King Predicts Eagles Will Trade Up For Mariota


Robert Hanashiro / USA Today

Robert Hanashiro / USA Today

Peter King’s first mock draft of the season will only fuel the Marcus Mariota-to-Philly hype.

King takes a shot at predicting how the first 15 picks will play out. He has Chip Kelly moving into the No. 5 spot to grab his quarterback.

*5. PHILADELPHIA
Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

*Trade: Washington gets Philadelphia’s first- and second-round picks this year, and first- and fourth-round picks in 2016. Washington could be moving from five to 20 in the first round by doing this deal, with GM Scot McCloughan scoring points with his new boss for not giving away the store in a trade, but rather acquiring the store. This has so many poetic points to it. The Eagles gave Donovan McNabb to Washington a few Easters ago; now Washington would be giving a longer-term quarterback, theoretically, to Chip Kelly. Kelly would be reunited with the quarterback he recruited out of a Hawaii high school and helped make a star in college football. It just feels right, though Howie Roseman will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into giving up so much draft capital for a player with some question marks.


A couple things: It seems unlikely Washington would go quarterback here, so McCloughan might be open  to trading out for a hefty return that can help bolster the rest of the roster. And given that the Jets could have eyes for Mariota as well, the Eagles might be wise to jump ahead of them if they want to get their man. From that perspective, a deal makes sense. But would Washington want to help deliver the Eagles their franchise quarterback? The preference, I’m sure, would be to negotiate with a team outside the division — like the Rams, for instance, who hold a more desirable first round pick (10th overall) and could have interest in acquiring a QB. The Eagles would probably have to come up with an offer that Washington simply couldn’t refuse.

King also mentioned that Roseman “will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into giving up so much draft capital,” which suggests that he will have some clout when it comes to the draft process. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is involved in the draft on some level, but I can’t envision him being in a position where he can offer much resistance.

King acknowledged that “it is preposterous to project trades nine weeks before the draft,” but did so because the move has logic to it.