NFL Rumors: Analyzing Nick Foles Trade Buzz, Marcus Mariota Rumblings and More

It would not be NFL draft season without rumblings of some team selling away its soul to land a rookie quarterback. 

Has the league learned anything from Robert Griffin III?

Alas, high demand and limited supply create chaos—or something to that effect. The 2015 draft class is mightily thin with no true third quarterback after Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston.

There are teams who want to win now who are comfortable with proven veterans. There are also those ready to gamble their soul away.

More entertaining blotches of time on the NFL calendar are difficult to name.

Brian Hoyer and Cleveland

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Look at the Cleveland Browns. 

Thanks to a fantastic report by Jeremy Fowler and Pat McManamon of ESPN.com, it is quite clear that the front office has a rocky situation on its hands with Johnny Manziel.

Feel free to sprinkle in the Josh Gordon issue, as illustrated by SportsCenter:

The last thing the Browns want to do, even though they have two first-round picks, is throw another rookie quarterback into this mess.

In a perfect world, Brian Hoyer would want to return one season removed from throwing for 3,326 yards and 12 touchdowns to 13 interceptions before losing his job to Manziel.

According to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, though, the front office will need to tell Hoyer he will be on the field in 2015:

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Hoyer repeatedly said last season he would love to stay with his hometown team, but he also made it clear he wants to play. He is expected to meet with coach Mike Pettine, general manager Ray Farmer and offensive coordinator John DeFilippo soon. If he likes what he hears, he'll give [agent Joe] Linta the green light to attempt to engage the Browns in discussions about a new deal.

"

It seems like a lot to ask of the Browns right now, but a lot can change between now and when the market opens in a few months.

Hoyer fancies a starting gig and may find something in Houston, St. Louis or elsewhere. It sounds as if a return to Cleveland to be near his hometown is the top choice, but whether that happens depends on how the Browns walk their current quarterback tightrope.

The Marcus Mariota Race

Predictable. 

It was only a matter of time before Mariota and Chip Kelly's Philadelphia Eagles came up together in rumblings.

The Eagles hold the No. 20 spot, but after an up-and-down year with quarterbacks Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez, the team may want to jump into the race to secure Mariota. A source says the Eagles want to attempt to do what it takes to move up, according to Mark Eckel of NJ.com:

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'From No. 20, it's certainly not going to be easy,' said the person, who requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak on the subject. '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 response was telling.

'Can it happen?' he asked. 'I don't know. But they're going to try.'

"

Of course the Eagles have an interest. Mariota did not receive some fairy-tale ending to his collegiate career thanks to the buzz saw that is Ohio State. 

But he is one of the most dominant Heisman winners in history and threw for 4,454 yards and 42 touchdowns to four interceptions, along with 15 rushing scores last season.

Mariota's pro upside may only be second to Winston this year, if that, and Kelly will obviously provide a suitable system to nurture his skills as he adapts to pro speed.

With the obvious nugget finally out in the open, the conversation then switches to one topic: How in the world do the Eagles pull this off?

Nick Foles' Future

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Foles, of course. 

Kelly has to hope that NFL teams around the league pretend 2014 didn't happen—that Foles did not regress by more than four percentage points on his completion numbers in eight games. That he didn't throw 13 touchdowns to 10 picks one year removed from a 27-2 ratio in 13 games.

Most of all, Kelly has to hope that some team buys into the idea that it was not just Philadelphia's system that eked the most out of the Arizona product.

According to Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com, a number of teams may play right into Kelly's hands, chief among them the St. Louis Rams:

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According to a person familiar with the situation, but who requested anonymity, the St. Louis Rams have interest in Foles should the Eagles decide to trade him this offseason.

Foles' possible availability was a topic of conversation among coaches and scouts last week at the Senior Bowl, with the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans also mentioned as teams that would have interest if Foles hit the market.

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Look, Foles is only 26 years old. His numbers took a dramatic dip, but he is better than any quarterback who will hit the open market this offseason, so it makes sense that teams such as St. Louis have an interest.

The wrinkle in all of this is timing. Unless the Eagles can be sure they land Mariota or some other quarterback they covet, there is no reason to send Foles away.

Then again, all of this rapidly evolving information may make things awkward if all plans fall through and Foles is the Eagles starter in 2015.

Alas, the expected entertaining, annual offseason quarterback push is here, with Kelly and the Eagles leading the charge.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Jan. 26 at 9 p.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.