Kelly and Mariota: The Next Great Coach-Quarterback Combo
If Philadelphia Eagles head coach, Chip Kelly, hasn’t proved he is a genius already, then I have no idea how he’ll make it more obvious. Kelly has been wheeling-and-dealing like a Vegas card dealer during the 2015 NFL offseason.
With that being said, Kelly’s biggest move will take place during this year’s NFL Draft where he’ll trade up to draft former Oregon quarterback, and Heisman trophy winner, Marcus Mariota.
Yes, Kelly traded Nick Foles for Sam Bradford despite Foles’ strong 2013 performance and Bradford’s multiple ACL tears, but there’s a method to the his madness. Kelly is putting together the perfect offense for his system.
This is how he’s doing it: By trading for Bradford, Kelly knew that by getting Bradford meant getting former Dallas Cowboys running back, DeMarco Murray. The connection being, that Bradford and Murray were college roommates while at the University of Oklahoma.
Murray was arguably the best running back in the NFL while running for over 1,800 yards in the 2014 season. So, what better way to get a top-flight running back on your team? (Aside from throwing a bazillion dollars at them) Getting his close friend on the team.
With Murray being signed and the Eagles signing former San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, that gives Kelly two Kelly-style running backs. Kelly-style being, both running backs are north-south runners.
With pro bowler Darren Sproles already on the team, Kelly how has an embarrassment of riches in the backfield. The backfield already has a nickname that most Eagles fans (such as myself) are dubbing the backfield, “The Legion of Zoom.”
So, with many people believe that Bradford will be handing the ball of to one of the four backs. That would be wrong.
Bradford was only bought onto the Eagles as a ploy to sign Murray, and since Murray is locked in, why keep Bradford?
Word got out that the Cleveland Browns were willing to give up a first-round pick for Bradford. So, who’s to say that the Titans, who hold the number two pick in the draft and have a chance to turn their franchise around almost overnight, would say no to Bradford and a first-round pick?
Granted in 2012, the Washington Redskins traded a bundle of draft picks to move up four spots for 2011 Heisman Trophy winner, Robert Griffin III. Griffin has had a roller coaster career while wearing the burgundy and gold.
I know Philly would have to possibly give up more than just Bradford and a first-round pick to possibly draft Mariota. Nevertheless, Bradford and a first-round pick for the number two pick is a lot sexier than Foles and a first-round pick.
Kelly has been raving about how great he thinks Mariota will be in the NFL, so why wouldn’t he want him in midnight green with an eagle wing on his helmet?
Not to mention, Kelly runs the same system that Mariota ran in college (duh). Granted, it is not a carbon copy, but there’s no doubt Mariota will be able to pick up the offense and will run it to perfection.
As long as Chip Kelly is able to get the players he wants, there’s no doubt in my mind that Kelly has a few tricks up his sleeves that will make Mariota the next starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ultimately, I can see a three-team trade happening. The teams at question are: the Titans, Eagles, and Browns. The Browns and Chargers are interchangeable, but the Eagles and Titans are definitely going to be a part of this trade. The madness will ensue once the Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft Florida State’s signal-caller, Jameis Winston.
A lot of mock drafts have the Titans drafting Mariota with their second pick. But, the Titans honestly don’t need a quarterback, yet. It’s known that the Titans are fans of Zach Mettenburger so they should/would give him another chance. The Titans need much more help at other positions (keep this in mind).
The Browns must end their streak of drafting a quarterback in the first round. For the sake of the city of Cleveland, for the sake of the Brown organization, and the sake of the young quarterback who wants to live out his dream. The Browns cannot draft another quarterback in the first round. Why must history repeat itself? Since 2012, the Browns drafted two quarterbacks in the first round. Brandon Weeden in 2012, and Johnny Manziel in 2014, both with the 22nd overall pick. They also drafted Brady Quinn in the first round in 2007.
The Browns need to STOP drafting a quarterback, it’s clearly not working. So, what’s the best alternative? Trading for Sam Bradford. The Browns were ready to give up a first-round pick for Bradford, so it only makes sense that they should try to trade for Bradford (and maybe a late draft pick or so to help sweeten the deal) to end the streak of young quarterbacks dying in Cleveland.. The Browns have two first-round picks in this year’s draft (keep this in mind).
How all of this affects Philadelphia are simple, and how a three-team trade works. Philly wants the second overall pick, a pick in which the Titans have, and Sam Bradford who is a quarterback the Browns want. What I see happening on Thursday during the NFL Draft is: The Browns trade their two first-round picks to the Titans (because there is no one really the Titans would want to trade their second overall pick for on the Browns). Now, the Titans can start building depth at positions they really need. In return, the Browns would get from Philly Sam Bradford and possibly some draft picks. In return, Philly would get the second overall pick and Chip Kelly gets his man, Marcus Mariota.
Now, normally, three-team trades don’t happen in the NFL. NBA? Yes. If this were a draft between the Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers and the Cleveland Cavaliers then this seems more likely to happen. But since it’s the NFL, it’s definitely a stretch but if anyone can pull of a three-team trade in order to get one player, it’s Chip Kelly.
Since Chip Kelly can get whoever he wants, whenever he wants, you can fully expect, in someway, somehow, Mariota will be wearing midnight green, and having an eagle wing on the side of his helmet.
