Philadelphia Eagles: Chip Kelly could use big trade for Marcus Mariota

By Luis Tirado Jr. | Mar 20, 2015

I’m sure by now you’ve probably come to realize that head coach Chip Kelly has made some pretty bold moves so far this offseason. It’s also something to brace yourself with that I’m also sure more moves are still on the horizon. Upon arriving to the Philadelphia Eagles however, Kelly has brought the franchise into a different direction and although many might question his moves this year, they actually could be leading to something big.

It’s no secret that in order to win in the NFL, it’s all about having a top quarterback and a prolific offensive system. Kelly instituted one of the fastest no-huddle offenses that has ever hit the NFL and to a degree, it’s been pretty effective. Kelly knows though that if he wants it to be good enough to win a Super Bowl, he needs someone he’s use to seeing command it towards a championhip.

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According to Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com, the Eagles are still trying to trade up to land quarterback Marcus Mariota in the 2015 NFL Draft. This makes a ton of sense since Mariota is use to a spread offense and handling duties under the no-huddle. If any other team that doesn’t run a similar offense drafts him, he is a work in progress that will need a year or two before he can start.

However, should he land to the Eagles, he could be an instant starter since he would be the catalyst needed to really push the envelope for the team to be a true contender. In this draft scenario, Mariota could easily step right in and command the offense to run it better than anyone before him come next season.

The question now is, how in the world could Kelly land Mariota with just the No. 20 pick? Even though Mariota’s pro day wasn’t all that stellar, Kelly knows what he brings to the table and how he could be the piece that really puts the Eagles back on the front in the NFC East.

I found it very weird that Kelly was able to acquire both DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews to be the double-headed beast at running back. Why would he have two starting caliber running backs when either one would have been just fine heading into next season? Trade bait.

You could also make the same synopsis for the trade that shipped Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for Sam Bradford. With quarterback Mark Sanchez more than capable of running Kelly’s offense and experience as a backup, this makes Bradford also expendable. For you know, trade bait.

With plenty of mock drafts all across the internet, nobody really knows where Mariota could land. Let’s say for the sake of my idea, Mariota still hasn’t been taken and he’s available at the No. 6 overall pick. The New York Jets own this pick and could very well take Mariota or at least entertain ideas from other teams once they are on the clock to trade to land him.

The Jets could use a starting caliber running back to really bolster their offense, could Kelly have gotten Murray, Mathews and Bradford to use them as trade bait depending on how far Mariota falls? Imagine if Kelly was able to ship Murray to the Jets in exchange for their draft pick to land Mariota once and for all?

Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota throws a pass during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

While it would be quite the blockbuster move, he would still be fine having Mathews as a starting running back now that he has Mariota under center. This idea might sound crazy to many but I have a funny feeling even though Kelly has dismissed rumors about still wanting Mariota, he still has some tricks up his sleeve to get him. In this case, a few players he just picked up via free agency that could be traded for the greater and long-term benefit of the team.

Make no mistake about it, in the grand scheme of it all, if Mariota ends up being the next big thing to hit the NFL, a blockbuster move like this could be one for the ages if it all ends up bring a Vince Lombardi trophy to the city of brotherly love.

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