Now that Philadelphia’s season is over, speculation over Nick Foles’ future can resume. Foles returned to the Eagles after winning Super Bowl MVP a year ago, but it wouldn’t be feasible for the Eagles to keep him in 2019 barring a major shakeup. So which team will Foles join? Let’s take a look at the odds and determine the best bet.
Nick Foles’ team in Week 1 of 2019 regular season:
Miami Dolphins +200
Washington Redskins +250
Jacksonville Jaguars +350
Denver Broncos +400
Philadelphia Eagles +600
New York Giants +1000
Oakland Raiders +1500
Carolina Panthers +2000
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +2000
Miami Dolphins
Current QBs: Ryan Tannehill, Brock Osweiler, Luke Falk, David Fales
1st round pick(s): #13
Osweiler and Fales are impending free agents and Tannehill, thanks in part to several injuries, has regressed since 2015. It’s clear they don’t have their long-term answer at quarterback. However, Adam Schefter suggests the Dolphins have their sights set on the 2020 quarterback class. It’s unlikely they’d add Foles if they’re cool with tanking.
Washington Redskins
Current QBs: Alex Smith, Colt McCoy, Josh Johnson, Mark Sanchez
1st round pick(s): #15
Sanchez and Johnson are impending free agents, while Smith is recovering from a serious leg injury. McCoy also ended the season on injured reserve with a broken fibula. In other words, the Redskins have no idea who their starting quarterback will be next season. They were a potential playoff team after starting 6-3, but injuries derailed their season.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Current QBs: Blake Bortles, Cody Kessler, Tanner Lee
1st round pick(s): #7
Bortles and Kessler are both under contract but it appears the Jaguars are willing to move on from one or both of them after a disappointing 2018. Though they have a need at the position, they could very well address it in the Draft. With no clear top quarterback in this year’s draft class, Jacksonville could add one of the best of the bunch with the seventh pick. However, the Jaguars did just hire John DeFilippo as offensive coordinator. He was Foles’ position coach with the Eagles in 2017.
Denver Broncos
Current QBs: Case Keenum, Kevin Hogan
1st round pick(s): #9
Only Keenum is under contract for 2019 and John Elway doesn’t sound thrilled about it. If Keenum is a short-term answer and he’s the only quarterback on the roster, surely the Broncos will address the position with an early draft pick or one of the top free agents available.
Philadelphia Eagles
Current QBs: Carson Wentz, Nick Foles, Nate Sudfeld
1st round pick(s): #25
If Nick Foles returns to the Eagles, it almost certainly means they decided to trade Wentz and keep Foles as the full-time starter. Crazier things have happened, but this seems unlikely. Then again, if a team gave the Eagles an offer they couldn’t refuse for Wentz, wouldn’t they at least consider keeping Foles and pairing him with a high draft pick or two?
New York Giants
Current QBs: Eli Manning, Kyle Lauletta, Alex Tanney
1st round pick(s): #6
Manning may have played his last game with the Giants. If he has, it’s unclear what the plan is. Lauletta threw five passes in 2018 and completed more passes to his opponent (one) than his own team (none). Tanney is a free agent and hasn’t thrown a pass since 2015. More than a few mock drafts have the Giants selecting Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins with their first-round pick. It seems much more likely the Giants will keep Manning or draft a quarterback rather than add Foles.
Oakland Raiders
Current QBs: Derek Carr, AJ McCarron, Nathan Peterman
1st round pick(s): #4, #24, #27
The Raiders have the highest draft pick on this list, but they also already have a few quarterbacks who were considered future starters at one point. Carr is the most impressive of the group, having gone to the Pro Bowl three times. He set career highs in completions, completion percentage and yards, but the Raiders were one of the worst teams in the league. The Raiders have made plenty of shocking moves since Jon Gruden’s return, but they’ll probably give Carr at least one more year.
Carolina Panthers
Current QBs: Cam Newton, Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen
1st round pick(s): #16
The Panthers are apparently open to sitting Cam Newton in 2019. Heinicke made one start this season, but he went on injured reserve shortly thereafter and is a free agent. The Panthers could use another quarterback, but Foles may not sign to be a one-year rental at best. Besides, it’s only January. The notion of Newton sitting out the year could be a distant memory by the time training camp starts.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Current QBs: Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Griffin
1st round pick(s): #5
Fitzpatrick and Griffin are both free agents so it’s likely the Bucs will bring someone in. But conventional wisdom is that Bruce Arians was hired to get the most out of Winston. Because of this, it would be a fairly shocking move if the Bucs decided to sign Foles. The most likely scenario in which Foles joins Tampa involves Winston facing another suspension.
The pick: Washington
The Redskins are badly in need of insurance due to all of their injuries at the position. They’d surely prefer to just use Alex Smith, but that’s no sure thing. With solid quarterback play and better luck with health, the Redskins could be a playoff team next year. The top quarterbacks in the draft will probably be gone by the time Washington picks. There’s also the added bonus of poaching talent from a division rival. However, though this is the best bet, it’s not a great bet. If the Redskins could get Joe Flacco, Tyrod Taylor or Teddy Bridgewater for less money, that would arguably be the better move considering Washington’s lack of cap space.
