PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Sam Bradford is going to be the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles next season. And that’s really all we know.
Although Bradford’s new contract is a two-year deal, the Eagles’ quarterback situation still remains foggy in 2017 and beyond.
3. The Eagles basically gave Bradford a second-year option and slightly more guaranteed money than the franchise tag would have, in order to save 2016 cap space.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 14: Howie Roseman general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on December 14, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Gotta give credit where credit is due, so I’ll tip my hat to Howie Roseman.
The reported deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, is a two-year contract worth $36 million and $26 million guaranteed. ESPN’s Andrew Brandt has a more detailed explanation of the contract.
Bradford details continued: $11M signing bonus, $7M salary in 2016. $4M of 2017 salary fully guaranteed, another $4M guaranteed for injury.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) March 1, 2016
Last note on Bradford: $4M roster bonus next March, so could make $26M over next 12 mths. If cut before bonus due, earned $22M for one year.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) March 2, 2016
In layman’s terms?
As I understand it, Eagles basically gave Bradford a 1-yr deal w/ 2-yr option for $22M G, $2M more than tag to save about $7M on 2016 cap.
— Andrew Porter (@And_Porter) March 2, 2016
2. The Eagles are not sold on Bradford as their QB of the future
Sam Bradford #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images)
Bradford is 28-years-old. If they Eagles wanted to go forward with Bradford as their franchise guy, they would have given him a back-loaded four or five-year deal. They didn’t.
The Eagles are doing the same thing we’re all doing: hoping. Typically, that’s not the best philosophy.
1. The Bradford deal should allow the Eagles to select Paxton Lynch with pick No. 13 (or whatever rookie quarterback they like most, not named Carson Wentz or Jared Goff).
MEMPHIS, TN – OCTOBER 17: Paxton Lynch #12 of the Memphis Tigers is the projected third best QB in the 2016 NFL Draft. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
What do we know?
The Eagles are not convinced in Bradford as their QB of the future.
The Eagles have pick No. 13. Carson Wentz and Jared Goff will likely be off the board.
The Eagles have not drafted a QB since 1999, when they selected Donovan McNabb with the second overall pick (Doug Pederson was brought in by Andy Reid to mold McNabb).
Paxton Lynch is incredibly athletic — 6’7″, 244-pounds — but labeled as a “project” with upside.
NFL.com scouting report on Lynch:
“While he has the physical tools to start right away, a team who is willing to allow him to sit and study his craft for a year could reap maximum rewards in the future.”
Bradford will be the 2016 starting QB, giving the Eagles the ability to “groom” a QB for at least one-year.
Here’s Doug Pederson last week via CSNPhilly.com:
“My personal feeling? Unless you need a guy, shelve him for a year. Shelve him for a year. And let him get in your system and let him grow if you’ve got a guy in place already that he can kind of learn from.”
With Bradford as their starting QB next season, the Eagles will likely win just enough games to remove themselves from a top-10 draft pick in 2017.
The plan?
Draft a quarterback with upside — like Lynch — and groom him for one season behind Bradford. If Bradford has an astonishing 2016 season, you keep him for 2017 — hence the second-year option built into his deal. If Bradford underwhelms, you cut him and go with Lynch (or which ever rookie QB you draft) in 2017.