Reports have surfaced that the Philadelphia Eagles may be looking to cut former No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota following a disappointing training camp. Let’s take a look at whether Mariota should remain on the Eagles’ roster and re-examine rookie Tanner McKee’s preseason performance.
Where Did The Rumor Start?
The original report seems to have surfaced from NFL.com lead writer Eric Edholm but it remains to be seen how much substance there is behind this rumor.
Despite Mariota’s lackluster preseason, he showed promise at times under center, including in joint practices against the Cleveland Browns.
The Eagles coaching staff has also publicly backed Mariota on a number of occasions throughout training camp, which makes this rumor even more puzzling. Both Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson have stood behind Mariota as the team’s backup quarterback.
Has something changed since then?
Why Cutting Mariota Wouldn’t Be A Smart Move
Many fans in Philly are crossing their fingers that Mariota will be let go or that McKee will earn the QB2 job.
However, fans might want to be careful what they wish for.
If the Eagles want any kind of insurance if Hurts goes down, Mariota will undoubtedly be the safest option.
McKee has indeed made the most of his opportunities after being selected with the 188th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The rookie from Stanford threw for 438 yards and one touchdown during the preseason without turning the ball over.
But it wasn’t all good for the rookie sixth-round pick.
McKee also completed fewer than 55 percent of his passes and averaged a meager and averaged just 6.4 yards per attempt while playing mostly against second-and-third-string players. If extrapolated over a full season, his yards per attempt figure would have tied him for QB44 last season.
For reference, Mariota has never averaged under 7.1 yards per attempt in a season where he’s had at least three pass attempts.
Of course, Mariota’s real value comes as a runner. He has shown the ability to move the ball on the ground effectively with his legs and allows the Eagles to have some continuity on offense in the event that Hurts is forced to miss some time.
Cutting Mariota would also cost the Eagles about $1.9 million against the salary cap.
According to Edholm, “…getting the backup-QB spot right is what matters most in a season where the Eagles believe they can vie for a Super Bowl title.”
And that’s true.
Except Mariota is still the best man for the job.
