The 2015 NFL Draft is just a few days away, and there’s plenty of reason to be excited about the festivities in Chicago if you’re a Philadelphia Eagles fan. Here’s our breakdown of everything Eagles fans need to know heading into draft week.
Could Philly Land Both Johnny Manziel AND Marcus Mariota?
New York radio host Mike Francesca seems to think so...
“I happened to be chatting with some folks in the NFL about the draft,” he began. “This is from a pretty credible source. There is a route being paved by the Eagles to actually go after Mariota. I was not convinced there was, because of how much it would cost, but he has actually tried to create a lane, Chip Kelly, to get from 20 to the top of the draft. Not to one, but maybe two, or three, or four, depending on where he needed to get to, to get to Mariota.
I think he would have to get to two, myself. I still think Winston will be the first player chosen, or traded out of that first pick. I’ll just lay the one out for you that I actually heard.
“The Cleveland Browns have the 12 and the 19 and they’re interested in (Sam) Bradford. They’re interested in Bradford. It would include Manziel going back to the Eagles and Bradford going to the Browns, the 12 and the 19 going to the (Eagles), the 20 going to the (Browns)… one spot doesn’t make much difference, but that was the trade as explained to me… and Manziel’s contract going to the Eagles.
“If (Kelly) could do that and move up, and give two ones, and next year’s one, to move up that high, they’d be giving up three ones to get that high into the draft, and maybe a player. Do the mathematics on it. It would include next year’s one and two ones.
“Now remember, Chip Kelly recruited Manziel to Oregon. He tried to bring him to Oregon. And they tell me, guys that I trust, that he is really after Mariota.”
This would fall somewhat in line with a recent exclusive report by our very own Mack Ferguson.
Chip Kelly Isn't Tipping His Hand About A Potential Mariota Trade
Regardless of the line of speculation above, Chip Kelly is remaining mums on the possibility of a trade-up to land his former QB at the University of Oregon.
From the Washington Post:
“Philosophically? More players are better than one player,” Kelly said. “Philosophically. That’s the history of the game. Study all the trades. What set the Cowboys going forward? They traded one player [Herschel Walker] for multiple players. That’s just: ‘I’ve got a better chance of hitting. It’s not an exact science in the draft. You get a better chance of hitting if you have more draft picks than if you have less draft picks.’ That’s basically it philosophically.”
So Kelly wouldn’t trade up for Mariota based on that philosophy?
“It’s a philosophy,” he said. “There’s an exception to every philosophy. People used to think the world was flat philosophically, right? So then a guy took the boat, just kept going and didn’t fall off the edge, right?”
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