Report: Eagles plotting to move up in draft for Marcus Mariota

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has discussed his admiration for former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota publicly on a number of occasions, but there may be something more going on behind the scenes.

The Eagles are going to attempt to move up to select Mariota in the draft, reports Mark Eckel of NJ.com. Philadelphia holds the No. 20 overall pick and it's unlikely Mariota - who many are predicting could go as high as No. 1 overall - will fall out of the top five.

"From No. 20, it's certainly not going to be easy,'' a person familiar with the situation told Eckel. "It's probably going to take moving up twice to do it. There's going to be some wheeling and dealing involved.''

Asked if he thought it could happen, the person replied, "Can it happen? I don't know. But they're going to try.''

Kelly coached Mariota during his first two years at Oregon and has referred to him as the "most talented kid I coached in college." He has also compared Mariota to future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

With the recent shuffling of the Eagles' front office, Kelly also has final say on personnel matters.

"That makes it a little easier,'' the person told Eckel. "There isn't anyone in (Kelly's) way.''

It won't be cheap, though. Eckel reports that some have speculated it would cost at least three first-round picks and additional picks to move up to the top five this year. Others have said the Eagles would need to unload all of their 2015 picks to land Mariota.