The regular season is approaching quickly and the Philadelphia Eagles have a problem that most teams would kill for. They have two NFL starting caliber quarterbacks, Carson Wentz and Nick Foles, and while Wentz will start once he's fully healthy, Foles is expected to get the nod for at least the regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
Foles stepped in for Wentz after he tore his ACL in a 43-35 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14 last season. While Foles has been underwhelming in the preseason so far, nobody doubts that he could become a valuable asset as a starting quarterback for a lot of teams. Foles' restructured contact features a $20 million option for 2019, which isn't likely to be picked up by the Eagles. Wentz is recovering quickly from his offseason ACL and LCL surgery. He lead the Eagles to a dominant regular season last year and is expected to reclaim his starting role once he is cleared for contact.
Here is a list of the top 5 teams that could benefit from signing Foles in 2019 free agency:
5. Chicago Bears
The Bears finished last season with a 5-11 record, placing last in the NFC North. Mike Glennon's time as a starter came to an end quickly as the Mitch Trubisky era began. Trubisky only led his team to a 4-8 record in his 12 games as a starter.
The Vikings, Lions and Packers showcase powerful passing attacks that make them difficult to outscore. The run-first mentality of the Bears may make it hard for Trubisky to become the prolific downfield passer he needs to be for them to rise up a stout division, even with new head coach Matt Nagy at the helm. Foles could be a nice addition to the team and teach Trubisky how to utilize his new offensive weapons, including Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, and Trey Burton.
4. Miami Dolphins
Dolphins fans are happy to have Ryan Tannehill return as their starting quarterback this year, but whether he can still on the field for the entire season is a question mark. While Brock Osweiler is a decent option as a backup, they would be much better served with a dynamic playmaker like Foles under center.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs made a big move this offseason by shipping veteran Alex Smith away to the Washington Redskins, putting their franchise in the hands of young signal-caller Patrick Mahomes. While Mahomes has a big arm and playmaking ability, relying on him to perform immediately is a risk. His backup is 33-year-old Chad Henne, who has not seen significant playing time in years. Mahomes may thrive with Andy Reid's offensive schemes behind him, but only time will tell.
2. Denver Broncos
The Broncos split their snaps between three backup quarterbacks last season. This year, they hope Case Keenum builds on his success in Minnesota last season as their clear-cut starter. Chad Kelly and Paxton Lynch aren't overly impressive backups, but they could fill in in just fine if their numbers are called.
1. Buffalo Bills
Nathan Peterman and A.J. McCarron are the front-runners for the starting quarterback spot in Buffalo this season. Combined, the two have a whopping total of 318 passing yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions. The decision could go either way, but neither has much experience as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
While rookie Josh Allen could be a promising prospect down the road, the No. 7 overall pick from this year's draft has struggled tremendously in the preseason. He needs more time to develop behind the mentorship of a veteran, and Foles could be the perfect man for the job.
All these teams could easily find themselves in need of a consistent quarterback next season. If Foles performs well when his number is called, he could sign a major deal in 2019.
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