It is the position that will eventually make or break the Eagles future success. How the Eagles handle this offseason and the selection of a quarterback will set the tone for everything else that is to come.
The Eagles are currently sitting on the possibility of retaining Sam Bradford. Bradford performed well in the latter half of the 2015 season. That said, a $20 million price tag just for franchising the quarterback seems awfully hefty for a decision that could come into question in the next season, only to be revisited in another year.
On the morning of Super Bowl Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Eagles were thinking otherwise and would not be franchising Bradford. The report also included mention of former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, and the potential for a reunion.
That would be an even bigger mistake and gamble.
What the Eagles need at quarterback is a fresh start and a new face to build around.
The reason for this is twofold. For one, what is the value in bringing back Bradford, who will turn 29 in November, when there is so much more building to do?
There is certainly a lot of gray area in this. The Eagles are playing in what was one of, if not the, weakest divisions in the NFL. A trip to the playoffs is a lot more attainable when the ceiling is set at 10-6 or 9-7.
That said, look at the rest of the NFC. In its current state, this is not an offense that will compete among the rest of the NFC anytime soon.
So for all the work that will be needed, why waste Bradford's remaining prime years, which are already in jeopardy due to previous injuries, for the chance to make the playoffs and win the NFC East only to be one and done?
Foles is no better solution. Foles just turned 27 on Jan. 20, but at the same time, this is a quarterback that went from rising star and Pro Bowl MVP under Chip Kelly to riding the bench as the second-string QB under Jeff Fisher in the course of three seasons. For the Eagles, this is been there, done that territory. They don't need to revisit the Foles option any longer.
What the Eagles need to do is get a new quarterback.
They could do it through the Draft. There will be three viable options in Carson Wentz, Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch all likely selected in the first round. With the lack of teams needing to draft a quarterback, the Eagles could potentially be in line to grab one of them without changing their draft position of the 13th overall pick.
Granted, there will be arguments against it — better draft classes down the road in just a year or two, potential stop-gap options at quarterback and the greater need to bolster the offensive line, add another wide receiver or continue building on a still-in-progress secondary.
In that regard, the Eagles could hold off on drafting a quarterback — a move they should make at some point within the next three years given their new coaching staff — they could always plug in a free-agent quarterback on a one or two-year deal to fill the void until they draft one. A name like Chase Daniel, who was a member of the Chiefs with Doug Pederson in 2015, comes to mind.
Regardless, it will be someone with no past connection to the Eagles making his debut with the team, which is really what the team needs at this point.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
