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NFL Trade: Ingram for Kelce the hot rumor across the NFL

By George Stockburger

Nov 17, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) walks to the locker room after an injury in the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Saints 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 17, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) walks to the locker room after an injury in the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Saints 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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NFL rumors can’t die as we head into the summer season, and the Jason Kelce for Mark Ingram idea keeps heating up

It’s a trade made in Twitter heaven that may be too perfect for the NFL world to come to fruition.

Max Unger’s foot injury in New Orleans has the Saints scrambling after the NFL Draft to find a starting center to protect Drew Brees and his new weapons on offense. The veteran center will likely miss the start of the season after undergoing surgery.

Among Brees’ weapons are a freshly reloaded running back room, containing Adrian Peterson, rookie Alvin Kamara, and veteran Mark Ingram.

More than 1,200 miles north, the Philadelphia Eagles have a pantry overflowing with capable starting centers. Jason Kelce, Stephen Wisniewski, second-year lineman Isaac Sopoaga, and UDFA Tyler Orlosky fill out what may be the strongest depth chart at the center position in all the league.

Philadelphia missed out on Dalvin Cook in the draft, and now carries an injured Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood, and rookies Donnel Pumphrey and Corey Clement. Mathews is likely to be cut, while Sproles has announced this is his final season.

With the Eagles needed a three-down back and the Saints needing a center, is there a match made in NFL trade heaven?

Could it really be that simple? Probably not, as some exchange of draft picks will likely go one way or another. Financially the move makes sense for both teams, as Kelce and Ingram’s salary caps are similar with two teams against the cap.

Nov 15, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (62) walks off the field after the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey G. Pittenger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce (62) walks off the field after the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey G. Pittenger-USA TODAY Sports /

Both players are entering the final guaranteed season of their contracts, while Kelce has two more years where he can be cut with no penalty. Both 29-years-old, the players are reportedly not wanted by their respective teams for multiple reasons.

Kelce has taken a step back on the field since a Pro Bowl season in 2014, but was added to the all-star roster this past year as an alternate.

Philadelphia considers the sophomore Sopoaga the future at center, while veteran Wisniewski could hold down the fort for a year if needed. Their undrafted free agent out of West Virginia Orlosky was projected to be drafted in the fourth round, but fell completely out last month.

Should Ingram join a crowded Eagles running back room the chances Ryan Mathews stays are slim. He’s likely waiting to fail a physical anyway, which could free financial capabilities for Philadelphia.

Knowing Sproles will only take a handful of carries and primarily get special teams reps, his value as a starter is unreliable. Second-year back Smallwood out of West Virginia saw limited action last year, but is not a three-down guy. The most likely three-down back is UDFA Corey Clement, who, like Orlosky, somehow fell out of the mid-rounds last month.

Next: Options to Replace Max Unger

So yes, it’s a match made in NFL general manager heaven, but the chances the perfect trade comes to fruition are unlikely.

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