It was speculated last month that if the Chicago Bears were thinking of ways to help their quarterback situation, then maybe a Nick Foles trade might make sense. The guy is 31-years old, a former Pro Bowler, a former Super Bowl MVP and has deep ties to the Bears coaching staff. John DeFilippo and Bill Lazor worked with him in Philadelphia. Matt Nagy worked with him in Kansas City. Foles has played quite well in their style of offense.
What nobody has known for sure is whether the Jacksonville Jaguars are actually willing to trade the veteran. The team has remained mum on the subject thus far, trying to make it seem like they aren’t quite sold yet on Gardner Minshew who put Foles on the bench down there. However, ESPN insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano both believe that it is just gamesmanship.
The Jaguars are eager to dump Foles’ contract and willing to trade him to do so.
“We know the Lions have been trying to trade cornerback Darius Slay, but other trade candidates include Cardinals running back David Johnson and Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles. Both players carry contracts that would require their current teams to sweeten the deal, either with a pick or by paying part of the salary…
…In Jacksonville, word is the Jaguars want to go with Gardner Minshew II as their starting QB and, ideally, find a trade partner for Foles. Could a reunion with former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich in Indianapolis be a possibility for Foles?”
A Nick Foles trade could make sense for the Bears
Obviously the big sticking point for the Bears is that contract. Foles will carry a hefty $21.837 salary cap hit this coming season. As of right now, they have just $26 million in space. They would either have to clear up more, which wouldn’t be easy or work out a deal that sees Foles take a reduction in pay to come where he can compete for a job. Similar to what the Tennessee Titans did with Ryan Tannehill last year.
At the same time, the Bears might be able to secure an extra draft pick from Jacksonville in such a deal. The Cleveland Browns got a 2nd round pick for Brock Osweiler a few years ago. That would likely be the ballpark here. Netting an extra top 100 pick would be huge for Chicago. They only have two. This trade not only could net them a third, but also a potential starting quarterback.
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A lot of people don’t like Foles, feeling aside from his epic run late in 2017 to a championship, he’s done nothing of note in his career. The reality is that from 2016 to 2018 when he played in this system, he has a 7-2 record with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 92.8 passer rating. The guy can play and he’s great for a locker room. Sounds like somebody the Bears would covet.
