The top three quarterbacks that the Eagles will have for the 2016 season are Sam Bradford, Chase Daniel and Carson Wentz. How the Eagles got the three was a long and strange process.
Bradford was expected to be re-signed in some capacity and eventually did return to the Eagles on a two-year, $35 million contract. Just days after extending Bradford, the Eagles brought in Chase Daniel on a three-year, $21 million contract to be the backup. Then they made the megatrade to get the second overall pick and selected Carson Wentz on the first night of the NFL Draft.
Those three moves left former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb baffled by the Eagles direction at the quarterback position.
"You know the whole thing about it which is funny to me? When people jumped on Sam Bradford because he was seeking a trade, I told people, man, I said 'I’ll be honest with you, I don’t blame him,'" McNabb said to BillyPenn.com. "Think about this whole situation, and I had to explain it to people because they think he needed to come back and compete. I said even if he competes and they go 9-7 or 10-6 and he plays the whole year, it’s time for the young kid to step in and play.
"If he’s not ready in year two, then that was dumb on the Eagles’ part."
McNabb clarified those thoughts, first by saying he didn't realize Chase Daniel was a possibility for the Eagles. McNabb admitted the move made sense because of Daniel's relationship with Doug Pederson.
"I said it in a sense that, did I think that the Eagles should have brought Sam Bradford back? No, but then I said yes because to be honest with you I didn’t have Chase Daniel in the mix to even come to Philadelphia," McNabb said. "I knew Andy liked Chase Daniel and he was a good backup for Alex Smith. So it’s funny because it’s the same situation that Doug came over to be the head coach in Philadelphia just like when Andy came over. Who did he bring over? He brought the backup quarterback that he was coaching in Doug Pederson over.
"So now you’ve got Doug in the same situation with Chase Daniel and now you sign — which was dumb — you sign Sam Bradford to a multi-year deal and give him big money, then you trade picks to move up to No. 2 — that was dumb. I mean, nothing against Carson Wentz, but why would you do that? That’s just a bad business decision from the Philadelphia Eagles."
While it's not an insult to Wentz and his potential, McNabb is recognizing the risk the Eagles are taking with drafting a quarterback second overall while bringing on a career backup and retaining Bradford at a high price tag. McNabb can relate to a degree, beings he was the No. 2 pick in 1999 and Pederson was the career backup getting his chance to start. That said, McNabb, seemingly recalling that situation, sees Wentz as the guy fans will want on the field as the season progresses.
"Chase Daniel is not a bad player. Chase Daniel can hold the fort down for six, eight, 10 weeks and then if things aren’t going well you move a slow transition to Carson Wentz," McNabb said. "Because the crowd, I’m going to tell you, the people of Philadelphia — and you know it — the people of Philadelphia they’re not going to call for Chase Daniel. They’re calling for Carson Wentz."
Nick Foles Signs with Kansas City Chiefs
Speaking of former Eagles quarterbacks, Nick Foles has found a new home with a familiar head coach. Foles signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, reuniting him with former Eagles coach Andy Reid.
Foles was released by the Los Angeles Rams last week after just one season with the Rams after being traded in the deal that brought Bradford to Philadelphia.
Reid drafted Foles in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Kevin Durso is an editor for Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
