Who will be the Eagles' quarterback?
A look at Eagles quarterbacks
Who will be the Eagles' quarterback?
Here is the first in a series of looks at the Eagles roster:
Today: Quarterbacks
On the roster: No position will receive more debate in the coming weeks than quarterback, where the Eagles continue to evaluate Michael Vick and Nick Foles. New coach Chip Kelly insists he can adapt his offense to the quarterback and does not necessarily need a running threat. Vick’s athleticism would help him if Kelly brought his Oregon offense to the Eagles, but Vick's turnover habit and his injury history will be an issue. (Kelly values taking care of the ball and staying in the game.) Kelly coached against Foles in college and has a better idea than most about Foles’ ability and whether he’s been limited in his career by a struggling team compared to his own shortcomings.
Vick would not be on the roster unless he’s the starter, and he likely won’t be on the roster regardless unless he takes a pay cut. Foles would be a candidate as a backup quarterback if the Eagles drafted a quarterback, got one via trade or in a free agency. He might even have some value – although maybe not a third-round draft choice – if they want to trade him. But Foles’ salary and his experience could serve the Eagles well as a backup quarterback.
The other quarterback on the Eagles roster is Trent Edwards. Edwards would likely only be a candidate as a third quarterback, especially if the Eagles draft a quarterback. He has starting experience, an inexpensive salary and is a smart and useful quarterback in the meeting room. But if the Eagles want a third quarterback with more experience for Kelly or one who is a more mobile threat, Edwards could easily be elsewhere next season.
Not on the roster: This is the category to pay attention to for quarterback because the Eagles might need to look elsewhere for next season’s starter. (In fact, on the day of Kelly’s opening news conference, The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane opined that Kelly’s quarterback might not be on the roster.) Without knowing the system that Kelly will run, it’s hard to speculate about a clear front-runner.
In the draft, there might not be a quarterback worth taking at No. 4. Geno Smith might impress in the next month and move into consideration, but it seems more likely the Eagles will take a quarterback late in the first round with a trade or early in the second round, where they pick. (49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the No. 4 pick in the second round two seasons ago.) One name to watch will be Florida State’s E.J. Manuel. The story you’ll hear is how Kelly recruited him out of high school, but Manuel has much more going for him than a recruiting battle five years ago. He’s a big, fast, high-percentage passer with significant experience, starting the last two seasons at Florida State. After a strong Senior Bowl, his stock is ascending.
The Eagles could also be in the running for 49ers backup quarterback Alex Smith, who has experience in the type of offense that Kelly used in college. Smith is also accurate, intelligent and has valuable experience. The question is how much of his success during the last two seasons was the byproduct of the 49ers’ coaching or actual development by Smith. There will be a robust market for him, and he’ll only be 29 next season.
The free-agent market is not attractive this season, although the Eagles could find a potential backup or project quarterback in that group. Ravens practice squad quarterback Dennis Dixon has started in the NFL and played under Kelly at Oregon, and he would be a worthwhile quarterback to bring into camp.
TOMORROW: Running backs.
DUMP VICK...Vick is an old washed-up turn-over machine that has LOST SEVEN GAMES IN A ROW....Kelly will want to START FRESH with a YOUNG QB... not keep the same old loser Vick who was the face of last season's awful 4-12 team...duh.— jim35- Have to agree! Vick must go. Your going to pay an aging, battered body and avg. 11.75 games per year, $16 million, Really??? He is not worth it!
And, I wish Desean would be the cab driver, driving him out of here. But, their salary cap would get hit with a $12million hit of dead money.— stang66302 - Just look at who continues to win Super Bowls every year and you see why Vick just won't work. He's not even that big of a threat on the ground anymore either. He has lost just enough where he can't outrun DE's and LB's to get to the outside. So you are left with a mobile-but not really explosive- qb who is inaccurate, turns the ball over and can't stay healthy. Foles or Smith. Those are your only options.— philliesphan79
- expect howie to trade the #4 pick for a bunch of 2nd- and 3rd-rounders. he'll draft some run-and-shoot kid with a high motor from the Pac-10 and will tell us he's the next jim plunkett
— hannibal barca - Anybody think that either Foles or Vick has the kind of arm we saw last night from Flacco or Kaepernick? I don't.— PhillySubsMac
- I believe Foles does... — tommy129
- Vick will be 45 before he learns a new offense. Andy Reid is after Alex Smith so Lurie will be influenced to get into that signing war. The most important thing is getting the kind of QB that wins super bowls. It ain't Vick or others like him. Start off with the time PROVEN type. Zac Berman knows nothing about QBs, disregard his constant cries for a runaround dumb QB.— Taser
- Terrell Pryor is wasting away in Oakland. Big arm, fast feet... No trouble for the last 2 years...
— phillyinATL - Seriously?!? Mike Vick JR — cdedrick05
- Give me one good reason to keep Vick. He is turnover prone. He really can't read the field, and if Kelly hangs his hat on this clown, he'll be looking for a new job in 2 years.— sackvicknow
- You can tell this was written by Berman and not McLane. If ol' Jhonny boy had written it, it wouldn't have even listed Foles as being on the roster.
Can't wait for the dog killer to be gone.— atb124 - I like Alex Smith. From what I've seen Foles, looks better. Chip Kelly is a good guy to make a decision on Foles, as the writer points out.— armchairGM
- dump vick. period. sign smith or go with a pick in the draft and let him and foles fight it out. TE can stay 3rd string qb.— Evil Overlord
- Don't worry, Howie's watching all kinds of tape and will be at the combine. Things are under control.
- Andy Reid will pluck Geno Smith off of the board before the Eagles pick at 4 and there is nothing in Alex Smith's career stats that indicate he's any better than Trent Edwards having been benched on several occasions with the 49ers, also in 8 seasons with the 9er's he's only played 16 games twice because of injuries.
Smith has career 59% completion and a 79% QB Rating, throwing to the same receivers in Crabtree and Davis so where had it been determined he's accurate? Smith isn't an up grade over what the Eagles currently have on their roster.
If Howie doesn't get a chance for Geno Smith, it's doubtful the Eagles Quarterback of the future is available this year and finding a franchise signal caller may take 2 years or more as we are developing other essential talent over the roster.— Dexter
