For those with ESPN Insider access, NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has an interesting story linking some of the draft's top prospects to certain NFL teams based on how good a fit that player might be for a particular coach/system.
For Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota Kiper lists coach Andy Reid
and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mariota would make a lot of sense for Reid, even if the Chiefs are committed to Alex Smith as their quarterback. Kiper cites the success of Donovan McNabb as Reid's quarterback for many seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles as a reason Mariota would flourish in Kansas City.
But it's not going to happen. As Kiper suggests, Mariota is going to be long gone by the time the Chiefs pick at No. 18 in the first round. The price for the Chiefs to move into the top few picks would be astronomical and, with Smith on board, there's no evidence the Chiefs are inclined to pay it.
Still, it's fun to think about. Reid even addressed Mariota to reporters at this week's NFL owners meetings in Phoenix, though he made it abundantly clear he knew the Chiefs have no realistic chance to draft Mariota.
"If I'm in a position to draft him -- which I'm not [because] he's going to go much higher than where I'm at -- I would try and spend as much time with him as I possibly could to see if he fits into what I'm doing," Reid said. "That's the name of the game.
"I didn't have an opportunity to visit with him. I'll tell you, he's a pretty good player. That part I can tell you. I don't know about the personality and all of that, but he's a pretty good football player."
Reid may not have met with Mariota. But he said he went as far as to ask Chiefs' punt returner/slot receiver De'Anthony Thomas about his collegiate teammate. Thomas played with Mariota at Oregon.
"Just from afar, I listen to what his teammates say," Reid said. "I've got one on my team and I talked to him about him. I asked him about him. And he goes, 'This guy is unbelievable. Great leader, great person.'
"Again, this is from afar [but] I didn't see any red flags."