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Sense of Agency: Quarterbacks

DISCLAIMER: I know it's early, I know the season is just upon us, and I know there's plenty of other things to focus on with the Philadelphia Eagles, but goddammit it's football. What I wanted was to make a weekly series identifying potential free agent signings for the Eagles next year and be able to monitor these candidates throughout the season (and as a safety net in case this season tanks and we need something else to focus on). I'm going to focus on a single position each week, starting with offense. Just to cover my ass for future reference, these aren't players I'm necessarily hoping we sign or claiming that we will, these are just players I potentially feel fit with the team and COULD be players the organization would pursue. With that being said, welcome to Sense of Agency

Quarterback: The quarterback situation is pretty set in stone; barring any major setbacks Carson Wentz is the quarterback of the future. Chase Daniel's roster spot as the backup through 2018 is also pretty safe. Cutting Daniel next year or the year after would incur $7,000,000 in dead money, and it's highly unlikely any team would trade for him unless they see him as a capable starting QB, which, unless he gets significant playing time this year, won't happen. Not to mention the fact that the organization might not even want to trade him considering his familiarity with the scheme and the coaching staff. While the first two QB spots are all but accounted for, what the Eagles could use is a third-string developmental QB. Daniel's contract is up in 2018, so a developmental QB that could serve as a third-stringer next year then step up to the 2nd spot in year 2 would be ideal. Granted, this could all be moot point because of the league-wide decline in keeping three QBs on a roster, but alas, here are a couple intriguing options I think could fit well with the organization and could be players they pursue.

Nick Foles

This is a tricky option. For one, Pederson has already shown a penchant for bringing in quarterbacks that are familiar with his system. The organization gave a hefty contract to Chase Daniel to come over from Kansas City, and just today they signed Aaron Murray to the practice squad, another player Pederson became familiar with in his time with the Chiefs. Foles was a Roseman/Reid draft pick in 2012, the same year Pederson served as the team's QB coach, so the two have worked together before. Furthermore, Foles' departure may have been more on Chip Kelly than Roseman, so the organization still may hold Foles in high regard. Not starting QB material, but a capable backup nonetheless.

Looking at the QBs Pederson has brought in so far, Wentz is the only one picked by Pederson for reasons other than familiarity with the system (Daniel and Murray). Foles fits parts of the "Pederson prototype", if we can even call it that, at QB; an accurate thrower who can push the ball downfield and who's not afraid to run. Foles isn't going to blow anyone away with his speed, but he's shown he's not afraid to move and run for the chains.

In Kansas City Pederson worked with Alex Smith, a quarterback who rarely turns the ball over. That, so far, hasn't been the case with Foles. Even in his record-breaking year where he only threw two picks, there were plenty of balls that should've been intercepted that were not. Foles could come in and develop in the offense and work on his vision and cutting down on turnovers, then assume the primary backup position barring Daniel's departure.

But here's the kicker; would Foles even want to come here? He'd have to come here knowing he wouldn't be coming for a chance at a starting role, and it's clear he still views himself as a QB1, which is why he left Los Angeles. So coming into almost the exact same role here is something that is highly unlikely, unless he begins to realize this year in Kansas City his career is more suited to a backup at this point in time, or Wentz suffers an injury/looks completely inept at QB.

Christian Ponder

Ponder was put into a rough situation from the get-go. In a draft notorious for the amount of QBs picked in the first round, Ponder was overdrafted with the 12th pick and came into Minnesota with unrealistic and arguably unfair expectations. Ponder was a talented and dynamic player at Florida St., but first round QB picks are usually reserved for players who seem to be surefire franchise picks, and in my eyes Ponder was never that. Not to mention once he got to Minnesota, he was surrounded by luxurious weapons like a washed up Devin Aromashodu and oft-injured Percy Harvin.

Despite the odds against him, in Ponder's second season he helmed the team to a wildcard playoff appearance. Now let's be clear, the playoff appearance was much more the result of Adrian Peterson's 2,000 yard season and an adequate performance by the defense, but Ponder did exactly what he had to do, which was play second fiddle to AP and just manage the game. In 2013, when the Vikings' defense finished 31st overall in the league, Ponder was asked to do much more because Minnesota was often playing from behind and trying to put up big points just to stay in games, and that's when he struggled. He was inconsistent, averaged almost 1.5 turnovers per game, and was injury prone. His performance that season left a bad taste in many Vikings fans mouths, and after the team drafted Teddy Bridgewater it was clear Ponder was on the way out.

Ponder brings a couple intriguing things to the table; starting experience (including playoffs), great mobility, throws well on the run. and has the ability to get the ball out quick. On the other hand, he struggles with the deep ball and even going back to his college days he throws more interceptions than you'd like to see.

However, for a 3rd/2nd stringer, you could do much worse than Ponder. Ponder is currently the third-stringer in San Francisco, so it's clear he doesn't view that role as something that he's above. He has a little bit of familiarity with the organization as Kelly and Roseman showed some interest in signing him during the offseason, yet it never materialized. Ponder could be a player the Eagles would be interested in bringing in and letting work behind Daniel for a couple seasons before becoming a much cheaper option to fill in as the QB2 upon Daniel's departure.

Geno Smith

Let's be clear here; Geno has not played well in the NFL. After an extraordinary 3-year starting career at West Virginia, it just hasn't transitioned to the pros. He's looked scared in the pocket, his deep ball has been inconsistent at best, his throwing mechanics look hitchy, and he turns the ball over like it's his job. His rookie year alone he had 21 interceptions to just 12 touchdowns. 21!! Yes, I know QBs like Peyton Manning and Blake Bortles threw an egregious amount of INTs their rookie years too, but they didn't follow it up with a campaign that had another 13 INTs to just 13 TDs.

Now that the bad stuff is out of the way, all is not lost for Geno; he still has solid athleticism at the QB position, although he doesn't utilize it all that well, and the Geno that had a 71.2 completion percentage his senior year of college is still in there somewhere, it's just the coach's job to get that out.

He may have been thrust into the starting role in New York far too quickly due to Sanchez getting hurt, and that could've made all the difference in his development. Having a defensive-minded head coach surely hasn't helped as well. Reports said Geno didn't take the draft process seriously, which was part of the reason he fell to the 2nd round. Maybe being the backup for a couple years is the kick he needs to refocus, and coming to Philadelphia and developing under a former QB in Pederson would be an upgrade over Rex Ryan.

Austin Davis

Davis is a quarterback that is much more suited to a third-string role than any of the other players on this list. Davis went undrafted in 2012 before eventually catching on with the St. Louis Rams, where he actually started 8 games in 2014 (including almost leading a 4th quarter comeback against the Eagles) and although he struggled with turnover issues, he did show some promise.

He has good mobility and is a good athlete overall, yet doesn't have the arm strength that other QBs Pederson has worked with have like Wentz and Foles. He doesn't have a high ceiling, but I think working with a good coach and becoming comfortable in a system will give him a high enough floor for a player you'd feel comfortable with as a backup quarterback.

Davis would also come cheaper than the other players on this list because he doesn't have the draft pedigree that they have, nor the amount of regular season experience. He's only 27 years old, so he's still young and has room to grow and develop as a player. He's currently 3rd on the Broncos depth chart behind two young QBs in Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch, so he also could be comfortable coming in to a similar situation in Philadelphia.

Like I said, it's likely we don't sign any of these QBs and instead draft a developmental QB this year or next to bring in and compete, but it's fun to take a look ahead and check out some potential options. Check back next week when I cover running backs.