The prospect of the Philadelphia Eagles trading up for Oregon quarterback and former Chip Kelly disciple Marcus Mariota seemingly diminished after the moves the team made in the offseason. However, a rumor floated by NJ.com suggests that the Eagles could still land the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback as part of a three-team trade.
The latest Eagles-Marcus Mariota trade rumor is the strangest one yet
The possibility of a three-team deal with the Eagles, Browns and Titans now exists according to a new report.
The deal, which would involve the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, would involve the Eagles sending out Sam Bradford, Fletcher Cox, Mychal Kendricks and the No. 20 overall pick in this year's draft. The Browns would land Bradford and give up the No. 19 selection. Tennessee would receive Cox, Kendricks and both draft picks with the No. 2 overall pick heading back to Philly. With that draft choice in hand, the Eagles could select Mariota after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take Jameis Winston as is widely assumed.
So how realistic is this blockbuster three-team deal? Let’s evaluate.
Why the Eagles could land Mariota in a three-team trade
While Philadelphia would give up its best defensive player in Cox with this deal, every other piece heading out is somewhat superfluous. Kendricks became a luxury after the team acquired Kiko Alonso from the LeSean McCoy deal and extended DeMeco Ryans. While he's a rising star, the Eagles wouldn't have made both moves if they believed he was a part of their future.
The other pieces aren’t unmovable either. Bradford, while a quarterback capable of running an up-tempo offense like Kelly’s, would no longer be needed if Mariota is on the roster. The No. 20 overall pick is valuable, but the Eagles would still have selections in each of the other six rounds.
Above all, Kelly has long expressed admiration for Mariota. The two ran one of the most effective offenses in college football in 2012, and Mariota has developed into an even better player in the time since.
Why the Eagles wouldn’t land Mariota in a three-team trade
The idea of Mariota reuniting with his former college coach popped up prior to the Super Bowl. Philadelphia missed the playoffs after winning 10 games, netting them the No. 20 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Few believed Mariota would be available at that point, but a trade into the top 10 wasn't believed to be off the table.
Then the offseason played out. The Eagles made the headline catching swap of former starter Nick Foles for Bradford with draft picks also changing hands. Philly then signed DeMarco Murray, Bradford's college teammate, to a lucrative deal just weeks after trading away the similarly expensive McCoy. It seems unlikely that the team would spend so much on a running back if not for his familiarity with Bradford.
Then there's the issue of compensation for the other teams involved. While the Browns reportedly did have interest in Bradford before his trade to Philadelphia, the Titans may have a better offer from another team. The rumored deal still leaves them without an established quarterback, and Philip Rivers might be available from the Chargers.
Likelihood of the Eagles landing Mariota in a three-team trade: 2/10
The deal involves too many moving parts to expect it to play out. A bidding war for the No. 2 overall pick could form, effectively rendering the Eagles’ offer unappealing. Even if that doesn’t happen, Philly would still have to relinquish one of the best young football players in the league. It could happen, but it’s not something to bank on.
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