Does Marcus Mariota leaving reveal Eagles plans on Hurts backup? Can new OL replace Kelce?

It wasn't a surprise that Eagles backup quarterback Marcus Mariota would sign elsewhere.

After all, he made $5 million last season to throw 23 passes, all in mop-up duty late in the season. It's certainly good money if you can get it. And Mariota will be getting even more of it, reportedly signing a one-year deal worth $6 million with the chance to make it $10 million with the Washington Commanders.

Mariota joins Sam Howell on the Commanders' roster. But the Commanders have the No. 2 pick in the draft and will likely take one of the top QBs in either Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye.

It's possible Mariota or Howell will compete for the right to start while the new QB learns the ropes. Then they will compete to serve as the backup when that QB is ready to start.

For the Eagles, they can allocate Mariota's money elsewhere, as they are demonstrating during the negotiating period before the official start of free agency on Wednesday.

They are splurging on Giants running back Saquon Barkley and Jets defensive end Bryce Huff, giving as much as $89 million to both players on combined three-year deals.

In addition, the Eagles signed left guard Landon Dickerson to a four-year extension worth as much as $84 million. On Tuesday, allPHLY.com reported that the Eagles are also adding offensive lineman Matt Hennessy, a Temple product who was a third-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2020.

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Hennessy might seem like an under-the-radar signing. But Hennessy could either replace Jason Kelce, who announced his retirement last week, at center, or challenge for a starting job at right guard (more on Hennessy in a bit).

For now, all of this leaves the Eagles with the question of who will back up Hurts?

The Eagles drafted Tanner McKee in the sixth-round last spring, and he and Hurts are the only QBs on the roster. McKee played well during the three preseason games last summer. One can even make the case that he outperformed Mariota.

But there is a big difference between going against players who are either deep reserves or roster longshots in meaningless preseason games, and replacing an injured Hurts with a playoff spot on the line.

McKee never got into a regular season game, serving as the emergency QB in every game. Mariota only played in three games, all in mop-up duty in blowout losses late in the season.

Still, the Eagles have options for Hurts' backup. If the Eagles are convinced that McKee can serve as the backup, they can sign a low-cost veteran (less than Mariota) as a third-string QB, with the possibility of a competition in spring practices and training camp.

Or the Eagles could draft a QB either with one of their two second-round picks (Nos. 50 and 53), or perhaps their compensatory pick at the end of the third round (No. 97).

If Washington QB Michael Penix or Oregon's Bo Nix, for example, were to be available in the second round, it's possible the Eagles could draft him to serve as Hurts' backup.

Or perhaps South Carolina's Spencer Rattler with the third-round pick.

The Eagles would thus be paying a rookie quarterback about $1.5 million as a second-rounder, or one-third what they paid Mariota last season. The Eagles, in fact, used this strategy in 2020 when they drafted Hurts in the second round to serve as Carson Wentz's backup.

Either way, it's clear that the Eagles won't be spending as much for a backup QB as they did with Mariota, or in the past with Nick Foles.

As for Hennessy, he was drafted in 2020 as a center, and he started all 17 games there for the Falcons in 2021. Hennessy was a backup at both center and guard in 2022 before missing all of last season with a knee injury.

The Eagles, meanwhile, drafted Cam Jurgens in the second round in 2022, with Kelce's blessing, to serve as Kelce's eventual replacement. But Jurgens, a natural center, started last season as a right guard, replacing Isaac Seumalo, who had left in free agency last March.

If the Eagles feel comfortable leaving Jurgens at right guard, then Hennessy can move to center. But it's more likely that Jurgens will move back to center. That would leave Hennessy to compete with Tyler Steen at right guard.

All of those options could be on the table, in addition to Landon Dickerson possibly moving from left guard to center. That seems unlikely considering that Dickerson has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons at left guard.

Like Jurgens, Dickerson was drafted in the second round (in 2021) as a center.

"That’s not my call," Dickerson said Tuesday in a press conference after signing his contract. "I think there are a lot of good options in that offensive line room, of guys who can move to center. My philosophy has always been, put the best five guys on the field no matter where they’re going to play."

Then Dickerson added: "I’m not going to say (it's) impossible, but (it's) nearly impossible, to replace somebody like Jason Kelce. What he did for, not only his teammates, but his city and everyone around him, there’s only one of him. And I think there will only ever be one of him. So big shoes to fill."

It's likely the same best player philosophy at backup quarterback, whether it's McKee, a low-cost veteran or another draftee.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: With Marcus Mariota leaving, do Eagles already have Jalen Hurts' backup?