Just when you thought this would be a slow day, the Philadelphia Eagles reportedly will acquire Quarterback Sam Bradford in exchange for Nick Foles and a draft pick, making you think the whole Marcus Mariota thing may not be happening.
Filed to ESPN: Rams close to trading QB Sam Bradford to Philadelphia for Nick Foles and draft-pick compensation, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2015
Bradford missed the entire 2014 season after tearing his ACL for the second time, and was limited to just seven games in the previous season. The former number one overall pick does have an Eagles connection, having won having won the 2010 Rookie of the Year by throwing for over 3,500 yards, while completing 60 percent of his passes with current Eagles offensive-coordinator Pat Shurmur running his offense.
Bradford is due to make nearly $13 million next season, and was reportedly unwilling to restructure that deal. Given how much he has been injured, getting his money while he still can kind of makes sense from his perspective.
Foles was expected by nearly everyone to be traded, especially after the team re-signed Mark Sanchez Sunday night, but this was about the last scenario that anyone expected him to be moved in. His biggest flaw, besides that he’s struggled to consistently stay healthy, has been that he isn’t able to extend plays or run the zone-read effectively. Sam Bradford isn’t exactly a burner himself, and has had even more problems staying healthy than Foles.
Chris Mortenson, if I understood him right, said on ESPN’s NFL Insiders that the two sides had talked about Foles recently, with a second-round pick being talked about as compensation for Foles. But this exact trade seems to have crept up more recently.
We’ll monitor this as we learn more. It isn’t shocking that Foles is heading to the Rams, Bradford coming back in return may just break Twitter.
Update: It appears that the Eagles will land Bradford, with the 10th pick and possibly a conditional pick for 2016, in exchange for Foles and the 20th pick.
Bradford-Foles trade involves exchange of picks in 2015, plus conditional picks in 2016. Deal is not signed yet.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) March 10, 2015
Alright ... The basic agreement between the Rams and Eagles includes a swap of picks this year and a conditional going to Philly next next.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 10, 2015
Don’t expect Bradford to stay if this is the deal. He, and that 10th pick would be ammo to trade up for Marcus Mariota.
Update 6:20– The deal is official, and it doesn’t sound as if the Eagles are going to be swapping first-rounders with the Rams. But they are getting a pick that is, ‘undiclosed’. It’s likely a conditional pick, but at this point, your guess is as good as mine.
Rams-Eagles trade now official. Rams trade QB Sam Bradford and undisclosed draft-pick compensation to Philadelphia for Nick Foles.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2015
Update 6:50 PM ET–Um, this isn’t pretty.
#Eagles acquire QB Sam Bradford, '15 5th round draft pick from St. Louis in exchange for QB Nick Foles, '15 4th round, '16 2nd round picks
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 10, 2015
And I would think an extension would be coming for Sam.
— Geoff Mosher (@GeoffPMosher) March 10, 2015
But, if the Eagles trade Bradford as part of a move to get Marcus Mariota, then they get a pick back. So one would assume they will try to move up still, but if not, Bradford will become the starter. Yeah.
The #Rams get the #Eagles 2nd rounder in 2016. It goes back if Bradford isn't starter
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2015
So to review: Bradford, 2015 5th to Philly. Foles, 2015 4th, 2016 2nd to StL. And Eagles get a 4 back if SB doesn't start, a 3 if he's hurt.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 10, 2015
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