About one month into the 2010 offseason, the rumors surrounding Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb’s status with the team next season seems to have become a more popular topic than whether or not Brett Favre will return to the Minnesota Vikings next season. There are even talks about backup quarterback Kevin Kolb being traded to a team like the Cleveland Browns now that Tom Heckert has joined Mike Holmgren’s staff.

Trying to figure out who will be on the Eagles’ roster next season at quarterback seems almost as complicated as cracking the Da Vinci Code. While it’s safe to say Michael Vick’s time in the City of Brotherly Love is most likely over after he’s already expressed interest in starting for another team in 2010, it will be months before the status of McNabb and Kolb is officially decided.

Despite all of the rumors, the fact that they are just rumors, which means both players could still end up wearing green and white once Week One rolls around come September. Here are reasons why McNabb will be on the Eagles’ roster in 2010.

The Eagles Don’t Want McNabb On Other NFC Contenders

Jon Gruden said it best during the 2010 Pro Bowl when he stated it would make no sense for Philadelphia to trade McNabb to a team like the Arizona Cardinals or Minnesota Vikings when they will most likely be two of the top contenders in the NFC next season.

In Arizona, Kurt Warner may be retired, but Matt Leinart will still arguably the best receiving duo in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. With a strong running back in Adrian Peterson and Sidney Rice emerging as one of the most dangerous receiver in the NFL, the Vikings should contain one of the top offenses again in 2010.

With the right weapons on offense, McNabb has proven to be effective as one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Remember how good his numbers were in 2004 when he had Terrell Owens by his side? The Eagles organization is smart enough to know No. 5 could be just as dangerous as he was in 2004 with a team like the Cardinals or Vikings.

The Eagles Will Want a First-Round Pick for McNabb

It’s no question whether McNabb returns with Philadelphia next season, he will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks to wear an Eagles uniform. He holds four team records (touchdowns, yards, completions, and attempts) and is one of four quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for 30,000 passing yards, 200 touchdowns, 3,000 rushing yards, and 20 rushing touchdowns.

For that type of talent, the Eagles will want at least a first-round pick from any team interested in acquiring McNabb next season.

It made sense for a team like the Chicago Bears to surrender first round picks when they acquired Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos considering he just finished his fourth season. With a player like McNabb who has a history of injuries and 11 years already under his belt, he most likely has just another season or two left in the tank.

If a franchise were willing to surrender a first-round pick to acquire McNabb, they would have to be sure he was the missing piece to a Super Bowl. Considering McNabb has lost four of the five NFC Championship games he’s appeared in, that most likely won’t be the case for most organizations showing interest.