May 22, 2018
According to a report from Mike Silver of NFL Network, the Philadelphia Eagles turned down a trade offer by the Cleveland Browns for Nick Foles prior to the 2018 NFL Draft. The offer was reportedly the 35th overall pick for Foles.
Interestingly, the way Silver explains it, the Eagles approached Foles about the trade offer, before ultimately rejecting it.
Before rejecting the deal, two sources said, the Eagles ran the scenario by Foles, who said he preferred to remain in Philadelphia.
In Cleveland, Foles likely recognized that he could potentially be little more than a placeholder for whatever quarterback the Browns were going to take with the first overall pick. That pick eventually became Baker Mayfield. That is, unless the Browns would have viewed Foles as a long-term solution at quarterback, and would have drafted a positional player instead. Foles also likely realized that the Browns are, well, the Browns.
The other noteworthy aspect of Silver's report is that the Eagles approached Foles at all about the trade offer. Had Foles wanted to be traded to Cleveland, would the Eagles have dealt him? It feels like they would have, because why else would they even approach him about that possibility?
And finally, this report confirms the obvious – that the Eagles are willing to deal Foles.
Not only that, but this report also sets something of a market for what it will cost another team to acquire him, which is information the Eagles probably would have preferred been kept quiet in the event a Teddy Bridgewater - Sam Bradford situation emerged during training camps, and the Eagles were to find themselves in a position of high leverage.
Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @JimmyKempski.
Like Jimmy on Facebook.
Like the new PhillyVoice Sports page on Facebook.
