Pete Prisco: Mariota 'A Perfect Fit' For What The Eagles Are Trying To Do
By Ray Boyd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- We have all heard the name Marcus Mariota brought up in connection with the Eagles and if you haven't, you must have been completely turned off to Philadelphia sports for the last few months.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is one of Chip Kelly's Oregon connections and the hot topic is whether or not Kelly will do all he can to bring the former Duck to his new flock.
CBS Sports' Pete Prisco joined Josh Innes and Tony Bruno on Thursday to discuss the Eagles' off-season ahead and the possibility of the team targeting Mariota.
"I would think he would try to do everything he could to try and get [Mariota]," Prisco said of Kelly. "The problem is, it takes two to tango."
LISTEN: CBS Sports' Pete Prisco discusses the Eagles QB situation with Josh Innes and Tony Bruno
The Eagles select at 20th overall in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft, but even mock drafts that have Mariota sliding do not tend to have him reaching the Eagles at that pick. If Kelly does indeed want Mariota in midnight green, he will have to find a team with a much higher draft pick that is willing to give up their position for something that the Eagles have.
That price will undeniably be a steep one.
Prisco touched on the fact that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who own the top pick in the draft, could feasibly pass on Mariota for Jamies Winston who is regarded as more of a classic pro style quarterback. There is also a belief that the Tennesee Titans, the owners of the second pick, are satisfied with their quarterback situation.
Then there is the Jacksonville Jaguars at number three who selected Blake Bortles in last year's draft.
"Jacksonville's not going to take a quarterback," Prisco added. "Then all of a sudden, maybe they go up and Jacksonville's sitting there at 3. Maybe [Jacksonville] makes a move to go back.
"Obviously, [Mariota] would be a perfect fit for what [the Eagles] are trying to do."
Prisco referenced a critique of Nick Foles that he made a last year when he said the Eagles quarterback was overrated. "I still think I was right," Prisco said of that analysis. "People rushed [Foles] last year and this year his mechanics were a little off and there were several games you watched him and said boy what the heck is he doing," Prisco added.
He also explained that he doesn't see Foles as a fit for what Kelly wants to do in Philadelphia. "Chip did a good job of getting him to fit," Prisco said of Foles. "Mariota is probably more of the guy you'd like to have in that offense."
Aside from acquiring new talent, the Eagles also have to make some decisions on some of their key free agents. Two of the players that will garner interest if they reach the open market will be LB Brandon Graham and WR Jeremy Maclin.
"Pass rushers who are 26-years old are going to get paid," Prisco said of Graham. "It's not a great market for pass rushers so that's going to hurt the Eagles and help Brandon Graham."
The interesting factor connected to the Eagles' decision on Graham is the presence of Trent Cole. Cole is due to make a hefty salary next season and the Eagles will have to decide whether or not it is worth having Cole on the books with that kind of price tag.
"Old and slow and you make too much dough, you have to go," Prisco said when asked about Cole.
Maclin had a huge year for the Eagles in which he bet on himself by signing a one-year deal. Despite his stellar play, there may be some roadblocks in terms of him bringing in a major deal.
"The problem with Jeremy Maclin is he's on the market a year when there's a lot of good receivers on the market," Prisco said. "Maclin is probably going to be hurt by the fact that A. he's in a deep class and B. you know there's still people out there that wonder about you know, coming off that injury, you're still a year removed from an injury."