Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles are taking their next step.
The Eagles are expected to pick up Foles' 2019 contract option for $20 million, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday on LIVE.
Thereafter, Rapoport added, Foles would likely give Philadelphia $2 million to essentially "buy his freedom," Rapoport said, and become a free agent. From there, the Eagles would likely put a franchise tag on Foles and look to trade him after. Another possibility is that after Foles pays the $2 million buyout, Philly could let him go into free agency and gain a compensatory draft pick.
"Either way, it's a little bit of a game of chicken right now," Rapoport said, "we do not know how the Eagles are going to proceed after Foles gives them $2 million back for his freedom."
There is also the possibility that the 29-year-old quarterback could simply be traded after his option is picked up without going through the buyout and franchise-tagging. However, Rapoport added that Foles would likely get a new contract from whichever team traded for him.
Following the season, Eagles coach Doug Pederson stated
Thus, figuring out how to part ways with Foles has become paramount.
The news comes on the eve of LIII, a season after Foles quarterbacked Philadelphia past New England for the franchise's first and only title and garnered game most valuable player honors in the process.
"There are a lot of different options here," Rapoport said, "but the biggest step along the way is are they going to exercise the $20 million-contract option. I am told they are, in fact, expected to."
