The Philadelphia Eagles have already made some big moves this offseason, including hiring their new head coach Doug Pederson and locking up players with new contracts in defensive end Vinny Curry and tight ends Brent Celek and Zach Ertz. The Eagles front office has plenty more decisions to make this offseason, and none will be more important than the quarterback position.
Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and Philadelphia isn't expected to use the franchise tag on him prior to the March 1 deadline, according to Les Bowen of Philly.com. The Eagles may still look to lockup Bradford with a long-term contract, but it will likely have to be at the right price. The Eagles front office isn't willing to dedicate $20 million of their 2016 salary cap to bring him back next season, according to Bowen.
It's completely understandable given Bradford's history in the league, as he has only completed a full 16-game season twice in his six years in the NFL and had injury issues back at Oklahoma as well. Bradford completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,725 yards with 19 touchdowns to 14 interceptions during the 2015 regular season, and he will garner interest on the free agent market as quarterbacks are in high demand.
The Eagles will have options this offseason, as there could be some free agent quarterbacks in Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III on the market this offseason. While the Broncos are likely looking to lockup Osweiler, Griffin III is expected to be available and another possible option could be Kansas City Chiefs backup quarterback Chase Daniel. Daniel could be a cheaper alternative to Bradford, and although he may not be a long-term solution, he has experience in Pederson's offense, according to ESPN's Phil Sheridan.
The Eagles may also look to target a quarterback in the 2016 NFL Draft, and Pederson dropped the hint earlier this month that the Eagles could be looking to add a young quarterback. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller projected the Eagles to select Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch with the 13th pick in the draft, and it's plausible to think that Philadelphia's front office could target a quarterback in the first round, or even in the second or third round in the draft.
For right now, it's unclear who will be behind center for the Eagles next season, but it sounds as though Philadelphia's front office isn't willing to overpay for Bradford, which is only opening the door to different possible scenarios as to who will be the Eagles starting quarterback in 2016.
