The Philadelphia Eagles will likely have Sam Bradford start at quarterback over Mark Sanchez if he is healthy in training camp and this comes as a contract extension is unlikely this summer for Bradford, while Chip Kelly could look at the trade or release of Tim Tebow or Mark Sanchez depending on who wins the third string roster spot.
The Eagles traded for Bradford this offseason and he is coming in after having ACL surgery last year with the Rams. Bradford has dealt with multiple knee injuries and he is coming in as the expected starter over Mark Sanchez. Chip Kelly said to CSN Philly that Sanchez and Bradford are "openly competing" for the starting job, but after giving up draft picks for Bradford, if he is healthy, Kelly will likely start him. Sanchez started half the games for the Eagles last season and he was retained in free agency on a two year deal.
Kelly likely sees Sanchez as good insurance for Bradford if he gets injured again, as Sanchez showed that he was comfortable in the offensive system last season. Nick Foles was out for eight games with a shoulder injury and that left Sanchez to start. Sanchez threw nearly every pass after Foles went down, as Matt Barkley had just one pass attempt last season. While Barkley was a Chip Kelly draft pick, he could be out of a job with Tim Tebow coming into camp after signing in the offseason.
Kelly is having Barkley and Tebow compete in camp for the third string job and the Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News reports that Barkley is "no lock" to keep his job from last season. Barkley was reportedly on the trade block earlier in the offseason and the Eagles spoke with the Dolphins about a deal, but nothing came to pass. The sides could talk again, as the Dolphins let Josh Freeman go ahead of camp and could look at adding another quarterback behind Ryan Tannehill.
The battle between Sanchez and Bradford likely will come down to health, as Kelly traded for Bradford and probably will give him some leeway if he struggles early. Kelly said that the team did extensive research on ACL injuries and he said that the team felt it was a risk worth taking to trade for Bradford. Bradford is making $13 million this season and he last started a game back in 2013 for the Rams. Bradford injured his knee that season and then in the preseason for the 2014 season.
Kelly signed Tebow to a contract this offseason and there is a chance that he makes the team as the third string QB behind Sanchez and Bradford. According to NJ.com, Eliot Shor-Parks predicts that Tebow will make the roster over Barkley, as Tebow is better "built" to be the backup and that he can "make plays with his legs" while Barkley can't. Tebow is an added value player compared to Barkley, as he can be used in short yardage situations and on two point conversions. Barkley has shown that he is only a conventional QB and he may not be as valuable for Kelly.
Check here for more on the Eagles, the Bradford contract and the QB roster options.
