The Philadelphia Eagles have the No. 8 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but have their eyes on North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz, who is expected to go earlier.
The Philadelphia Eagles are one of several teams in the NFL that could certainly use an upgrade at quarterback. Philadelphia was able to move up in the 2016 NFL Draft order in a strange deal with the Miami Dolphins to get to No. 8, but may have to pull off one more move to get the guy they want in North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz.
Wentz is one of two potential franchise quarterbacks, along with Cal’s Jared Goff, that is expected to be off the board by the time the Eagles pick at No. 8. Some mock drafts have Wentz going as high as No. 2 to the dysfunctional Cleveland Browns who are in need of their third franchise quarterback in five years.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, new Eagles head coach and former NFL backup quarterback Doug Pederson is keen on doing whatever it takes to bring Wentz to Philadelphia. Zierlein said in an interview with 97.5 the Fanatic, “Make no mistake about it, I still think the Eagles first and foremost are trying to find a way to get Carson Wentz. I know Doug Pederson loves him…That’s who he wants and that’s who he likes. It’s just going to be tough.”
While there is a strong chance that the Browns may prefer Goff over Wentz at No.2, the Dallas Cowboys picking at No. 4 could absolutely use a quarterback with their selection as perennial Pro Bowl pocket passer Tony Romo is getting up their in age.
The San Francisco 49ers may look to find their next franchise quarterback with the No. 7 overall pick, as new head coach and former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly may not be too high on Colin Kaepernick or Blaine Gabbert to usher in a new era of football in the Bay Area.
For Philadelphia to realistically nab Wentz, the Eagles will have to give the Tennessee Titans a ridiculous return for the No. 1 overall pick to ensure that they can draft Wentz as their quarterback. Tennessee already has 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota as its franchise passer, but do boast one of the least impressive rosters in the NFL entering the 2016 NFL Draft.
It’s not likely that Pederson and the rest of the Eagles organization will be able to pry the No. 1 overall pick away from Tennessee, but it is a more conceivable option than Kelly had last year trying to move up from the teens to nab Mariota at No. 2 in the 2015 NFL Draft.
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