This is Marcus Mariota. He's the current Heisman Trophy holder awarded to the most outstanding College Football player in a year. Mariota brought the Oregon Ducks to the National title game before they lost to Ohio State this year. He is one of the two most sought after quarterbacks in this year's draft.
He's also the subject of one of the biggest trades the NFL draft has seen in a long long time.
With Tampa Bay Buccaneers likely to select Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the first overall pick in tonight / tomorrow morning's NFL draft, Mariota is most likely going to be taken with the second pick. What isn't known however is who will be selecting him after severall teams like the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles are rumoured to be moving up to that No. 2 pick currently held by the Tennessee Titans.
The Eagles have been linked to Mariota the most, with his college coach Chip Kelly now in charge of the Philadelphia franchise. But with Eagles down at pick 20, and their trade for QB Sam Bradford appeared to rule them out of the running for Mariota.
Until now.
In a highly unlikely three team trade, the Eagles are in play for Mariota again.
@olearyc5 CLE picks to PHI for Bradford, those picks + PHI picks + players to TEN for 2nd overall pick.
— Alex Shaw (@alexshawsport) April 30, 2015
Follow that? Me neither.
What that means is that Philadelphia will trade their new QB Sam Bradford for a draft pick to Cleveland - either one of their 1st rounders or both (Cleveland hold the 12th and 19th pick); then the Eagles use those picks plus more picks and players to trade up to the 2nd overall pick to snag Mariota.
The players rumoured to be include are linebacker Michael Kendricks, and defensive linemen Vinny Curry and Fletcher Cox, while it looks like the Eagles will need to give the Titans at least two first round picks as well.
Although, CBS's Jason La Canfora appeared to suggest that the Browns would be better off waiting for the Eagles to move for Mariota to get Bradford for cheaper instead of helping them get there:
Interesting twist to Mariota chase - if Eagles beat Browns and get to 2nd overall, and Bradford not part of that deal (doubt he'd be)...
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 30, 2015
Then the price for Bradford drops. Browns had been shopping a 1st rounder for him but could end up landing for 2 or less if Chip gets Marcus
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 30, 2015
In that scenario Eagles would have a $13M backup, as well as Sanchez and Tebow and Mariota. Browns want to come out weekend with a QB
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) April 30, 2015
As ever, what will happen seems as cloudy as ever, but one thing is for sure - there should be fireworks when Tennessee are put on the clock at 1.10 am.
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