The idea of trading for Nick Foles was something that began in earnest for the Chicago Bears back in October. There were two reasons for this. One was the obvious struggles of Mitch Trubisky and the growing belief that his status as a “franchise quarterback” had all but gone down the tubes. This was coupled with the unexpected ascent of rookie Gardner Minshew in Jacksonville. A kid who was having a Tim Tebow-esque sort of impact on the fanbase to where many felt he might be the next big thing.
The Jaguars eventually benched the rookie though. They had to. The team invested $88 million in Foles and had to see their investment through. It took just three games, all of them lopsided defeats, for Jacksonville to lose their nerve and go back to Minshew. Foles’ future with the team suddenly looks quite bleak. Especially with VP of Football Ops Tom Coughlin being fired. As Minshew settles in, it’s clear the team is saddled with a contract they no longer want in Foles.
The problem is how do they get rid of it? Cutting him is almost impossible in 2020 as it would actually increase the salary cap hit they’d suffer due to dead money from guarantees. This means their only hope would be a trade, but even that would be difficult due to his recent play not exactly exciting teams. However, from the Bears’ perspective, there is still an incentive to make such a deal. Just for slightly adjusted reasons.
Bears could get Nick Foles and a draft pick
The incentive for the Bears to absorb Foles’ contract is two-fold. For one, he has considerable experience in the type of offense they run. He worked with Matt Nagy back in 2015 in Kansas City. Then he went on to join the Philadelphia Eagles where he ended up winning the Super Bowl with them under Nagy friend and colleague Doug Pederson. So he could absolutely give Mitch Trubisky some viable competition.
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Then there is the added benefit of the Jaguars’ situation. One that Alfie Crow of Big Cat Country explains.
“Trading Foles now becomes tricky and you will likely have to engage in a Brock Osweiler type of tactical salary dump. The Houston Texans gave Osweiler a massive contract in the offseason, he stunk, and they then had to give up a second-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in order to dump his salary.
It’s likely the Jaguars will have to be in this same type of situation. Foles remaining deal is slightly less than what Osweiler was due in year two, so maybe you will not have to give up a second- and sixth-round pick like the Texans did, but Houston also got the Browns fourth rounder in return.”
So not only would the Bears get a QB who can function in their system in Foles, but they’d also get another high draft choice to take him off the Jaguars’ hands. Something the team could absolutely use given they have no 1st or 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft. This would secure them a third 2nd round pick. Given Jacksonville has two 1st rounders courtesy of the Jalen Ramsey trade, they would see such a deal as worthwhile to get out from under Foles’ contract.
It will be a question of where the Bears find the cap space to absorb Foles’ contract. GM Ryan Pace would have to do some serious restructuring of the payroll to make it happen. Still, the potential benefits would be worth it.
