The NFL Draft's rumor mill has only managed to build a small head of steam thus far but there are already a plethora of interesting names being connected with wonderfully strange new NFL destinations.
Speculation has begun to circulate that the Philadelphia Eagles may make a move up in the draft, possibly for Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, and if they do so, they could include quarterback Nick Foles as part of their trade-up compensation package.
The Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans, a couple of teams that have struggled at the game's most important position in recent years, and the Denver Broncos, an organization facing an uncertain future with their aging, star signal-caller, are rumored to be interested in acquiring Foles' services.
"If the Eagles decide to target a quarterback early in the draft, they could have a valuable trade commodity in signal-caller Nick Foles," writes Charlie Campbell of Walter Football. "The Texans and Titans would both have an interest in Foles if he were made available. If Peyton Manning decides to retire, the Broncos would also be a team that would look into acquiring Foles. Denver liked Foles when it drafted Brock Osweiler. If the Eagles wanted to trade up for Marcus Mariota, they could deal Foles to get more ammo with picks to move up, or include Foles in the package."
Foles regressed this season, a year after posting record numbers that included a 27-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a Pro Bowl berth. This year, in an injury-marred campaign that saw him appear in only eight games, Foles managed just 186 completions for 2,163 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for an 81.4 QB rating.
Injuries have robbed him of games in each of his three NFL seasons, so that, along with his statistical regression this season, are cause for concerns.
The Texans and Titans have operated without an answer at the quarterback position for several seasons now, and Foles would be a massive upgrade for both organizations, warts and all.
The Titans go into next season with former sixth-round pick Zach Mettenberger as the closest thing to a potential franchise quarterback on their roster. They have a number of holes in their lineup, so Foles wouldn't magically make them playoff contenders, but he would give them a much more solidified quarterback position, allowing them to focus their efforts in free agency and the draft elsewhere.
The Texans have an injured Ryan Mallett who isn't even under contract next season, though he's said he'd like to return, and an entirely unproven Tom Savage as the only potential franchise guys. They're a much stronger team and likely only a quarterback away from serious contention, so adding Foles could be the piece that puts them over the top.
And as for the Broncos, well, everything, as it always seems to do, depends on Peyton Manning.
