NFL insider says Eagles trading Chip Kelly to the Titans can't be ruled out

On Sunday, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported Eagles head coach Chip Kelly was drawing interest from USC and the Tennessee Titans. The Trojans hired a permanent head coach on Monday, and Kelly denied interest in that job anyway, but the Titans still have a vacancy. They also have Marcus Mariota, whom Kelly once compared to Peyton Manning and reportedly tried to acquire leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft.

Rapoport elaborated on his report while appearing as a guest on Mike Missanelli's show on 97.5 The Fanatic on Monday.

MISSANNELI: So [Chip Kelly] is going to be here as an Eagle coach?

RAPOPORT: Well, unless something happens in Tennessee at the end of the year. That would be the only other caveat. It’s not likely. NFL trades are almost impossible. But I was told on Sunday … ‘Don’t completely rule it out.’ So that’s the only one …

MISSANNELI: And we’re talking about the Tennessee Titans, where it would be a coaching trade, and at the very least [the Eagles] would get the Titans’ number one pick in the draft?

RAPOPORT: Uh, yeah. At least. These coaching moves are expensive. In the past, it’s always been a number one pick. So, yeah, that would be … I don’t even know if that would be the case. I don’t know … I know if [Kelly] wanted full control in Tennessee, I don’t think [a trade] would happen. If he did not want full control, I think it’s something they would consider. So that would be the only other play at this point.

The Titans are currently projected to have the No. 1 overall pick this year. I doubt they would be willing to part with that pick for Kelly, but Rapoport isn't wrong; coaching trades aren't cheap. Jon Gruden cost two first round picks and two second round picks. The New York Jets received a first round pick plus more in exchange for Bill Belichick. Heck, even the Kansas City Chiefs even gave up a fourth round selection for Herm Edwards for some reason.

It's hard to say what Kelly's value would be. He's obviously not a hot commodity right now, so it's hard to imagine the Eagles getting the Titans' first round selection this year. But reuniting Mariota with Kelly could be an exciting opportunity that Tennessee might not be able to pass up.

As Rapoport says, it's hard to count on this trade actually materializing. He's also right that this possibility shouldn't be ruled out entirely. It's a unique situation.