According to Jeff McLane of the Philidelphia Inquirer, the San Fransisco 49ers were among the several teams interested in quarterback Mark Sanchez. Ultimately the Eagles traded Sanchez to the Broncos for a 2017 conditional 7th round pick.

49ers among several teams interested in Mark Sanchez, per NFL sources. Existence of market explains why #Eagles avoided straight release. — Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 11, 2016

As we all know, the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns are trying to trade for 49ers quarterback Colin Kaerpnick. The asking price is reportedly a second round pick, but both teams are unwilling to part ways with that high pick currently.

So on the outside, this appears like the Broncos just adding a veteran quarterback with starting experience to give somebody at the quarterback position until they can land a starter.

However, there is another angle to look at here. Could the Broncos be using Sanchez as a trade chip to land Colin Kaepernick?

You might be thinking that makes no sense, but stick with me here for a second.

First, Chip Kelly is a big Mark Sanchez fan and would probably want him on the 49ers roster next season. He knows his system and could help starter Blaine Gabbert(or whoever) learn the system quicker. The interest is there because the 49ers were among the teams interested in trading for him.

So why didn't the 49ers just trade for him? Well, current Philidelphia Eagles General Manager was a big reason why Chip Kelly was eventually fired from the Eagles. Why would he go out and help the guy who he helped get fired from the Eagles?

Trading the guy Chip Kelly wants on his team to a team that Kelly and the 49ers are currently negotiating a trade with could one big giant middle finger to Chip Kelly.

Sanchez does NOT take #Broncos out of market for Kaepernick, and in fact may be more ammo to go get him. — Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) March 11, 2016

This could be a very smart and sneaky move by Denver Broncos General Manager John Elway. Now the Broncos have a quarterback that Chip Kelly and the 49ers want and the 49ers have a quarterback who John Elway and the Denver Broncos want.

In short, I think Mark Sanchez is just a trade chip for the Broncos to help land them 49ers quarterback. I am not the only one who believes this to be true. NFL Networks and former Seattle Seahawks and San Fransisco 49ers fullback Michael Robinson believes that is John Elway's plan as well.

"John Elway did not bring in Mark Sanchez to start at QB."



- @RealMikeRob on Sanchez as trade bait for Kaepernick pic.twitter.com/ZNryUf1aps — NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) March 12, 2016

Or I could be looking into this way too hard and be completely off base, but it looks like there is some legs to this rumor.

As John Elway tweeted out after trading for Mark Sanchez, this is only the first step in the process for the Broncos. Could the next step be trading Sanchez to the 49ers for Kaepernick? We shall see.