The Chicago Bears remade their quarterback room this offseason. First by signing Andy Dalton and then moving up to draft Justin Fields. While that was an important accomplishment, it did create an issue. What do they do with Nick Foles? Traditionally, head coach Matt Nagy doesn’t carry three quarterbacks on the main roster. He has two there and then puts another as an emergency option on the practice squad.
That is not possible with Foles. His contract is impossible to cut without financial ramifications. Besides, even if they were able to there’s no way he’d go onto the practice squad. So the Bears are kind of in an awkward spot. Unless they find a way to unload Foles to another team via trade, he is most likely going to eat up a roster spot as the #3 quarterback.
Finding such a partner has proven difficult.
That hasn’t stopped them from trying though. According to Brian Costello of the New York Post, the Bears have spoken to the New York Jets about a potential deal for Foles. It makes a lot of sense. The Jets have no quarterback with any sort of starting experience on their roster. A dangerous proposition when they’re getting ready to play a rookie in Zach Wilson. Having somebody like Foles behind him is an easy sell. So what is holding things up?
“The Jets and Bears have had discussions, according to sources, but it seems unlikely that any deal will happen. The problem is Foles’ contract. He is due to make $4 million this season and next. The Bears surely would have to eat some of that contract to facilitate a trade. Some may argue the Jets should wait to see if the Bears cut Foles, but that seems unlikely.
He’ll carry a $14 million dead money charge if released, nearly $8 million higher than his cap number if he is on the team. If Chicago does get motivated to move Foles, the Jets have three sixth-round picks next year and could part with one of them for Foles.”
It’s unusual the Jets are so concerned about the contract. They have $22 million in salary cap space. More than enough to absorb it. Also as Costello pointed out they have a slew of late round picks necessary to get him. It feels like GM Joe Douglas is being somewhat unnecessarily cheap. Or perhaps he is waiting to get a better gauge on what his team actually has at the backup position.
Smart money says Nick Foles will have a market eventually
The NFL is a league based around attrition. Injuries happen all the time. It only takes one hitting in the right spot and suddenly a team is scrambling for help. Chicago is in a pretty decent position. If they stay patient, the law of averages says somebody will come calling on him at some point. There is also the strong chance that the Jets may still end up being the team he goes to.
Remember that the new coaching staff hasn’t yet gotten a proper feel for what they have. Their QBs have only participated in OTAs and minicamps. It will be when the pads go on in training camp and the preseason where they get a real look at how problematic their backup situation may or may not be. A trade can just as easily happen in late August as it can right now.
Until then, the Bears will move forward as planned.
Dalton gets #1 snaps. Fields gets #2 and Nick Foles will get what’s left. If nothing ends up materializing? The Chicago Bears don’t have to feel too bad about it. Foles is still a capable quarterback and having a Super Bowl MVP as your #3 option on the depth chart is a rare benefit.