The Philadelphia Eagles are coming into training camp with Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez at the top of the depth chart at quarterback and they could compete in training camp to see who starts for Chip Kelly and this comes as Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow are competing for the third string job and the loser of that battle could move in a trade or could be released after the preseason.
Kelly and the Eagles have been one of the most active teams in the league this offseason and Bradford comes in after being acquired in a trade. The team moved on from Nick Foles and also traded away LeSean McCoy and now Bradford is the presumptive starter, but he could have some competition from Sanchez. Sanchez was signed back in the offseason by Kelly to a two year deal and he started half the games for the Eagles in 2014 with Foles injured.
Bradford is expected to be recovered from knee surgery for the start of the season, but he may not be 100 percent for training camp. That could give Sanchez the opportunity to step up, as CSN Philly reports that Kelly said that Sanchez and Bradford are "openly competing" for the starting job. Now perhaps Kelly wants to see Bradford "win" the starting job by performing well this summer against Sanchez with some competition, but there is always a chance he is not ready to go in Week 1 and Kelly has shown he is comfortable with Sanchez as the starter.
Last season Matt Barkley only threw one pass with Foles out with a shoulder injury and that left Sanchez as the starter for half the season. Sanchez showed that he understands the offensive system Kelly uses and that is why Kelly wanted to bring him back for 2015, even in a backup role. If Bradford gets injured again Kelly can turn to Sanchez to take over. The third string job is a battle between Tim Tebow and Matt Barkley and that should be one of the most intriguing storylines in training camp.
Tebow was signed in the offseason by Kelly and he reportedly is getting a chance to win the second backup job behind Sanchez. Barkley had that role last season and throughout his two years he has thrown just 50 passes, 49 coming as a rookie in 2013. Tebow is not a conventional quarterback, but he could give some added value to Kelly as a short yardage player and as a two point conversion weapon on offense. Barkley is more of a typical quarterback and depending on how he plays in the preseason, Kelly could decide to move on after using the 98th pick on him two years ago.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News, Barkley is "no lock" to keep his job this summer and he will have competition from Tebow. NJ.com's Eliot Shor-Parks made a prediction that it will be Tebow on the roster over Barkley this season, as Barkley is "not built" to be a backup. Parks added that Tebow can "make plays" for Chip Kelly on offense and "doesn't turn the ball over." Barkley has four career interceptions and zero passing touchdowns, while Tebow has 17 career passing touchdowns and 12 rushing touchdowns.
Check here for more on the Eagles offseason moves, quarterback situation and more on the battle between Tebow and Barkley.
