Rumors swirling around the Philadelphia Eagles attempting to trade up for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota have started to heat up even more in recent days.
In fact, there’s a strong chance that this is going to be one of Chip Kelly’s priorities over the course of the next few weeks. It’s such as complex deal for the Eagles considering they would have to move up to No. 1 overall to guarantee themselves Mariota. If the team rolls the dice in an attempt to get Mariota, it could backfire big time.
Barring a trade up to the first overall pick, the Eagles would be taking a chance that either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers choose to select Mariota over Jameis Winston (unlikely) or move that pick to a team that would rather have Mariota—both scenarios leaving the Eagles out in the cold.
Is this a chance Kelly and company are willing to take?
The answer to this question is equally as complex as this entire situation. Philadelphia could reach out to the Tennessee Titans for the second pick. If so, that would guarantee the team either Mariota or Winston with the strong likelihood that Tampa picks the latter.
Outside of that scenario, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders are Philadelphia’s only other trade options. Fortunately for the brass in Philadelphia, both seem willing to consider trading down.
If so, what would each trade potentially look like?
Jacksonville Jaguars
Courtesy of USA Today: LeSean McCoy might be dangled in a potential deal.
Moving from 20 to third overall would require quite the bounty. Short of the Eagles completing multiple trades in the process of moving up for Mariota, they would have to give up a whole heck of a lot in one deal. The good news here for fans in both Philadelphia and Jacksonville is that the Jaguars may be willing to listen. The bounty they might acquire in this deal could set the talented young team up for years.
Back in 2011, the Atlanta gave up FIVE picks to move up from 27th overall to the sixth spot with the Cleveland Browns. Atlanta yielded its first, second and fourth rounders that year as well as its first and fourth rounders the following year.
The interesting dynamic here is that teams selecting in the top four, Jacksonville included, may require a better offer considering everyone knows the Eagles are targeting a franchise quarterback. When Atlanta moved up in 2011, it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that Julio Jones was the target.
With Blake Bortles on board, the Jaguars have absolutely no need for Nick Foles. So if the Eagles were to make this move, they would likely send Foles packing for a package of picks that could be used to entice Jacksonville.
In addition to sending their 20th pick and second rounder to Jacksonville (both a given in any potential deal), the Eagles would have to send their first-round pick in 2016. That’s the starting-off point for any potential move into the top five.
They would also have to entice Jacksonville with a near elite-level veteran instead of sending more picks to Gus Bradley’s squad. That’s where running back LeSean McCoy comes into play. There has been some talk that Philadelphia might ask McCoy to take a pay cut from his $9.8 million base salary for the 2015 campaign. However, the Pro Bowl running back has balked at that idea. With over $60 million in cap space and an obvious need at running back, McCoy would be a tremendous fit for the Jaguars. Just imagine Blake Bortles and McCoy in the backfield with the likes of Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee at wide receiver. That’s more talent Jacksonville has possessed at the skill positions since the Fred Taylor/Jimmy Smith days.
Potential Deal: Third pick for first and second rounders in 2015, first rounder in 2016 and running back LeSean McCoy
Oakland Raiders
Courtesy of USA Today: Evan Mathis would fill a hole on the Raiders roster.
This deal would look a bit different. While Oakland might entertain the idea of adding LeSean McCoy, it has some other options out there at running backs. First off, the Raiders have been linked to Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray in free agency. Second, the team is said to be extremely high on Latavius Murray. These two factors could limit Oakland’s interest in McCoy in a potential trade-down scenario.
So if the Raiders were to pass on McCoy, what veteran would it want to pluck from Philadelphia? Considering Foles is out of the equation with Derek Carr as the team’s franchise signal caller, it gets a bit more interesting. Short of Philadelphia consenting to give up someone of Fletcher Cox’s ilk, there aren’t a whole lot of options here. 2014 second-round pick Jordan Matthews might make sense, but the Eagles aren’t going to yield a young player at that position, especially with depth lacking at wide receiver. The likeliest scenario here is that Philadelphia yields a veteran in the form of Evan Mathis to a Raiders team in need of interior offensive line help. That might not be on the caliber of LeSean McCoy, but it would help Oakland a great deal. It would also enable Reggie McKenzie and company to acquire more picks than in the other trade scenario listed above. Slot cornerback Brandon Boykin would also make a lot of sense here. There’s little doubt that the Raiders need a lot of help in the secondary.
Potential Deal: Third pick for first and second rounders in 2015, first and fourth rounders in 2016 and guard Evan Mathis or Brandon Boykin.
Unlikely Scenarios
Tennessee Titans: This team is sitting in a good position with the second pick. In need of defensive line help, the Titans could easily select Leonard Williams and be done with it. Tennessee also knows that its the only way the Eagles can guarantee themselves one of the top quarterbacks in the draft. That will drive up its asking price. Based on need, Fletcher Cox would likely have to be involved in an deal here.
New York Jets: As we mentioned above, Philadelphia faces the strong possibility of losing out on Mariota should it trade up outside the top five. That makes a deal with the Jets at six unlikely. Though, we know New York could use someone of LeSean McCoy’s caliber at running back, especially with its concerns at quarterback. This would likely be a draft-day deal that might come to fruition should Mariota last past the top five.
Photo: USA Today