The idea of Nick Foles as competition for Mitch Trubisky makes a ton of sense. He’s only 30-years old, has tons of connections to the Chicago Bears coaching staff, and is a former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl MVP. He’s used to being a backup so the idea of slotting in behind Trubisky wouldn’t be a huge issue for him. However, there is a major sticking point.
Foles is currently under contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars and that contract is a massive impediment. While word is that the team is committed to moving forward with Gardner Minshew, they would like to somehow get that deal off the books. Hence widespread belief they’ll try to engineer a trade. The Bears aren’t really in a position to take on his $21 million cap hit this year. Not unless the Jaguars were willing to eat a sizable portion of it.
This is why some believe Jacksonville would have to throw a draft pick into any deal as a sweetener. Similar to what the Houston Texans did with Brock Osweiler a few years back.
Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report though doesn’t think the Jaguars will be able to pull it off.
After speaking to one executive with the Jaguars and several others around the league, the answers aren’t obvious. There’s a mix of reasons, ranging from Foles’ inability to fit in with Jacksonville’s locker room to the lack of talent on the offense (though the latter just doesn’t seem accurate to me).
The most widespread belief (and I believe the Jaguars feel the same way) is that Foles simply had a lucky run in Philadelphia. A remarkable one. But a Cinderella story nonetheless…
…One complication he faces is a crowded free-agent quarterback field that could include Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Teddy Bridgewater, Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. (That’s why I’m assuming the Jaguars won’t be able to trade Foles and will cut him.)
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Getting Nick Foles as a free agent is perfect for Bears
That would be a worst-case scenario for Jacksonville. Cutting Foles would saddle them with over $33 million in dead cap and an additional $12 million hit. That just doesn’t seem like a smart business decision. That is unless a new CBA gets ratified. This would reinstate the post-June 1st cut designation, allowing teams to spread a dead cap hit out into the next year as Alfie Crow of Big Cat Country explains.
“The team could split the difference and designate him a post-June cut, which would be a dead cap hit of $21.3 million in 2020 and $12.5 million in 2021 and would give them $750,000 in cap relief in 2020. Again though, this is not ideal and probably a worst case scenario.”
It would not be the best solution, but it would at least help the Jaguars avoid taking an additional cap hit for this year. That would make cutting him more palatable. Perhaps that is why teams including the Bears might wait to see if the CBA is approved. If Foles were cut, then they’d be able to sign him at a way cheaper rate knowing full well he’d view them as a desired landing spot.
