Eagles Signing Marcus Mariota Named Top Under-The-Radar Move

The Philadelphia Eagles fell just short of their pursuit of another Super Bowl championship, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35. Given how successful that general manager Howie Roseman has been building this roster, this looks like a team that will contend for years to come.

Philadelphia has done a great job building through the draft and using its assets to maneuver up and down the board. It has resulted in a ton of draft capital being owned by the team, which they have successfully used to upgrade the roster. The Eagles will once again have the chance to reload in the 2023 NFL Draft as they have two first-round picks.

While there have been some headline-grabbing transactions, such as the trades to acquire the first-round picks and landing A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans, there are moves every year that go under the radar but pay dividends in the end. This year, that move for the Eagles was signing quarterback Marcus Mariota.

A backup quarterback isn’t going to move the needle when it comes to making headlines. But, for a football team, it is one of the most important positions on the roster. The Eagles know this first-hand after Nick Foles led the team to a Super Bowl five years ago after Carson Wentz was injured.

On their path to Super Bowl 57, they faced off against a San Francisco 49ers team that also saw how important a backup quarterback is. Brock Purdy was their third-stringer coming into the season and now looks to be their franchise quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo also helped keep the team afloat when Trey Lance went down with an injury.

For the Eagles, their offensive game plan is a unique one because of the skill set that Jalen Hurts possesses. That style of play also lends itself to Hurts getting hit a lot, which opens him up to injuries. 

He has missed time the last two seasons, making a backup important. Having someone with a similar skill set, which Mariota has as a running quarterback, is helpful as well. Last season, Mariota began as the starter for the Atlanta Falcons before being replaced by Desmond Ridder.

Prior to that, he was the backup to Derek Carr and had some packages installed each week to get him on the field. That likely won’t occur in Philadelphia, but knowing that he has a ton of starting experience and can step into the lineup in a pinch is a luxury, not every team in the league possesses.