The Philadelphia Eagles are a bit of a conundrum (I think I should get bonus points for using the word "conundrum" at nine in the morning). They finished 10-6 and just barely missed out on the playoffs despite Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez combining for a pedestrian 60.2 QBR. Foles and Matt Barkley are under contract for the 2015 season while Sanchez is set to hit the open market.
So, what will the Eagles do at the quarterback position?
Well, recent rumors suggest that head coach Chip Kelly is going to try and trade up for his former Oregon star Marcus Mariota. However, the chances of Mariota wearing a Philly jersey next season are slim.
"As things stand right now, I don't think they'll be landing Marcus Mariota," wrote Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com.
"Don't get me wrong. I think Kelly will try to acquire his former prized pupil. But Mariota figures to kill it at the combine and in the interview rooms in the coming months. There's been plenty of buzz recently that the Bucs will go ahead and select him at No. 1. Things could change, but I just don't see the Eagles being able to get into position to land Mariota."
Okay, so getting arguably the top prospect in the draft is a long shot for a team picking at No. 20. That's to be expected. It's likely that Philly would be interested in bringing Sanchez back as a backup, but he seems poised to capitalize on his solid run and take a deal elsewhere. So, if the Eagles can't add a quarterback who they think can help sooner rather than later, what is the plan?
"My take?" Kapadia wrote. "I think Foles is a competent starting quarterback. If everything is working around him - the pass protection, the run game, etc. - he can be effective, and you can win games with him. I think his mental makeup fits what Chip Kelly is looking for, and Foles probably doesn't get enough credit for his toughness."
The Eagles had reportedly "soured" on Foles even before he went down with a broken collarbone midseason. It's true that he regressed in 2014 after an unsustainable turnover rate the year before. He may have confirmed the lingering doubts that Kapadia touched upon; Foles needs help to succeed. But it's not as if the third-year passer was as over-matched as, say, Geno Smith or Josh McCown. Foles completed 59.8 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,163 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight games. The Eagles have proven that they can tread water with this type of production.
"...Kelly's system is QB-friendly in that it can help with completion percentage and shot plays downfield," Kapadia wrote.
It may not be the ideal scenario, but half of the league is out there looking for a franchise quarterback who can single-handedly elevate a franchise. Philly could do worse than Foles, who's scheduled to make just more than $800,000 in 2015, while they search.
