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Chip Kelly tried to make a massive trade up for Marcus Mariota with Eagles

By David Fucillo
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Chip Kelly's time with the Philadelphia Eagles was an interesting that saw all sorts of roster turnover last season. Kelly traded Nick Foles for Sam Bradford, and indicated Bradford was the guy he wanted long-term. Rumors surfaced that the Eagles were trying to turn Bradford around in a trade, but Kelly consistently denied that.

Now we have a new rumor about just how far Kelly might have gone to get a familiar quarterback. Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota was competing with Jameis Winston to be the top pick in the draft, and multiple reports suggest Kelly badly wanted Mariota.

A year ago, Ian Rapoport tweeted out a package that would have included two 1st round picks, a 3rd round pick, and a potential package of players. Now, FOX Sports reporter Peter Schrager had a recent interview with Colin Cowherd in which he went into even more detail about the potential trade. He was speaking in the context of the Los Angeles Rams potentially moving up from No. 15 to get either Carson Wentz or Jared Goff. Philly Sports Network found this:

"Last year the Eagles offered the Tennessee Titans, and I know this, a 2015 first round pick, a 2015 second round pick, a 2016 first round pick, and said 'take any of our quarterbacks, that's Bradford, that's [Mark] Sanchez, that's whoever. And take anyone on our defense. We want that number two pick.'"

Kelly has denied that the Eagles ever got close to acquiring Mariota last offseason, saying the cost was too steep. If the Titans wanted more than what Schrager suggested, then yes, that would strike me as way too steep. If the Eagles offered what Schrager is suggesting, that's a serious move.

Trent Baalke is in charge of the San Francisco 49ers draft this year, so if Chip Kelly had a favorite quarterback that would require a move up to the top of the draft, I have to think he would need to put on one heck of a hard sell to convince Baalke. And I don't see that happening. But if the deal was offered, it does make it interesting to see if a team like the Rams tries to make a big move up to get a quarterback. This does not establish an exact market for a deal, but if the Titans get calls, you know they'll be thinking back to that deal.

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