Chip Kelly, Roseman On Geno Smith

The question was about the quarterback position,  and it was offered up to either to Chip Kelly or Howie Roseman, who were seated at opposite ends of the table in the NovaCare auditorium.

You worked out Geno Smith earlier this week. You brought in Matt Scott for a visit. Do you expect to draft a quarterback come April?

The head coach and general manager exchanged glances and waited a beat before Kelly decided to take it on.

“You know, I don’t know,” said Kelly. “I know one thing about since I’ve been here is we’re going to look at anybody and everybody that can help us win football games. If it takes us getting on a plane to watch a guy go work out or bring someone in, they’re not going to be the last two guys that we go to see or bring in here to see. Just because it’s quarterbacks people get enamored with that.”

Smith is widely considered the best quarterback in the draft and the Eagles hold the No. 4 pick, so obviously it will get people’s attention when word gets out that the team brass hopped a flight to work him out. That is especially true when owner Jeffrey Lurie is along for the ride.

Roseman had a separate session with reporters following the introductory press conference for Isaac Sopoaga and James Casey Wednesday, and got hit with several questions about Smith. Roseman was tight-lipped about the QB.

Is Smith a top-10 pick?

“You’re going through the process, you’re trying to get as much information as possible. I can’t comment on anybody else’s draft board and at this point I can comment on ours.”

Has Lurie gone on any trips before to see draft hopefuls?

“I don’t know that we want to get into specifics on who is coming on the trips for us. We’re going to see a lot of people here in the next few weeks, we’re going to try and get as much information as possible to make the No. 4 pick in the draft the right one for the Philadelphia Eagles.”

What was your takeaway from the Smith workout? What did you learn?

“I think at this point in the draft process, as much information as we can keep internally that’s kind of where we are at this point. Obviously he’s an impressive guy.”

The trip to Morgantown could represent legit interest, it could be a smokescreen or it could simply be due diligence. Whatever the case, the possibility of Smith being in play provides another level of intrigue to the upcoming draft.

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