2015 NFL Draft: Eagles could try to trade up in draft for Marcus Mariota

Problem: The Philadelphia Eagles could use a new quarterback.

Solution: Marcus Mariota is available in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Problem: The Eagles have the 20th overall pick and Marcus Mariota will likely be the top overall pick.

Solution: Pull off one of the most incredibly aggressive draft trades to acquire Mariota.

Could a reunion between Marcus Mariota and Chip Kelly be in the cards this upcoming season? When you initially look at the 2015 NFL Draft order, it seems impossible. Mariota is considered by many to be the top available prospect in this year's draft, and the Eagles have 19 teams picking before them on draft day. But that won't stop them from trying, according to a source close to the team.

But of course, a trade like that would come with a hefty price tag if the Eagles hoped to move up to a position to acquire Mariota. Former NFL general manager Bill Polian talked about what Philadelphia would need to offer up in order to be able to pull the trigger on such a trade.

"In essence, three number ones or a highly-ranked number one player (and two first-round picks) who would go in a deal in addition to probably some twos. It's a hefty, hefty price," he said, not to mention that quarterback-desperate teams such as the Buccaneers, Jets and Titans would need to be convinced to pass on a franchise signal caller.

Another NFL executive said that in order to acquire Mariota, the Eagles would likely need to give up multiple first-round draft picks along with LeSean McCoy.

Is Mariota worth the risk? While McCoy is only 26 and ran for over 1,000 yards for the fourth time in five seasons this year, we all know running backs have a short shelf life in the NFL. McCoy likely only has a few more productive seasons before his numbers start to take a hit. And the scary part is that nobody will be able to see it coming. For example, after Shawn Alexander ran for 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns with the Seahawks in 2005, Alexander dealt with multiple injuries and was out of the league three years later.

Of course, the Eagles aren't as desperate for a quarterback as some other teams in the league may be. Chip Kelly has not one, not two, but three former Pac-12 quarterbacks on his depth chart with Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley. However, no clear No. 1 quarterback has emerged, presenting a golden opportunity for Kelly and Mariota to reunite in the NFL.

If this was a team that didn't run a type of offense Mariota has already succeeded with at the college level, the idea of giving up that much to acquire a rookie quarterback would seem ludicrous. But if there's a perfect fit for Mariota in the NFL, it just might be Chip Kelly and the Eagles.