The NFL draft has Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota as the top quarterbacks and teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins and New York Jets could be interested in a trade up for Mariota, as the Buccaneers are likely taking Winston with the top overall pick and as the draft gets closer, rumors will likely start flying about the former Oregon QB.
Mariota and Winston have been evaluated by scouts quite a bit this offseason and while both are expected to go high in drafts, Winston is looked at as the better prospect. According to ESPN.com, Mariota said that he doesn't care about being the number one overall pick and that he wants to get the chance to show what he can do in the NFL. The Buccaneers hosted Mariota this week and while the team is not expected to pick him, general manager Jason Licht is doing his due diligence on the top players.
The Philadelphia Eagles have been mentioned quite a bit in connection with Mariota after Chip Kelly was the coach at Oregon, but after trading for Sam Bradford a deal is unlikely. Kelly addressed the rumors in a press conference after Bradford was acquired, saying the team would not "mortgage the future" to make a move like that. But according to ESPN.com reporter Josina Anderson, coaches around the NFL are not convinced that Kelly is out on Mariota. Anderson wrote that "some coaches" are "not convinced" that Kelly will stand pat and they could see the team moving Bradford in another deal to get Mariota.
The Cleveland Browns have been mentioned as an option for Mariota as well despite signing Josh McCown, as they may not have confidence in Johnny Manziel for the long term. Adding to that is the wrinkle about Sam Bradford, as ESPN reporter Adam Caplan on Twitter wrote that the team offered the Eagles a first round pick for Bradford after he was acquired. Kelly said that one team offered a first round pick for Bradford, but at the time he did not identify which one it was.
Many speculated that it was the Browns because the team has a need long term at quarterback and due to the fact that they have the most draft picks of any team, including two in the first round.
According to ESPN's John Clayton, the Washington Redskins may have an interest in Mariota, as he could be a better fit for Jay Gruden's system than Robert Griffin III. Charles Robinson at Yahoo Sports reports that the Redskins are trying to generate trade interest in the number five pick and that "nobody (is) buying" their interest in Mariota. The team named Griffin the starter already and they are likely looking to get some more picks after finishing last in the NFC East last season.
Another team to watch that could be a wild card is the Chargers, as the Union-Tribune San Diego reports that the team "could be serious" about going after the quarterback. The team has Philip Rivers entering the back stretch of his career and while he has been good, the team doesn't really have a future option there yet. The team reportedly considered runs at Ndamukong Suh and Adrian Peterson this offseason and this could be another "big" potential move for the team. The report says "numerous people in and around the league" have mentioned the Chargers as a possibility.
