An NFL general manager suggested Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota could be such a strong fit with the Philadelphia Eagles offense that the club might consider trading up to get the Heisman Trophy candidate.
"Moving up and mortgaging your future for a receiver does not make sense, but I'd do it for a quarterback," a general manager from another team told ESPN.com. "I don't know if Mariota would be worth it, but he might be for Chip (Kelly) because the hardest part at quarterback is the learning curve. Mariota would be seamless in Philadelphia."
He would be seamless, of course, because of the similarities between Oregon's offense and what the Eagles run under second-year coach Chip Kelly, who was hired from Oregon, recruited Mariota, and started him as a redshirt freshman in 2012.
Before Mariota can transition for any NFL club, however, he must first decide to leave college early. A fourth-year junior, he is on track to graduate in December but still has one season of NCAA eligibility remaining.
As for the Eagles, there are doubts about the club's long-term commitment to injured starter Nick Foles. That could give rise to a significant draft investment in a young quarterback. Mariota is a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy and has put the Ducks in position to earn a berth in the inaugural College Football Playoff. For the season, he has thrown 29 touchdown passes to just two interceptions in leading a dominant Oregon offense.
Three NFL personnel executives told NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah earlier this season that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is the NFL's best comparison to Mariota in terms of his skill set.
NFL Media analyst Charles Davis said Mariota's body type and playing style made Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III a better comparison.
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