The notion of the Philadelphia Eagles and former Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly doing everything in their power to move up from their current position at No. 20 in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft in order to nab Kelly's former star quarterback pupil, Marcus Mariota, just won't seem to die, despite the ample trade compensation such a giant leap forward in the draft order would require.
One of the potential trade scenarios bandied about in recent weeks has involved the Eagles, recently acquired quarterback Sam Bradford and the Cleveland Browns, reportedly high on Bradford and sporting two first-round picks - Nos. 12 and 19 - in late April.
Unfortunately for Eagles fans with their hearts already set on a Kelly-Mariota reunion and Browns fans ready to see what the former first-overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft can do with a stronger team around him, it seems the Browns may already be out of the Bradford sweepstakes.
"According to a person with knowledge of the situation who asked for anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the subject, the Browns could be out on Bradford," reports Mark Eckel of NJ.com.
Why are the Browns, facing a quarterback depth chart for the 2015 NFL season consisting of recent rehab stint graduate and petulant man-child, Johnny Manziel, and veteran journeyman Josh McCown, out on Bradford?
"Bradford's agent (Tom Condon) has told Cleveland he won't even listen on a contract extension,'' the person said, per Eckel. "He won't even listen, period. And I don't think Cleveland will make a deal without the extension.''
Bradford, the last player to benefit from the lack of a rookie wage scale, is set to enter the final year of his initial NFL deal and will earn $12.9 million, whether from the Eagles, Browns or another organization.
While moving Bradford to the Browns for one of their two first-round picks and possibly more would certainly increase Kelly's cache of draft-day trade ammo, even combined with the Eagles own first-rounder, it wouldn't be enough to get to No. 2, meaning a Bradford trade would have helped, but it would only have been part of a much larger, much costlier puzzle.
Of course, there's no saying that Kelly can't get to the top few selections without trading Bradford, but the investment of quality veterans and future assets would be unconscionable.
Interestingly, per Eckel, Bradford and the Eagles could find a way to consummate a new pact, albeit assuming it comes after the draft or with a guarantee that he and his new contract won't then get shipped off to browner pastures.
"I'm not sure a deal gets done,'' the person said. "But (Condon) will at least listen to the Eagles.''
