:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49035603/GettyImages-484352718.0.jpg)
The Philadelphia Eagles will have a quarterback competition this offseason, according to a report from Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.
"A league source tells PFT that the current plan is for Bradford and Daniel to compete for the job."
NFL reporter Albert Breer is also reporting the same thing as Florio.
The Eagles will be giving new QB Chase Daniel every chance to wrest the starting job from Sam Bradford, per source. Not signed as a backup.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 9, 2016
This makes sense. The Eagles gave Daniel A LOT of money to merely be a backup in Philadelphia. According to NFL insider Adam Caplan, Daniel's deal is worth $21 million over three years with $12 million guaranteed. Caplan also reports the max value of deal (including incentives and such) is worth up to $36 million. For perspective, the Eagles gave Mark Sanchez $9 million over two years with $5.5 million guaranteed last offseason. That deal was thought to be high at the time because it paid Sanchez like a top backup. Daniel is clearly making even more than that.
Another reason this report is believable is because Bradford is essentially on a one-year deal. His contract is worth up to $36 million over two years but only $22 million is guaranteed. The Eagles can cut him after this season to save $13 million. Philadelphia would still be on the hook for $9.5 million in dead money next year but $4 million of that could be wiped away in offset money if another team signs him.
Florio also reports that a Bradford is still possible, though not necessarily likely. The details:
Per a source with knowledge of the deal, the first $5.5 million installment of Bradford’s $11 million signing bonus isn’t due until March 18, 2016. The second is due on or before September 1, 2016. So the Eagles have yet to pay Bradford a penny; they could transfer his entire contract to a new team.
Even though the Eagles haven’t paid Bradford’s bonus, they’d be responsible for the full $11 million under their 2016 cap. But they would get a full credit for the money in 2017, allowing for the bonus money to essentially be carried over by a year. Besides, the move also would clear Bradford’s $7 million salary off the books, creating a net cap gain for 2016 of $1.5 million.
Again, a Bradford trade doesn't seem likely, but it is at least worth noting due to quarterback vacancies around the league. The Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers might be in the quarterback market.
For now, it seems like the Eagles will have Bradford and Daniel compete for the starting job. Bradford is the more experienced NFL player, but Daniel obviously has more familiarity with Doug Pederson's scheme. It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out this summer.