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Philadelphia Eagles’ Quarterback Questions Could Be Answered Within NFC East

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Let’s play a quick game of pretend. Say that the Philadelphia Eagles just simply decide they don’t want Nick Foles. Let’s say the Eagles can’t, won’t, or don’t move into the top five of the draft to select Marcus Mariota. Let’s also say that Mariota slips like many pundits are predicting, and he’s available at No. 5 where the Washington Redskins are slated to pick.

Why wouldn’t anyone assume the Redskins won’t select Mariota there? And if they do, why wouldn’t the Eagles then offer a lower draft selection for Robert Griffin III?

Seriously, think about it for a moment. Why wouldn’t that be the way it plays out? Honestly, I’ve been having a hard time trying to figure out why the Redskins would let Mariota slip past them and go to the New York Jets behind them at No. 6. Mariota was wowing people before the Combine, and now that the Combine is over he’s wowed even more. Displaying fantastic athleticism, superb arm strength and rock-solid character, Mariota might just be the safest pick in the draft.

I know Washington doesn’t necessarily want to give up on Griffin so quickly since they spent a fortune to get him. But if Mariota makes it to them at No. 5, the opportunity cost of passing him up could be too much to bear. Griffin isn’t so worth it to let a potential franchise guy slip past them. Also, imagine the fallout in Washington if they pass on Mariota for another year of Griffin, Mariota lights it up and Griffin can’t find a way to turn it around there. If you thought heads were going to roll after last season, that would pale in comparison. Washington needs an answer at quarterback and fast – I don’t think they can afford to let a possible long-term answer pass them by.

In that scenario, the Eagles are screwed no matter what. No way would Washington trade that pick to the Eagles, and I doubt the Eagles would want to give up that bounty of picks to a division rival anyway. But if the Redskins indeed took Mariota, they’d almost have to move Griffin and his price tag would plummet way, way down. Way down to the point where the Eagles would have to take notice.

Griffin would come with questions, no doubt, but he’d have two things in Philadelphia he wouldn’t in Washington: a more similar offense to the one he ran in college, and an offensive genius in Chip Kelly. I mean, look at what Kelly did with Mark Sanchez. Sanchez is/was a garbage quarterback, yet Kelly somehow made it work with him. If Foles just wasn’t in the plans and the Eagles missed out on Mariota, Griffin would be a young and cheap option with some upside.

I’m not suggesting this would be the way the Eagles need to go, but it’s something to keep in mind. Just don’t count Washington out of the quarterback hunt; they could shake up the expected availability of players that the Eagles might not be anticipating.

Doug Green is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com covering the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.  Follow him on Twitter @DGreenNFL.

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