Why Foles may not find a starting opportunity in 2018
As the roller-coaster car that is the career of Nick Foles sits at the very top of the NFL landscape, it could be set for a fall down to the same point where his 2017 campaign began.
Related: Is there anyone with a more bizarre career than Nick Foles?
The most unlikely of Super Bowl MVP winners, Foles is contractually obligated to remain with the Philadelphia Eagles for one more year. In so doing, he'll presumably be relegated to backup duty behind a healthy Carson Wentz - assuming the latter is recovered from knee surgery - making Foles the league's most accomplished Plan B.
Uncertainty surrounding Wentz could make the Eagles inclined to keep Foles as an insurance policy. On the flip side, the team will have no long-term use for him on an expiring contract, and could seek to trade him for another position of need or draft picks.
But even if the Eagles do look to trade Foles, they may find the market for the newly successful quarterback is less desirable than expected in a summer with both a strong free-agent and draft class. Here's why Foles could find starting opportunities lacking in 2018:
Free agency
For teams with the available resources and cap space, the best method to address a quarterback opening is via free agency. By doing so, those teams can hold onto their draft picks and current players, as opposed to trading them.
Kirk Cousins is widely viewed as the top signal-caller expected to be available this spring. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings are in danger of losing all three quarterbacks who played for them this season in Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, and Teddy Bridgewater.
All four quarterbacks have varying issues and weaknesses, but they all also have starting experience and can be viewed as safer, better options than Foles by at least some metrics.
Josh McCown and Jay Cutler round out the most interesting names in the free-agent class. Drew Brees and Jimmy Garoppolo are unlikely to hit the open market, but would vault to the top of the list if they did.
The draft
The 2018 NFL Draft is widely viewed as one of the richest classes in some time at the quarterback position - theScore's own mock draft has four signal-callers going in the top four picks. A handful of other options are expected to go later in the first round, and in the second or third.
At this point, there's no telling which pivots will be Day 1 starters, or who'll wind up as 2018's Patrick Mahomes and spend their rookie season learning from an incumbent veteran.
Foles, who turned 29 a couple weeks before Super Bowl LII, takes a knock here, as teams may opt for younger, higher-pedigree options over a third-round pick from the 2012 draft.
What's left?
As Foles and his family enjoy the traditional MVP trip to Walt Disney World, there's little he can control about his NFL future.
There's nothing more he can do for himself this year, and barring a contract restructuring, he knows how much money he'll be making next season - one year before a potential opportunity to cash in big, though some of the current shine may fade by then.
But, which teams will have potential quarterback openings in 2018?
Of the 32 starters from last season, five have already been replaced, or will be upon the return of an injured starter:
| Team | 2017 Starter | 2018 Starter | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | Jacoby Brissett | Andrew Luck | Return from injury |
| Dolphins | Jay Cutler | Ryan Tannehill | Return from injury |
| Packers | Brett Hundley | Aaron Rodgers | Return from injury |
| Texans | N/A | Deshaun Watson | Return from injury |
| 49ers | C.J. Beathard | Jimmy Garoppolo | Midseason acquisition |
Meanwhile, after the Washington Redskins addressed their looming quarterback need with a deal for Alex Smith, the following teams have clear openings at the position:
| Team | 2017 Starter | 2018 Option | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | Case Keenum | ? | Free agency |
| Jets | Josh McCown | ? | Free agency |
| Cardinals | Carson Palmer | ? | Retirement |
| Broncos | Trevor Siemian | ? | Upgrade |
| Browns | DeShone Kizer | ? | Upgrade |
Of these options, the Vikings are expected to retain one of their own free agents, while the other four teams should address their glaring need via the draft or with a top free-agent option.
This means the most likely destination for Foles would be a team looking to bring in a little extra competition for its 2018 starting job, or a team looking to follow the Chiefs' model of having a veteran tutor a rookie. Here are some options:
| Team | 2017 Starter | 2017 Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Bills | Tyrod Taylor | Nathan Peterman |
| Bengals | Andy Dalton | AJ McCarron |
| Jaguars | Blake Bortles | Chad Henne** |
**pending free agent
The Bills showed they weren't committed to Taylor this season, while Peterman showed he wasn't ready for a starting role.
The Bengals have held on to McCarron despite trade interest, indicating they view him as the alternative to Dalton should they move on from the veteran.
Bortles, though oft-maligned, just led his team to within a touchdown of the Super Bowl, likely securing at least his immediate future as the starter.
Should another dark-horse team be convinced of Foles' abilities, they may need to first swing another major deal in order to clear their starting job.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
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