Maybe anyone can play quarterback for Chip Kelly. Maybe his offense is so efficient that Mike McMahon, Brad Goebel or even Les Bowen -- as Kelly suggested Thursday -- can run it.
OK, maybe not. But after watching Mike Vick and Nick Foles slice through opposing defenses through two preseason games, it certainly appears that way.
Still, I have my lingering doubts. I've watched Vick break hearts before. I've seen him try to be Superman but be undone by turnovers, the kryptonite of his NFL existence.
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I'm not fooled by Foles. He's an NFL quarterback, sure. But is he dynamic? Can he make a play in a huge spot? Thursday, he couldn't even throw the ball out of the end zone, so there's that.
Maybe the answer is Matt Barkley. But he's not very mobile, his arm strength isn't quite there, and if he is the guy, the Eagles need to make that decision soon, right? I'm not seeing it.
All of which leads to the question: Where is Chip Kelly's eventual long-term quarterback coming from? My guess is he will be lighting up college defenses this fall.
So here is my list of who you should watch in college in the event the Eagles do shop for a quarterback:
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1. Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds
Circle this date on your calendar sports fans: Oct. 5, 2013. That's the date Bridgewater -- the man I think is going to win this year's Heisman -- comes to Lincoln Financial Field to cut through the Temple Owls. My hope is that it’s the first of many visits by this budding superstar to the Linc. He's the prototypical Chip Kelly quarterback. A great decision maker, a fantastic arm and a legitimate running threat -- he's got it all. The only problem is he may be too good. He very well may be the first pick of next year's draft.
2. Marcus Mariota, Oregon, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
Chip Kelly certainly knows Mariota; he recruited the sophomore to Oregon. As a redshirt freshman, all this Hawaii native did was lead the Ducks to a near-perfect record. In the process, Mariota threw 32 touchdowns, and his blazing speed allowed him to rush for five more. Mariota stepped into the Oregon spotlight and immediately delivered. If he does so again this year -- and he decides to leave school early -- don't be surprised to see him reunited with Kelly here in Philadelphia.
3. Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, 6-foot-1, 210 pounds
By now, you know plenty about Manziel. He's the reigning Heisman winner. He's got the legendary Johnny Football nickname. There's seemingly not a week that goes by where he's not in the news for something. Stories and pictures of him drinking and partying will give teams reason for pause come draft night, as will whatever becomes of the NCAA's ongoing investigation of his eligibility. Then teams they'll watch the game tape against Alabama and those worries will go away. Because if Manziel can escape all of the noise that surrounds him and deliver like he did a year ago as a redshirt freshman, there's no denying his talent. Manziel's combination of speed, elusiveness, swagger and athleticism could make him deadly if paired with Kelly.
4. Tajh Boyd, Clemson, 6-foot-1, 225 pounds
Boyd is the strongest of the quarterbacks with a solid, durable frame. He's elusive in the pocket, though he's not necessarily a breakaway runner. His accuracy as a thrower improved dramatically a year ago. By the time Boyd faced off against one of the nations’ top defenses -- LSU -- in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, he was ready to put on a show. Boyd completed 36 of 50 throws for 346 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His surgical dismantling of the Tigers has given the Hampton, Va. native early Heisman buzz and should have him on the Eagles’ radar come draft day 2014.
5. Braxton Miller, Ohio State, 6-foot-2, 215 pounds
He's my least favorite of the bunch, and I don't see the Eagles drafting him because of his throwing motion and throwing ability. He's better than his predecessor, Terrelle Pryor, as a thrower, but that's not saying much. Still, Miller's dual-threat capabilities are the main reason the Buckeyes were undefeated last season and why they are a national-title contender again this year. In two years, Miller has totaled nearly 5,300 total yards. There is no question how dynamic he is as a player, but he must improve in 2013 as a thrower. If he does, he could easily rise on this list and become a part of the conversation for the Birds.