Eagles Would Face Consequences in Drafting 1st-round QB

The Philadelphia Eagles have been heavily rumored to be pursuing quarterback Carson Wentz. The team does not appear to have a true long-term answer at the quarterback position, and with the club in possession of the eighth pick, they may not have a chance to get another shot at a franchise quarterback-caliber talent for some time. 

With Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel on the roster, the team also would have the luxury of allowing Wentz to sit and learn during his rookie season, and not be fed to the wolves right away. It'd be a good situation for a young quarterback to come into. 

However, drafting Wentz would also come with some significant consequences for the 2016, and even the 2017 season. 

In order to get Wentz, the Eagles are going to have to make a trade with the Tennessee Titans to acquire the top pick in the draft. The Titans are willing to trade the pick, but it's going to cost the team a fairly significant package to move up. It won't be a deal of the rumored Marcus Mariota level, but it will still cost a number of assets. 

The minimum cost that it would probably take to move up would be the eighth pick, next year's first rounder, and one of the Eagles' third-round picks this year. So right away, that's a net loss of two high draft picks. 

Then consider the fact that Wentz would most likely not play any meaningful snaps in his rookie year. As previously stated, Bradford and Daniel are both already on the roster, and both are making large amounts of money, combine those facts with Doug Pederson's previous statements about sitting a rookie quarterback in his first year, and it all adds up to a first-round pick that will be redshirted in 2016 and give the team no impact. 

The big picture of the 2016 draft would then project to the team waiting until the third round to add a player that could contribute right away. With the first round pick (and one of their thirds) invested in Wentz, and their second-round pick gone as part of Chip Kelly's Sam Bradford trade, it really limits how much better the Eagles will be able to make themselves this season. 

The alternative to trading up for Wentz would be to stand pat at eight, and select a player that could make a difference right away like Ezekiel Elliott. A guy like Elliott would add a much more dynamic element to the offense, providing a significant upgrade over Ryan Mathews. Elliott could potentially be a top-five player at his position in the next few years, and his presence would make it much easier for Bradford to succeed, helping to open up opportunities for the team's young wide receivers. 

However, the problem with the Elliott scenario is that once again, the team would be without any real solution at the quarterback position. The Eagles have been struggling to fill their need at quarterback since the 2009 season when Donovan McNabb was traded. They've tried replacing him with guys like Nick Foles and Kevin Kolb from the middle of the draft, and they've tried to revive the careers of former failed first-round picks like Michael Vick and Sam Bradford.

The organization hasn't won a playoff game since 2008, and the only thing they haven't tried to address quarterback is to spend a first-round pick on the position. 

While a move up to the top of the draft for Carson Wentz would have some short-term consequences, it may be best for the team to make a move up and find their answer for the next decade. 

Denny Basens is a contributing writer for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter @DennyBasens.