Philadelphia Eagles Nick Foles Trade Scenario
By Bret Stuter
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws a pass against Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Doran Grant (12)during the third quarter in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
(2) Scenario Two: Draft a Quality Quarterback.
The challenge in any scenario that involves the draft is the probability factor. There are 32 teams in the NFL, and 19 of those teams draft ahead of the Eagles. All 19 would love to find a franchise quarterback, but of the 19, ten are actively looking for quarterback help in this draft. In order for the Eagles to get “their guy”, they either must identify a quality prospect who is overlooked or missed by those other ten teams, or they must pay the price to jump ahead of those other teams on draft day.
Of course, anything can happen. A quarterback prospect can have a lousy combine and fall in the draft. But that works both ways… why would that quarterback still hold value for the Eagles? Trading up is the likely only option, but when the Washinton Redskins jumped from sixth to second to get Robert Griffin III, who was considered a “sure thing” by many experts at the time, the cost was astronomical: three first round picks and a 2012 second round pick. So in perspective, moving up to get the number one pick would cost Philadelphia a minimum of four first round picks, multiple subsequent round picks, and very likely some blue chip players.
Again, to get a chance at picking THE GUY, the team would have to bankrupt the roster and plan to start over. But if the Eagles (wisely) decide the cost to jump to the number one pick is too high, they begin to risk not having their guy fall to them wherever they can afford to move up to.
So that mean they likely will not have a shot at Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota nor Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. As they have currently been rated in some combination of the top two quarterbacks of this draft, there is a drop off after they go off the board.
A curious prospect being named is UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley. While he’s certainly skilled, and has some upside, it’s not wrong to be skeptical of his transition into the NFL as a given. And with so few quarterback prospects available in this draft, the likelihood that Hundley will get drafted in round one, before the 20th pick, is very real.
Should the Eagles find a trade partner who is willing to go below market value with either quarterback still on the board, they are risking acquiring a quarterback who did not appeal to their trade partner. There are those who find flaws in Mariota’s game, and others who find flaws in Winston’s game. So from that moment, the Eagles will be going against the grain.