NFL Draft: Trade Rumors Still Link Mariota to Philadelphia Eagles

Since Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy last winter, the rumors have circled that Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly would, at all costs, acquire the man he once recruited to play quarterback at the University of Oregon.

And no matter how much Kelly publicly denies he would not trade up in this year's draft for Mariota, the rumors continue to fly. Even the most outragous ones.

Two pretty ridiculous trade rumors broke this week from two different sources. Each one laid out a scenario in which the Eagles would be invovled in a three-team trade in order to acquire the No. 2 overall pick and then select Mariota.

Let's lay out both scenarios:

     Scenario No. 1 accoding to NBC Sports

     Teams invovled: Eagles, Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns

          Browns receive quarterback Sam Bradford and 2016 first-round pick from Philadelphia

          Titans receive both the No. 12 and No. 19 overall picks from Browns and No. 20 overall pick from Eagles

          Eagles receive No. 2 overall pick from Titans

     Scenario No. 2 according to Rant Sports

     Teams invovled: Eagles, Tennessee Titans and San Diego Chargers

          Chargers receive Bradford and No. 20 overall pick from Eagles and Titans' second-round pick

          Titans receive quarterback Philip Rivers from Chargers and Eagles' third-round pick

          Eagles receive No. 2 overall pick from Titans

It is extremely difficult to tell which scenario, if either, is more likely to happen, but if one connects the dots, there could certainly be some truth to these rumors.

It doesn't make much for the Chargers to keep Rivers on their roster for the 2015 season unless the franchise has a change in heart and doesn't move to Los Angeles. Rivers will walk at the end of the 2015 season, and since the Chargers are not a Super Bowl contender at this very moment, it makes sense to rebuild with a younger quarterback. Whether San Diego GM Tom Telesco prefers to rebuild with Bradford or Mariota is anyone's guess.

The fact Cleveland has been mentioned with these trade rumors also makes a lot of sense. Rams quarterback Jeff Fisher said after the team traded Braford to the Eagles that St. Louis received a late first-round pick offer for Bradford, but prefered to go with Philadelphia's offer because Fisher liked Nick Foles. It is still somewhat of a mystery who that team was that offered its first round pick for Bradford, but many believe it was Cleveland. The Browns are a franchise in dire need of a franchise quarterback and could use their first round picks as a means to trade for one.

Of course, that is also depend on Cleveland not wanting Mariota over Bradford. Theoretically, if Cleveland wants Mariota, they could offer Tennessee both its first round picks in exchange for the No. 2 pick.

Both scenarios would also work for the Eagles and Titans. Philadelphia wouldn't have to mortage the future in order for Kelly to get his guy, and the Titans would either get a plethora of first-round picks or Rivers, a perfect fit for head coach Ken Whisenhunt's offense.

But what do you think? Leave a comment below, send Dave a tweet @dmholcomb or drop a comment on the Facebook page, Dave's Football News.