After conflicting reports surfaced this past weekend about the chances of the Philadelphia Eagles using the franchise-tag on soon-to-be free-agent Sam Bradford, Tim McManus of Birds 24/7 joined Mike Missanelli this afternoon on 97.5 The Fanatic to discuss Bradford's future with the team.
McManus started his appearance by suggesting that it was far from a guarantee that Bradford would be back in 2016.
"It's a position in flux right now…no slam dunk that Bradford will be back" @Tim_McManus on the QB situation
— 975TheFanatic (@975TheFanatic) February 10, 2016
With that, he echoed what many, including ESPN's Adam Schefter, have said, by saying that it doesn't seem like the Eagles intend to use the franchise-tag on Bradford.
"The franchise tag is the best way to go…it doesn't sound like they're going down that road" @Tim_McManus on Bradford
— 975TheFanatic (@975TheFanatic) February 10, 2016
McManus would go on to caution that if the Eagles don't retain Bradford in one way or another, they will end up starting some sort of bridge option in 2016. The two names that he pointed to were Mark Sanchez, who is under contract for 2016, and Chase Daniel, who was the backup quarterback in Kansas City under new head coach Doug Pederson.
If the Eagles elected to use a bridge quarterback such as one of the two aforementioned candidates, they could do so with a quarterback they drafted this season waiting in the wings that they draft in this year's draft. They could also elect to to wait until next year's draft — which is expected to be a stronger quarterback draft — to take a franchise quarterback and load up on other positions of need this year.
Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) is an editorial assistant for Eagledelphia.com.