Nick Foles is once again looking to lead the Philadelphia Eagles on a deep postseason run in place of an injured Carson Wentz, but Sunday could end up being his last game with the team.
Foles’ contract is structured in a way that he does not have to return to the Eagles in 2019, as the two sides have a mutual option for next season. If Philly decides to pick it up and Foles wants to return, his salary would be $20 million in 2019. The Eagles could also decide not to pick up their end of the option, or Foles could pay back $2 million and void it even if they do. While the former may seem like the most likely outcome, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that executives around the league believe the Eagles will find a way to trade the backup QB.
From @gmfb Weekend: The belief is the #Eagles will be able to trade QB Nick Foles after the season, as they get set to cash in on a QB they are moving on from again. pic.twitter.com/hGZtQUdcuM
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 6, 2019
If the Eagles exercise their $20 million option for Foles, he has five days to decide if he wants to void his end of the deal and pay back $2 million. As Andrew Brandt of The MMQB recently explained in detail, Philly could trade Foles within that five-day window before the deal becomes guaranteed, or they could wait and trade him later in the offseason with the assumption that some team will take on the $20 million salary because of what Foles has accomplished over the past two seasons.
Either way, Foles seems likely to have an opportunity to start somewhere next season. We’ve already seen how respected he is among his current teammates, but Foles has earned the right to pursue starting opportunities and/or make a lot more money, and his contract is structured accordingly.
