Nick Foles entering NFL free agency actually complicates things

Nick Foles won’t have to worry about the franchise tag or any sort of tag. The Philadelphia Eagles have chosen to let him hit free agency.

It was undoubtedly a tough decision for them. Foles has a ton of value given his recent standout play and the fact he’s not even 30 yet. Odds are they could’ve gotten something decent for him if they’d tagged and traded him. Instead they allowed him the chance to shop around for himself. A nice gesture from the organization for services rendered.

However, this situation actually adds a bit more complexity with Foles having a far greater say in the matter than a trade would’ve. It was easier to pick out the teams with the means and motive to potentially make a deal for the former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl MVP. Now all teams with QB needs potentially has a chance to make a play for him.

Initially, it was a matter of finding the money to fit his likely contract. With him calling the shots to a greater extent? They’ll have to sell him more on why he’ll have success there.

The #Eagles won’t franchise tag QB Nick Foles, a smart move as the trade landing spots dried up. The #Jaguars are the team to watch. pic.twitter.com/jVEa73L8hU
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 27, 2019

Nick Foles likely to seek situation similar to what he had in Philly

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By this point in his career, Foles understands what he must seek out in order to find success. He made mistakes in the past. His goal this time won’t just be about the money. It will be about fit. That’s why everything claiming that the Jacksonville Jaguars are the heavy favorites because they have the most obvious need must be careful. It’s better to ask the question are they a good fit?

That can be called into question. Doug Marrone doesn’t run the sort of offense that Foles likes to play in from his time in Philadelphia or Kansas City. He’s proven to be a more classic type who runs the ball and utilizes play action. No one would accuse him of being a quarterback-friendly coach. If this is the case, then which teams should be considered threats?

There are two that stand out at the moment for having both the money and the coaching setup that Foles might like. One is the Cincinnati Bengals and the other is the Washington Redskins. The Redskins are run by Jay Gruden, a quarterback-specialist who did great work with Kirk Cousins the previous few years. Washington is in dire need of a QB after Alex Smith‘s injury and Foles would be somebody they’d covet for obvious reasons.

The Bengals now have Zac Taylor, a former quarterbacks coach in charge. He could easily see the deficiencies of Andy Dalton from his modest size and average arm and see the upside from bringing in Foles. By that same token, Foles might enjoy throwing to A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd. Both options would make plenty of sense.

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