Prior to the 2013 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles were highly speculated to be interested in a quarterback with their first round pick. They spent time scouting every quarterback entering, driving the rumors that the team would eventually trade backup Nick Foles to make room on the roster. When they drafted Matt Barkley in the fourth round, it seemed even more likely. The team revealed they had multiple trade offers for Foles, but turned them down to retain the second-year quarterback.
The Eagles drafted Foles in the third round of the 2012 draft while the team was still being headed by Andy Reid. When head coach Chip Kelly took, it raised speculation that Foles was on the way out. He showed flashes of greatness and also flashes of inconsistency during his rookie year. He started six games for the injured Vick, throwing for 1,699 yards and six touchdowns with only six interceptions.
Foles is the total opposite of a Kelly quarterback. He intends on bringing his high-powered offense to the NFL. Normally run by a more mobile quarterback, Foles is a pocket passer and does not fit the system. Kelly has come out in support of the quarterback saying he can work his offense around the strengths of Foles. Kelly held true to those statements when calls came in acquiring about the status of Foles. Kelly turned down trade options in hopes of keeping Foles for the future.
It is clear the Eagles only view Vick as a short-term option and Barkley or Foles will be the quarterback of the future. The Eagles' quarterback roster is crowded at the moment with three very different players on it. It is certainly a storyline for the team that will continue to develop well into the season. At the moment, it appears the quarterback competition is for the backup spot, which could see significant playing time due to Vick's injury history. Neither Barkley nor Foles are read-option quarterbacks so it could get interesting to see which one emerges as the favorite.
