2014 NFL Draft Rumors: Johnny Manziel and the Eagles?

According to Peter King of The MMQB, there's a rumor floating around that the Philadelphia Eagles are aiming to trade up in the 2014 NFL draft to acquire polarizing quarterback Johnny Manziel. However, as King notes, the rumor doesn't seem to make very much sense. King goes on to explain that he's heard the Eagles "absolutely won't" trade up to draft Manziel.

Here's exactly what King had to say, via his weekly MMQB column:

There’s a rumor (apparently faulty) making the rounds about the Eagles moving up to try to get Johnny Manziel. I wouldn’t pass it along if the person who told me wasn’t smart and, to this point, reliable. But I just can’t see it, and I have someone who would know better than the rumor source telling me it absolutely won’t happen. Which seems smart to me, seeing that Nick Foles’ 27 touchdowns and two interceptions and 119.2 passer rating would be pretty damned foolish to throw out the window for Manziel. I just throw it out there to tell you this is the kind of stuff that makes the rounds when so much of what happens at this time of year is designed to be a misdirection play.

Of course, this is hardly the first time that Manziel's name has been attached to an Eagles rumors. It doesn't happen very often but there have been a few distinct moments. It all started last fall when an article emerged detailing Chip Kelly's recruitment of Manziel out of high school. Manziel was thought to be the "perfect fit" for Kelly's Oregon Duck offense. At the time, the Eagles hardly had a clear answer at quarterback. But then Nick Foles went on to have a great season and after the season ended Kelly pretty much committed to Foles as the starter moving forward. But that wouldn't stop Grantland NFL writer Bill Barnwell from suggesting the Eagles should trade away Nick Foles in order to draft Johnny Manziel. For what it's worth, Chip Kelly personally attended Manziel's pro day (one of the 12 that Kelly visited) and the Eagles officially met with Manziel at the 2014 NFL Combine.

While this all makes for fun speculation, it's easy to say that the Eagles probably won't be trading up for Manziel. It would hardly be the best way for them to allocate their resources. Foles played very well in 2013 and could benefit with another full offseason in Kelly's program. Foles may not be the ideal mobile threat, but it's hard to argue with his production.

The safe bet here is to chalk this one up to more "pre-draft madness".