Now that Michael Vick has signed a new contract with the Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly says he will compete with Nick Foles for the starting quarterback position. The Eagles however also signed former Ravens practice squad QB Dennis Dixon to join the competition as well. Should those two work out Foles could become expendable but they’ll also affect his asking price. Read more after the jump.
The talk started with a report that Chiefs coach Andy Reid — who drafted and coached Foles in Philadelphia last year — wants to trade for Foles. That report was followed quickly by reports that the Eagles have no plans to trade Foles.
Now the Associated Press reports that it would “take a significant offer” to get the Eagles to consider trading Foles.
So what constitutes a significant offer? Would the Eagles want what a second-round draft pick and a good veteran starter? That’s what they got the last time they traded away a quarterback who had been beaten out by Vick, sending Kevin Kolb to Arizona for a second-rounder and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. That trade worked out better for the Eagles than for the Cardinals, and it might be more than any team would be willing to give up for Foles now. So if that’s what the Eagles are going to demand, Foles will probably stay in Philadelphia.
The reality, however, is that the Eagles’ demands could change significantly. If Foles struggles to pick up Kelly’s offense during organized team activities, minicamps and training camps — and if Vick looks like he’s ready to be a great starter while new acquisition Dennis Dixon looks like he’s ready to be a dependable backup — then the asking price could drop significantly. If Foles is no better than the Eagles’ third-string quarterback, they’d surely drop their asking price for him.
On the other hand, it’s still possible that Foles could beat Vick and Dixon out in the quarterback competition that Kelly has said he’s eager to watch this offseason. If Kelly concludes that Foles is his best quarterback, then Foles isn’t going anywhere.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
