Eagles reportedly favorites to land free agent quarterback Chase Daniel

While three teams are interested in former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chase Daniel, the Philadelphia Eagles appear to be favorites to acquire his services, according to Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN:

3 teams heavily involved in QB Chase Daniels. Hearing Philly is the favorite but not done yet per sources

— Dianna Marie Russini (@diannaESPN) March 9, 2016

This move shouldn't come as a total shock. Since the Eagles hired Doug Pederson there had been speculation that the new head coach want to bring his former quarterback to Philly. Both Daniel and Pederson joined the Chiefs in 2013, and recent reports suggest that the Eagles are high on Daniel.

However, a signing would be somewhat surprising, considering the Eagles have two established quarterbacks under contract. Sam Bradford recently re-upped with the Eagles to the tune of two years and $36 million. Meanwhile, Mark Sanchez is still under contract, though releasing him would save the Eagles $3.5 million (and trading him would save the Eagles an extra million).

The move also wouldn't prevent the Eagles from drafting a quarterback in May, either. If Daniel did come to Philadelphia, it would likely be as a veteran mentor for a young player - much in the way Pederson himself was brought to Philly to tutor a young Donovan McNabb.

In three seasons with the Chiefs, Daniel only started two games. He finished his Kansas City career 43-of-68 for 409 yards, one touchdown and one interception. A career backup, Daniel was undrafted out of Missouri in 2009 and spent time in Washington and New Orleans before joining Andy Reid's Chiefs. Though he's never had the chance to start, Pederson said recently he thinks Daniel could. From NFL.com:

"I think Chase, given an opportunity, yes, I think he can be (a starting quarterback)," Pederson told reporters on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. "People that have worked with him for the last three years know that he has an opportunity there and hopefully he gets his chance."

If the Eagles did indeed sign Daniel, it would signal yet another move away from the Chip Kelly era. The Eagles already traded Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso to the Miami Dolphins, and DeMarco Murray to the Tennessee Titans on Monday. They also signed former Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin to a two-year contract on Tuesday.