The Philadelphia Eagles will do everything they can to try and get Marcus Mariota in the NFL Draft, but there is a real chance the team will miss out. With the Chicago Bears actively pursing the No. 2 overall pick, the Eagles might lack the draft picks to move up especially after giving up key pieces to acquire Sam Bradford. So what happens if Philadelphia cannot get the quarterback? The team is eyeing several wide receivers instead.
The Eagles continue to get linked to quarterback rumors while they work out wide receivers for the draft. While most assume the Eagles want to move up the draft in order to get Mariota, the Cleveland Browns are reportedly trying something else. Mark Ferguson of Chant Sports reported the Browns were shopping a high draft pick and Manziel to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Sam Bradford. The report was not totally surprising considering the Browns have reportedly had interest in Bradford since the NFL scouting combine and even attempted to trade a first-round pick for him. However, Shawn Starr of Dawg Pound Nation is making it clear this report is false.
There is a real chance the Eagles do not get Mariota which is why Philadelphia is eyeing several wide receiver options. They have made several moves in free agency, but replacing Jeremy Maclin has not been one of them. The team has Jordan Matthews and Riley Cooper, but needs another top playmaker to add to the rotation.
According to CSNPhilly.com, the Eagles have worked out several wide receivers heading into the NFL Draft. DeVante Parker, Jaelen Strong, Breshad Perriman and Nelson Agholor. If the Eagles stay at the No. 20 pick, the only receivers expected to be gone are Amari Cooper and Kevin White. They will have plenty of options to choose from. Matthews made it clear that the Eagles do not need another super star into the mix, just someone that can bring something different to the rotation.
I want us to be a receiving corps. That's what I want it to be," Matthews said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I don't think one 'No. 1 wide receiver' was in the Super Bowl this year, but they're two Super Bowl-winning teams that have receiving corps that work their butts off, that block in the run game, that catch the ball when they have to. Whatever public perception about what they think we should look like or what they think we need, if we go out there and put a product on the field that wins games, then we can change all perceptions."
