Eagles coach Andy Reid thinks rookie quarterback Nick Foles is going to be a valuable commodity in Philadelphia some day. The only question is whether that will be on the field in an Eagles uniform, or in a trade.
Foles has been working with the No. 2 offense while Michael Vick’s primary backup, Mike Kafka, is out with a broken hand. Reid said he likes what he sees from the third-round draft pick.
“I think what you look at with any rookie is, are they getting better every day?” Reid said. “He seems to be doing that and is more comfortable. We’ve got a load of plays in for him and he’s able to recite those properly. Now it is just making sure he’s got everybody down and that comes with reps but I would tell you we knew he was smart coming in and he hasn’t disappointed us in that area. He’s a pretty sharp kid, very diligent, works hard, and all of those things.”
Reid may genuinely be impressed with Foles, but that doesn’t mean he’s planning on Foles contributing on the field for the Eagles some day. As Reid has shown again and again and again in Philadelphia, he knows how to find value in quarterbacks by trading them to other teams: In Reid’s time in Philadelphia, the Eagles have received a second-round pick from the Dolphins for A.J. Feeley, a sixth-round pick from the Vikings for Kelly Holcomb, a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick from the Redskins for Donovan McNabb, and a second-round pick and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for Kevin Kolb. The Eagles ended up getting the better end of all of those trades.
So when Reid speaks highly of Foles, he may just be getting the word out early that teams looking to overpay for a quarterback in a trade should keep him in mind.
Or Reid may genuinely believe Foles is the Eagles’ next starter, whenever Vick’s time is done. In which case it’s just a matter of time before Reid fleeces some team in a trade for Kafka.
