Eagles attain deal with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota

The Eagles lastly did the deal.

Years immediately after endless speculation about Chip Kelly’s Eagles possibly trading up to draft Marcus Mariota, the former very first-round choose has lastly landed in Philadelphia … now as a backup.

The Eagles are signing Mariota to a a single-year deal, a league supply confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported incredibly early on Friday morning that the deal is worth $five million and could be worth up to $eight million.

And Mariota also posted on his Instagram story: “Go Birds” with the eagle emoji.

Mariota, 29, will turn out to be the Eagles’ new backup quarterback behind Jalen Hurts. Former backup Gardner Minshew left for the Indianapolis Colts in totally free agency on Thursday. Third-stringer Ian Book is nevertheless on the roster.

Mariota was after a star at Oregon, exactly where he won the Heisman Trophy and was a single of the top rated prospects in the 2015 draft class. With Kelly in charge with the Eagles, there had been a ton of rumors that the Eagles had been going to trade up to land Mariota.

But as an alternative, Mariota was the second choose in the draft to Tennessee and Kelly was fired ahead of the finish of the 2015 season. Because then, Howie Roseman has been back in charge of the front workplace and has constructed two unique Super Bowl rosters. Adding Mariota eight years later is a good touch from Roseman.

Final season, Mariota began 13 games for the Falcons. He had a five-eight record, finishing 61.three% of his passes for two,219 yards, with 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He was fine but that organization is moving on with Desmond Ridder.

And at this point in his profession, Mariota tends to make sense as a higher-level backup. He was a starter with the Titans for 5 seasons but then was a backup with the Raiders ahead of his a single season with the Falcons. In his profession, Mariota has a 34-40 record, has completed 62.six % of his passes with 92 touchdowns and 54 interceptions.

But the exciting aspect of his game, and the purpose this match is so all-natural, is Mariota’s operating potential. In these 13 begins final year, Mariota rushed for 438 yards and four touchdowns. Possessing a backup with that potential indicates the Eagles’ offense will not have to appear substantially unique if Hurts ever misses time.

It is also critical to note that Mariota was released by the Falcons in February, which indicates he will not count toward the compensatory choose formula. The Eagles have lost lots of totally free agents this offseason and count on to bring back the maximum 4 comp picks for subsequent year’s draft.

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