2015 NFL Draft: First round winners and losers analyzed
By Daniel
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Loser: The Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles and head coach Chip Kelly failed to trade for the No. 2 overall pick for the chance to draft former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Tennessee Titans decided to turn down trade offers that would have included two future first round draft picks for the oppurtunity to draft Mariota themselves. The Titans now have their man and that leaves the Eagles with a less than impressive stable of quarterbacks.
The Eagles have Sam Bradford, Matt Sanchez, Matt Barkley, and Tim Tebow at the quarterback position. Bradford has spent most of his NFL career injured, Sanchez is best known for the infamous “Butt Fumble”, Barkley hasn’t lived up to expectations, and Tebow — well you know all about him. None of those four quarterbacks can play the system that Kelly truly wants to play in Philadelphia.
Mariota would have been the true dual-threat quarterback that Kelly desperately wants, but they failed to entice the Titans enough. The Eagles just missed the playoffs in 2014 and this season doesn’t promise to be much better with those quarterbacks. The future isn’t bleak in Philly, I wouldn’t say that, but it’s not nearly as exciting as it would have been had they traded for the No. 2 pick and selected Mariota.
The Eagles did draft wide receiver Nelson Agholor from USC, a very talented prospect, but it still remains to be seen who will be throwing him the ball. If it’s Bradford lets hope that he stays healthy; Philly has a very talented team, but the first round cannot simply be looked at as a victory.
Next: A Team From The AFC North