dismissal of overpaying seems off.
If Kelly really wants Mariota, he'll have to overpay, plain and simple. His desire for the young quarterback is well-known and that's a fact that the Titans and any other team involved in a potential trade with Philly is sure to exploit.
Kelly no doubt has a value he won't go past, even to acquire his presumed franchise signal-caller, and the package Mangels suggests doesn't seem to be something that would hinder the team long-term, but with the league well aware of Kelly's desires and the Eagles so far away from where they'd need to be in the first to nab Mariota, the final combination of picks and players that it would take to reach No. 2 will be exorbitant.
Whether Kelly, who has said he won't mortgage the future of the franchise for one player, is willing to pay that price or not, remains to be seen.
