Five Free Agent Bargains For Philadelphia Eagles Offense
Dec 14, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback
Jake Locker(10) rushes against the New York Jets during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit:
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Quarterback Jake Locker
Yeah, I know, it isn’t Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota. But the Eagles have to address the quarterback position somehow and you can’t always get what you want. In all likelihood, the Eagles will be going into next season with quarterbacks Nick Foles and Matt Barkley. Barkley is a free agent and a long term project rookie at quarterback. It’s tough to think about but it’s by far the likeliest scenario.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker may not be the “sexiest” addition at quarterback yet it could very well end up being a good one. Locker would bring a rushing ability to the table that no quarterback outside of New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick has offered since Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has been in Philadelphia. Sure, he’s always injured but if Kelly thinks his sports science can keep Locker healthy and available, he’s certainly worth a look.
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If Chip Kelly could make Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez look like a competent quarterback, then he should be able to work some of his magic on Locker. In 30 career games, Locker has completed 408 of 709 passes (57.5% completion percentage) for 4,967 yards, 27 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. Yeah…those are some underwhelming numbers, especially his completion percentage but what should intrigue the Eagles is his rushing ability.
Locker has ran the ball 95 times in his career for 644 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and 5 touchdowns. Sure it’s a much smaller sample size but his career average yards per carry is better than that of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (6.0), Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (5.5), Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (6.1) and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (6.1). Now that’s impressive.
The Eagles were brave enough to take a chance on Mark Sanchez last year, it’d be a mistake for them to not give Jake Locker a look in 2015.
Next: Wide Receiver Andre Holmes