Will Newton/Getty Images
The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly expected to trade quarterback Nick Foles this offseason, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
From @gmfb Weekend: The belief is the #Eagles will be able to trade QB Nick Foles after the season, as they get set to cash in on a QB they are moving on from again. https://t.co/hGZtQUdcuM
Per Rapoport, there will be plenty of interest: “The former Super Bowl MVP, who picked up where he left off this year by improbably leading his team to the playoffs again, is expected to be the top QB available in a year with few free-agent options and even fewer highly drafted options.”
The Eagles and Foles have a mutual option for the 2019 season for $20 million, though Foles can essentially pay the team $2 million to become a free agent. In that event, the team could franchise-tag him (around $25 million) and trade him from there.
The Eagles will likely end up using the tag one way or another, since Foles is likely to buy his free agency even if the team exercises the mutual option.
The 29-year-old has proved his value the past two seasons. Last year in relief of an injured Carson Wentz, he led the Eagles on a playoff run and eventually to their first Super Bowl title, famously out-dueling Tom Brady.
This season, he was once again forced to relief duty for Wentz, leading the Eagles to three straight wins in their final three games—including victories over playoff teams in the Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans—to clinch a playoff berth.
Foles was superb in those three contests, throwing for 962 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 76 percent of his passes on 113 attempts. Those performances—combined with a weak quarterback class in both the NFL draft and free agency—should make him a sought-after option.
Teddy Bridgewater is perhaps the next-best option, though he’s barely had any game action since the 2015 season. Players like Joe Flacco, Blake Bortles and Ryan Tannehill will likely also be available, as Rapoport noted, but all carry concerns and aren’t better options than Foles.
The Eagles would be wise to hold onto Foles as trade bait. As Rapoport noted, they turned down a second-round pick for him last offseason. They’re likely to get such an offer, and probably a better one, for his services this spring.
But before any of that, Foles will lead the Eagles on the road versus the Chicago Bears on Sunday in the Wild Card Round.
from Viral News Show http://bit.ly/2QogvEk
0 Comments