Philadelphia Eagles: Chip Kelly has us in store for wild offseason

ByAndrew Goldwasser|

The Philadelphia Eagles belong to Chip Kelly. That much is clear.

The firing of VP of Player Personnel Tom Gamble, the promotion of Ed Marynowitz (a man barely old enough to rent a car and entirely lacking NFL clout) to his job, and the demotion-disguised-as-a-promotion of Howie Roseman have left Kelly alone at the top.

The decision makes a lot of sense: Kelly designed the program from the custom smoothies in training camp to the comic book storyboards used to call plays to the blur of an offense on the field on game day. Still… the idea of Chip Kelly… a man with two years in the NFL to his name, a man who was the offensive coordinator for the New Hampshire Wildcats a mere eight years ago, a man as enigmatic as his offense is speedy… having such unanimity atop an NFL franchise is noteworthy. It’s unusual. It’s a little scary. And it promises to be a lot of fun.

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What might he do?

He might just make Marcus Mariota an Eagle.

He might part ways with LeSean McCoy to save money.

He might trade away Nick Foles to a QB hungry suitor.

But then again he might just sure up the secondary, add an inside linebacker, and get the team ready for another run at the NFC East.

Chip told us he was staying at Oregon. Then he told us he was coming to Philly. He helped DeSean Jackson to his best year as a pro. And then he cut him. It’s hard to know what Chip Kelly is going to do. But those mights. Those mights are awfully exciting.

Would Chip really go after Mariota? Yes. There’s already been a lot of speculation as to this fact. Like this radio appearance by Eagles beat reporter Jeff McLane on 97.5 The Fanatic in which he tells the show’s hosts, “Unless I’m missing something here, if Marcus Mariota is available, the Eagles are going to do whatever it takes to get him.”

It may seem like a long-shot now given what the Eagles would have to trade to get right near the top of the draft, but we’re three months away. Geno Smith was a top-pick candidate at this point two years ago. Aaron Rodgers was the presumptive top pick at this point in 2005. Even young Jonathan Manziel was being talked about as a top-5 pick a this time a year ago.

We’re already beginning to hear whispers about Mariota: his lack of play-calling experience, his readiness to quarterback at the NFL level . Is it impossible to imagine Mariota slipping to the point where the Eagles can easily acquire him? And even if not, with Chip Kelly alone at the helm, is it impossible to imagine him doing, as McLane said, “whatever it takes,” to get his man?

Would Chip really part ways with LeSean McCoy? Yes. I do not mean to compare LeSean McCoy to DeSean Jackson (they are remarkably different men) but Kelly has already shown willingness to say goodbye to a supreme talent if he believes it will help the team long-term. And with McCoy’s $11.95M 2015 salary cap number it’s easy to see how his departure could help the team in other areas.

Kelly’s system is running back friendly and Bryce Brown, Darren Sproles, and Chris Polk have all looked like heroes on limited carries since Chip’s arrival. When asked about the possible end of the McCoy-Eagles relationship, Coach Kelly said, “Do I want LeSean back? Yeah…I don’t know what’s going to happen. What if someone gives us 17 first-round draft picks for LeSean?” Far from a commitment.

“Do I want LeSean back? Yeah…I don’t know what’s going to happen. What if someone gives us 17 first-round draft picks for LeSean?” – Chip Kelly

Would Chip Kelly really trade Nick Foles? Yes. Mark Sanchez performed nearly identically in the offense last year and seemed to love his time playing for Kelly. It’s not hard to imagine a scenario where a team like Tennessee or St. Louis gets antsy, feels like they’re going to miss out on the QB they want in the draft, and decides to offer Nick Foles-circa-2013 value to get themselves an NFL starter.

And it’s not hard to imagine Chip Kelly in that situation deciding that he can sign Mark Sanchez to a modest new deal and use the draft to find a young QB to groom (even if not Mariota… perhaps UCLA’s Brett Hundley or Bryce Petty of Baylor).

Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Would Chip Kelly really play it safe and simply upgrade the team where it needs the most help and head into 2015 with a barely tweaked version of the 2014 team? Yes. Sure. Maybe.

Perhaps the Eagles will sign a veteran corner that fits their system well (like Seattle’s Byron Maxwell) and draft help at safety and inside linebacker. And maybe they will hope their offensive line stays healthier in 2015 and that a healthy line allows Nick Foles to play a little more like his 2013 self. And perhaps this will be enough tweaking for the Eagles this offseason.

Certainly there’s wisdom in that path. But, somehow, it seems more like the path of a team that would keep a veteran personnel guy like Tom Gamble and a team that would keep Howie Roseman involved in roster decisions and less like a team that would put all it’s faith in a maverick like Chip Kelly.

My best guess? Chip Kelly will mix the shockingly unconventional with the conventionally wise this offseason. But no one knows what Chip will do. I’m sure Chip would tell you that he doesn’t know what he’ll do. We know this: The Philadelphia Eagles are Chip Kelly’s to do with as he pleases. And we’ll have plenty to say about the results.

Next: Should the Eagles trade Foles?

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