Chase Daniel‘s time in Philadelphia will be limited to one year. The Eagles granted the 30-year-old quarterback’s wish and released him from the three-year contract he signed last March, the team confirmed (on Twitter).
It became clear the Eagles weren’t looking to retain Daniel at the lofty price for which he signed last year ($21MM over three years) after they reached an agreement to bring back Nick Foles (at two years and $11MM) earlier today. Daniel subsequently requested his release, and the move will create $6MM in cap space for Philadelphia while saddling the Eagles with $2MM in dead money.
Offset language does exist in Daniel’s deal, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link), taking the Eagles off the hook for up to $5MM should Daniel sign elsewhere. He would seemingly be a sought-after backup quarterback, having served in that capacity for the Saints, Chiefs and Eagles. Daniel was due a $7MM base salary in 2017.
When the Eagles added Daniel, he was set to serve as Sam Bradford‘s backup. But once Philly traded up and took Carson Wentz, that contract — one that included $12MM in guarantees — became an interesting part of the Eagles’ payroll. Once the Eagles traded Bradford, Wentz leapfrogged Daniel. He threw one pass with the Eagles.
“It was best to move forward in a different direction as circumstances have changed since he originally signed,” GM Howie Roseman said, via Jeff McLane of Philly.com (Twitter link).
The Eagles have been connected to releases, trades or pay cuts with numerous talents this month in order to create cap room. Daniel’s release will help an Eagles team creep into double figures in terms of space. Prior to this move, the Eagles had approximately $5MM in space after signing Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. Philly dangled Daniel in trade talks — just as it did Mychal Kendricks, Jason Kelce and Allen Barbre — but acted quickly to move on from the former University of Missouri talent.
Daniel has thrown just 78 NFL passes, most of which coming in two Week 17 starts for the Chiefs to close the 2013 and ’14 seasons.
Idiotic signing to begin with.
It was necessary at the time they signed him. Yeah they overpaid, up at the time they needed a veteran backup and had no idea they’d end up snagging Wentz.
Saving 6 million was a lot more than I suspected. Maybe they can finally get a cornerback.
They didn’t dance 6 mill though they only save one mil and then it could be another 5 mil depending on his next contact