Rams quarterback Nick Foles might be looking for a new team by week one of the 2016 NFL season. According to Pro Football Talk, sources close to the team speculate that Foles likely will be gone by the start of training camp, and that he definitely will not be on the team before week one.
Foles was not very good last year but has demonstrated the ability to be a functional NFL starter and there are teams still looking. The Broncos want to bring someone in to compete with Mark Sanchez. The Jets haven’t signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, and in all likelihood would want someone to compete with Geno Smith if they don’t come to terms with Fitzpatrick.
Foles’ contract and cap number are manageable so the Rams appear to be in the driver’s seat. His guaranteed salary for this year is only $1.75M and he’s already earned the $6M bonus. The low salary makes him an attractive trade piece. In addition, with Case Keenum and Sean Mannion already on the roster and a high likelihood that the Rams will draft a quarterback, you can see that Foles’ time is up.
The peaks and valleys that athletes – particularly in the NFL – go through in relatively short time spans is truly fascinating. If Foles moves on to a new team that will be his third in a year. There are only 32 starting qb jobs in this league and there are probably less than 10 supremely excellent signal callers. Someone will take a flier on Foles because, that’s what teams do. Rams will do what all teams do, leverage mediocre qb talent and acquire the best possible package.