Well, that didn’t take long. We learned a few hours ago that the Eagles were planning on picking up Nick Foles‘ $20MM option for next season, and now ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting (via Twitter) that the veteran quarterback will void the option and buy his way back to free agency.
Of course, this isn’t a very surprising development, as it had been assumed Foles would pay the $2MM it’d take to become a free agent. However, as our own Sam Robinson detailed earlier, this is likely the start of an extensive ordeal for the two sides. The Eagles are expected to slap Foles with the franchise tag, which the quarterback is then expected to accept. Philly would subsequently shop the former Super Bowl MVP, with the team reportedly seeking a third-rounder in exchange.
Fortunately, we should have some clarity on at least the first step of this process relatively soon. ESPN’s Tim McManus points out (on Twitter) that the window for teams to use the franchise tag is between February 19th and March 5th. Of course, with the Eagles in a precarious cap situation ($13MM over the ceiling), they’d likely want to assure that they have a trade lined up before they make such a financial commitment.
Despite the quarterback’s postseason heroics, the Eagles turned back to Carson Wentz in 2018. However, when the former first-rounder was lost to injury, Foles has another shot at the starting gig. In five games, the 30-year-old completed 72.3-percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
See you in Jacksonville
If Jax is smart, they’ll draft Kyler or Haskins
“If they are smart they’ll draft kyler”
Really? I highly doubt Jacksonville has the staff to cater towards Kylers play style and height issues. Not to mention how weak his opposition was last year.
How does that work? Foles has already been taxed on that money plus his agents 5% cut. So he didn’t net $2m but has to pay back a full $2m?
NFL agents are capped at 3%, and that $2mil is the price of opting out into free agency which obviously gets trumped by the franchise tag.
Guess it wasn’t an anonymous rumor after all
Still, Joe Santoliquito had to call the cops. Twice.
Today, though, the sun shone bright in Santoliquito’s world for the first time since he published a piece for PhillyVoice on Jan. 21 that used anonymous sources to paint Carson Wentz as a selfish bully who played favorites this season. Why?
Because Wentz admitted in an interview published Monday morning that the sources weren’t wrong: “I’m not going to sit here and say it was inaccurate and completely made up. … I can be selfish. … Maybe wasn’t the greatest teammate at times.”
Wentz stopped short of agreeing that his shortcomings short-circuited the offense, and he downplayed the depiction of conflict between him and his teammates and coaches. Nevertheless, the tenor of the interview was that Wentz realized that, as the face of the franchise and the most important player, he at least needs to be more inclusive.
Santoliquito is relieved.
“I feel like my credibility is back. I feel validated,” Santoliquito said Monday morning.
Speaking of trolls…vindicated because a Christian put his bible down for a second and decided to take the high road over a BS report from an anonymous coward…
I think we’re cutting it thin by even mentioning the 2 million buyout because he then gets Franchised for a whopping 28 million because he gets paid the average of the top 5 QB’s so does the 2 million even worth mentioning? He’s getting PAID!
Franchise tag is $23 mil and $2 mil buyout makes it $21 for Philly.
Polish Hammer is correct, although the $2 million is likely not a purchase. He can probably use it as a tax loss.
Well those 7 updates on this topic the last 3 days were all wrong.
Philly a low-class organization
He should sign the tag, then refuse any trade. He has the right to be a FA. And all this for a 3rd round pick?
And the ignorant Dunning-Kruger reps chime in with their weightless opinion.
Philly has proven to be a high-class organization despite what you may think…
You’re a low-class human being.
He should just accept the 20 million. Philly would have to move him immediately or buy him out themselves because with his 20 million on the books they’d be over the cap.
Buying his way to free agency makes no sense since There’s no guarantee he’d recoup the 20 million in free agency. And there’s no guarantee philly hits him with the tag.
I understand there’s worth in choosing your destination with a trade being inevitable, but I can’t see him making more in free agency. Even if he gets tagged, philly hasn’t guaranteed to ship him to his proffered choice of teams.
Case Keenum got 25 mil last offseason and Bortles made 20. He will def get more than them.
Case Keenum got 18 million for 2 years
Per year
I believe these proceedings were all worked out together and the possible landing spot(s) conveyed to Foles. They’ve had too great of a relationship to just flush it all away now for a pick not far removed from what they’d get as compensation for him walking away. Which also makes me believe they’re getting much better than the 2020 3rd round compensation slot or else they wouldn’t roll the dice on this.
They are already over the cap by $13m.
That’s not exactly true, the number is lower due to a restructured deal they did the other day plus there are several expendable pieces that could easily get released and/or retire.
I hope the Eagles are kind enough to let him pick which team he wants to go to. I think the Dolphin and Jags will be going after him and Bridgewater and I think the Bills might be after both of those guys as well.
Why would the Bulls want any of those guys?
Same thought exactly. $20+ million is a lot for a back up
You’d think they would look to do right by him even if it means losing a third round pick. He did deliver a super bowl to a championship starved franchise.
What isn’t mentioned is he was given a $2M raise at the start of the deal. He likely will just give that back or had it withheld.
He’s not going to get the big deal he’s looking for. Oh wait he’s plays football, not baseball. Never mind.
Low class philly. Gets u a Super Bowl but they need control. Let him go.
Pennsylvania has a low class team but it isn’t Philly. They did give Foles a “goodwill” bonus that they were not required to. I do agree though that they should let him test the FA market. Their fears of him transforming the Giants or Redskins into major threats are an over-reaction.
Oh, please you m@ron. It’s quite obvious that Foles and the Eagles are working together on this one. Foles has repeatedly said he loves the organization and loves the city. The chance to come back to play for the Eagles was one of the reasons he decided not to retire. Seriously, get a clue
“No, no, no.” – Matombo/Foles
So let me see if I got this right neck Falls pays the 2 million to become a free-agent but is not really a free-agent because he will get tagged. I don’t get this at all! The 2 million buy out was to become a free agent but he won’t be and Philadelphia still gets the 2 million. That’s like going to a car dealership seeing something you like giving the dealer ship $25,000 and walking out with nothing.
Lol
How is it like that at all?
Foles got his contract option
He pays $2m to opt out
They franchise him for at least $20m and trade him. He still profits $18m.
Using your own analogy, that’s like going to a dealership, seeing something you like, giving $25,000 and walking out with a contract from another dealer and $225,000.
if the browns will give a 3rd for tyrod taylor, someone will definitely give a 3rd for nick
That third round pick the browns gave up was the first pick in the third round too. Number 65 overall I believe… I think Foles on a one year contract will be better than Taylor was.
Foles to Denver and the Broncos draft a QB
Broncos will be drafting a QB anyway and in a weak positional year it will take more than a 3rd to get the cream of the crop.
Keep the QB that’s not a cancer and doesn’t play favorites. They have more than one receivers besides ERTZ
Yes, Wentz is such a cancer he would’ve been MVP last season if he hadn’t gotten hurt. Of course, to be a MVP QB all you have to do is throw to one person.
Really, this comment section proves that you don’t need a three-digit IQ to comment on this site.
LOOK everyone!! It’s a guy with a BURNER acct here to defend the Eagles! HOORAY!!! EAD
LOOK everyone!! It’s a clown with a BURNER acct here trying to be a troll smasher but is merely a smashed troll! HHOORAY!!! I’d suggest you eatadick but that’s what you enjoy most…
As I stated in a prior update, the Eagles dance routine here will be pointless. OK, I understand them not wanting Foles on the Giants or Redskins but he wouldn’t be able to transform those teams into major contenders on his own anyway. Their hoping for a 3rd in trade but that is what they get by letting him test free agency. Their time would be better spent focusing on other team needs than playing this game.
You cant trust wentz for a full season
Jacksonville but draft someone as he’s not the future of the franchise
The Eagles are not going to tag him unless there’s a trade, and likely an extension, worked out beforehand. If he signs the tag it becomes guaranteed, and that’s a $20M+ hit for a team with no space thanks to Chip “Cap? What cap?” Kelly. The team has to do its due diligence to try to gain some recompense with a known pick this year as opposed to a possible, lower pick next year.
Guaranteed the deals are already being worked out or else they wouldn’t have gone through this process. Also guaranteed both sides were frank with each other on this process and how it would play out. Lastly, guaranteed they will do better than just a conditional 3rd in 2020 or else they would’ve just let him walk.
Just because the front office compiles a list of possible scenarios doesn’t mean any of them will actually result in “deals”. They are hoping for better than a conditional 3rd but it’s ludicrous to say that is guaranteed. Certainly both the Eagles and Foles will avoid any animosity in their dealings as both may want to resume the relationship at some future date.
Guarantee Polish Hammer/700Level are the same people, or CLOSE relatives
Why? Because two different people with common sense and knowledge of the Eagles figured it out? Get a life you assclown…