Why Nick Foles Deserves Another Shot to Lead Eagles

The momentum for Marcus Mariota grew in the City of Brotherly Love this week with the report that three teams—most notably the St. Louis Rams—would be interested in trading for Nick Foles should the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback become available, per Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com.

In theory, Foles could play a small part in a huge move up the draft board to select the Heisman Trophy-winning passer out of Oregon.

Foles was unflappable, as always, while addressing the rumor on Thursday.

“I plan on being back and being in Philly,” he told Jeff McLane for The Philadelphia Inquirer—and rightly so. Not that climbing to the top of the draft was ever all that likely (or possible).

The Eagles don’t need another signal-caller right now. Foles deserves another crack at the job.

YR	CMP%	YDS/ATT	TD/INT	RATING
2014	59.8	7.0	13/10	81.4
2013	64.0	9.1	27/2	119.2
2012	60.8	6.4	6/5	79.1

Yes, 2014 was not a banner year for Foles. That much is obvious from the numbers. In eight games, Foles completed 59.8 percent of his passes with 13 turnovers—10 interceptions and three fumbles lost—and an 81.4 passer rating.

Beyond the totals, Foles’ mechanics broke down as the season went on, and his decision-making was erratic at times.

Still, the Eagles were 6-2 in Foles’ starts, bringing his regular-season record to an impressive 14-4 under head coach Chip Kelly. While some of the quarterback’s issues were his own, there were plenty of built-in excuses, beginning with the patchwork offensive line. Pockets were tighter, and very often the running game provided little help.

That last part is key. Without an effective ground attack, so much more of the burden fell on Foles to carry the load. During his historic 2013 campaign, the 26-year-old attempted 317 passes in 10 starts, 13 games total. This past season, he attempted 311 passes in eight games.

Evan Habeeb/Getty Images

Foles needs to learn to trust in the pocket again this offseason, speed up his reads and cut down on the bad decisions. However, the issues with the offense went beyond the man under center.

Let’s be realistic, Foles was only in his third NFL season. It’s not uncommon for young, developing quarterbacks to seemingly regress at some early stage in their career.

Look at Peyton Manning, for instance.

In 2000—his third season with the Indianapolis Colts—Manning led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns while guiding his club to the playoffs. The following year—his fourth season—Manning threw 23 interceptions and the Colts finished 6-10.

Would you have been so quick to run that guy out of town?

Granted, Manning is a bit of a different story. He was the first overall pick in the draft in 1998. Foles was taken in the third round in 2012, so the investment is far different. Furthermore, Manning is one of the greatest players in NFL history, so it’s kind of hard to compare anybody to him.

NAME	STARTS	RATING	RECORD
K. Warner	24	104.0	20-6
R. Wilson	48	98.6	36-12
D. Marino	41	96.4	33-8
N. Foles	24	94.2	15-9

Then again, Foles is in some fairly unique company at this early juncture of his career. Only three quarterbacks in league history have posted a better passer rating over their first three seasons with a minimum of 22 starts—Kurt Warner, Russell Wilson and Dan Marino. One of those players is in the Hall of Fame, one will be on the ballot soon and the other is gunning for his second Super Bowl championship in a row.

Foles’ numbers look better because of his 2013 campaign, in which he posted the third-highest passer rating ever while throwing 27 touchdowns to two interceptions, but guess what? That happened. A lot of people like to think that was a fluke, and it was to some extent in that it’s not sustainable production from year to year.

Foles accomplished what he accomplished, though. You can’t take the records and accolades away.

Let’s not forget that in Foles’ lone playoff appearance that season, he had his team in the lead the last time he set foot on the field. The fact that the special teams and defense couldn’t hold it or even give him one last opportunity to come back in a 26-24 home loss to the New Orlean Saints on a last-second field goal was not the quarterback’s fault.

He deserves another shot in a big game like that, and he’s going to get it. Somewhere. It’s just a question of whether or not that will be with the Eagles.

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

The important thing to note about the recent trade rumor is that it says nothing for the Eagles’ interest in moving Foles. Everybody presumes Kelly wants Mariota, his hand-picked quarterback at Oregon, and no doubt he would love to have the kid. However, unless Mariota’s stock plummets between now and the draft, getting up to No. 1 or 2 overall from where the Birds are at (No. 20) is pure fantasy.

That means Philadelphia is likely “stuck” with Foles for now, for lack of a better word. Fortunately, plenty of people realize that’s not a bad thing.

To those who do want to see the Eagles move on from Foles at all costs, his body of work up to this point suggests he deserves another shot.