Eagles News: Chip Kelly needs to draft Marcus Mariota

Let's get to the links...

So are the Eagles getting Marcus Mariota or nah? - PhillyVoice
This may seem like the obvious by now, but according to many reliable sources I've spoken with over the last few months, the Eagles are going to try to trade up to draft Marcus Mariota. The only way in which those sources differ is on how far they'll go to get him. If their "try" is robust, maybe a deal gets done. If their "try" is weak, then obviously it takes two (or three) to tango, and the Eagles will simply go into the season with Sam Bradford as their QB. But every indication I've been given is that they are going to try.

Eagles need to trade for Marcus Mariota, no matter the cost or what it takes - NJ.com
The Eagles, however, are not the 31 other teams in the NFL. To the Eagles, Mariota is a once-in-a-lifetime prospect. With his close ties to head coach Chip Kelly, his taylor-made skillset for the Eagles' offense and the team's desperate need for a quarterback, it isn't a stretch to say there might never be another Mariota. Not for this franchise, and not for this head coach.

Eagles Wake-Up Call: Draft Predictions (Part 1) - Birds 24/7
In the end, I think the Titans want to trade out of the No. 2 spot. If they were in love with Mariota, we wouldn't be hearing all these trade rumors. It's possible that another team like the San Diego Chargers or Cleveland Browns simply have more ammo than the Eagles to move up. If that's the case, there's nothing Kelly can do. When all is said and done, I don't see the Titans taking Mariota. And because I'm feeling bold, I'll go ahead and make the prediction. It might end up being some kind of insane overpay, but ultimately I think Kelly winds up pulling the trigger and getting his guy.

Eagles want to know what else a player can do - Inquirer
During Chip Kelly's first spring with the Eagles, he practiced a wide receiver at defensive back and a tight end at linebacker. He drafted an offensive lineman who converted from quarterback and defensive lineman. He signed a linebacker who played tight end in college and a tight end who played quarterback in college. In two years with the Eagles, Kelly's made clear the value he places on versatility. The Eagles are scheduled to pick eight times during the NFL draft from Thursday to Saturday, and when they're on the clock they will consider what else a player can do besides his listed position.

After 'Redshirt' Year, Hart Seeks Impact - PE.com
And here is Hart now, filled out in more ways than one. He weighed in at 281 pounds at the 2014 NFL Combine; now Hart checks in at about 300-305 muscle-strapped pounds. He watched Fletcher Cox become an All-Pro last season. He saw how well Cedric Thornton played. He appreciated the professionalism of veteran Brandon Bair, who found a fit after some seasons looking for the right NFL spot. He took notes on the way Vinny Curry forced himself into the defensive line rotation by developing a complete game and improving what he does best -- rush the quarterback.

Eagles need to go and get Mariota - The Intelligencer
Sam Bradford may not have thrown a pass since the 2013 season, but he’s no dummy. The quarterback has spent a lot of his time in Philadelphia rehabbing a second torn ACL after Eagles coach Chip Kelly acquired him in a March 10 trade, so Bradford sees what is being written, hears what is being said.

Spread Dread: Marcus Mariota and the Scourge of the ‘System Quarterback’ - Grantland
Arguing over quarterbacks at the top of the board is a familiar pre-draft trope in the fine tradition of Manning vs. Leaf, Couch vs. McNabb, and Luck vs. Griffin. In none of those cases, however, did the debate threaten to bypass the individual subjects and evolve into a broader referendum on who can and cannot be a successful NFL quarterback the way Winston vs. Mariota has.

The NFL Mock Trade Draft, Part 1 - Grantland
The Eagles come out with Mariota and Vincent Jackson...

D.J. Swearinger placed on trade block by Texans - NFL.com
The Texans are trying to move Swearinger in a deal, just two seasons after they selected the safety in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Rapoport has heard from two teams that Houston has reached out to about a potential trade.

NFL relinquishing tax-exempt status - AP
The National Football League is giving up its tax-exempt status, which Commissioner Roger Goodell called a "distraction." In a letter to team owners, Goodell said that the league office and its management council will file tax returns as taxable entities for the 2015 fiscal year. Goodell said the NFL has been tax-exempt since 1942, though all 32 teams pay taxes on their income.

BGN Community Mock Recap and Results
The 2015 BGN Community Mock Draft is complete! All 32 picks of the first round have been posted. View all of them in one place via this StoryStream.

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