Everyone knows that the Philadelphia Eagles tried to trade for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota in the NFL Draft. But after acquiring Sam Bradford earlier this offseason, head coach Chip Kelly made it known that he wouldn't mortgage the future for any one player. And that's what it would have taken to get Mariota, the team's future.
So now Bradford goes from potential trade chip to "franchise quarterback." If any of you Eagles fans are nervous about that, you have every right to be. Bradford is coming off two torn ACLs and has never posted a QBR better than 50.3. He's a long way away from winning offensive rookie of the year under Pat Shurmur in 2010. I'd be nervous too.
But maybe, just maybe, the pairing of Bradford and Kelly will bring out the best in both of them. Bradford, after all, went through two head coaches and three offensive coordinators in St. Louis while Kelly has managed to win 10 games in each of his first two seasons despite some up-and-down quarterback play.
The offensive system in Philadelphia is very quarterback/offense friendly. The Eagles ranked fifth in yards-per-game (396.8) and third in points (29.6) last year. Will Bradford be able to push Philly to similar rankings this season?
"In Philadelphia, the offensive-oriented Kelly is the head coach and figures to be for some time," ESPN Eagles reporter Phil Sheridan wrote. "The offensive coordinator, who happens to be Shurmur, is going into his third season with the team. There is a run-oriented offensive system, a veteran and competent offensive line and plenty of talented skill position players to work with.
"It is the opposite of the situation Bradford had in St. Louis. Everything is in place for a quarterback to succeed. The only question was, who would be that quarterback? Now we know."
