While the Philadelphia Eagles might not be dealing with coaching drama in the upcoming season, they have some contract and financial decisions to make that will greatly shape the look of the 2015 team. 2014 ended in disappointing fashion after the Eagles were once holding on to the top spot in the NFC East only to lose in December and fall out of contention. Part of that was due to the quarterback play, something Nick Foles hopes he can remedy in 2015.
Foles had the Eagles in the top spot for the start of the season, but a fracture in his collarbone caused the quarterback to miss the entire back half of the season while Mark Sanchez took over. Sanchez started hot, but fizzled out in December causing the Eagles to miss the playoffs. Now Kelly must decide which quarterback is going to be the long-term option moving forward as neither overly impressed during the season. Foles believes it will be him.
"I expect to be back here. I expect to be the quarterback," Foles said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I love my teammates and I expect to be back out there, leading them and winning some games ... I'm excited to come back better than I ever have been. It's coming from me. That's what I expect. If I came in here and told you I didn't expect that, what kind of player would I be? What kind of leader would I be for my teammates? It's coming from my heart."
Kelly has given no hints as to what the Eagles will do at the quarterback position. The head coach continues to say things are being evaluated. Another issue is that Foles is entering the final year of his contract, one the Eagles have yet to say if they will extend or not. Jeremy Maclin is also looking for a contract extension while LeSean McCoy is hoping not to be traded. Both players were crucial in 2014 and will be in 2015 too.
McCoy continues to state that he fully intends to stay with the Eagles, understanding that his contract is a big salary cap hit. The running back is an $11 million cap hit next season while being an $8 million hit in 2016. McCoy has stated his willingness to restructure his deal to help the team especially if it means Maclin will return as well. The wide receiver's contract is expiring at the end of the year and the Eagles leading receiver can step away for big money. Kelly has a lot of evaluating to do in the coming weeks as several of his stars can leave at the start of free agency.
