Marcus Mariota ‘would love’ to play for Chip Kelly

Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) rolls out of the pocket against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon Ducks quarterback and Heisman winner Marcus Mariota said he ‘would love’ to play for Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly.

Marcus Mariota is quickly turning his attention from the National Championship debacle in which his Oregon Ducks got handled by the Ohio State Buckeyes to his next challenge, getting selected as highly as possible in the NFL draft this May. He’ll have to show off for league coaches and executives on a physical and mental level to land in that top five, as many have predicted for him.

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But his projection as a top pick didn’t stop the media from asking Mariota what he might think of playing for his former coach whose team sits lower in the draft. Mariota in turn gave the answer many might expect. Sure, playing for Chip Kelly would be a blast because duh, it’s a Chip Kelly offense. Why wouldn’t it be fun?

“Whatever team wants me, I’d love to play for them,” Mariota said, per GoDucks.com. “Obviously my relationship with Coach Kelly, it’d be a lot of fun to be a part of that offense and be a part of that team. But for me, any team that wants me to be part of their club, I’m all for it. Whatever happens, happens, and I’m looking forward to the process.”

Mariota appears to be smartly hedging on his answer as he knows he almost certainly won’t fall to the Philadelphia Eagles, unless his combine showings are unmitigated disasters. He and Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston are expected to be two of the first players taken in the draft. With plenty of QB-hungry squads sitting in the top five, it’s hard to imagine either even making it out of that range, if even one falls out of the top two.

But Mariota and Kelly’s history make the inquiries a must, and it’s probably not the last time someone will either ask Chip Kelly if he wants Mariota or Mariota if he wants to play for Kelly. Both will say of course they do because, well, of course they do. The Eagles need a quarterback of the future and Mariota doesn’t want to be stuck with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Tennessee Titans.

Unfortunately for both parties, the NFL draft doesn’t work that way and this is a marriage that’s destined to fall short from the start. Chin up, Marcus. There’s always free agency down the line. Besides, we hear the weather in Tampa is wonderful.

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