Given the unique offensive system that the Eagles run with Jalen Hurts as the starter, Mariota seems like the perfect fit behind Jalen Hurts. He is an adept runner and has been accurate throughout his NFL career.
However, his performance in the preseason certainly didn’t make him a long-term lock. On a one-year contract, the Eagles could be better off giving the backup job to sixth-round rookie Tanner McKee and having him develop behind Hurts.
That is the route David Kenyon of Bleacher Report expects the team to go. It is part of his reasoning for naming Mariota amongst his bold trade predictions ahead of the 2023 regular season.
“At this point of his career, the 29-year-old isn’t a “savior” for any offense. However, he’s on a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, who may soon anoint sixth-round pick Tanner McKee as the backup.
Once the Eagles are ready to roll with the 23-year-old as QB2 behind Jalen Hurts, Mariota will be expendable.”
Making a prediction on where Mariota could land wouldn’t be in good taste; no one wants to predict an injury to a player. But, injuries are part of the game and bound to happen at some point.
If a team has their starting quarterback suffer an injury and needs quarterback depth, Mariota makes for a fine trade target. It wouldn’t be costly to acquire him as he is on a one-year deal and could be QB3 in Philadelphia sooner rather than later.
A late Day 3 pick would likely be enough to convince the Eagles to part ways with him, especially if McKee shows he is ready to handle the backup job. At the very least, Mariota can handle being a game manager and is capable of making plays with his legs as a runner, adding another dimension to a team’s offensive attack.
Kenneth Teape:
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