Bears Just Put Nick Foles' Status Into Serious Question

Nick Foles did exactly what was asked of him last season. He played the role of third-string quarterback and stepped up when the Chicago Bears needed him to. His victory over the Seahawks in Seattle was one of the brightest moments of an otherwise forgettable season. One would think the new regime of Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus would be interested in keeping the former Super Bowl MVP around as Justin Fields' primary backup. That idea just took a turn in the wrong direction. News broke on Thursday that the Bears had reached an agreement with veteran backup Trevor Siemian. That by itself doesn't necessarily mean much. Teams tend to go into the offseason program with three quarterbacks anyway. However, it isn't normal for a team to sign a supposed third-string option to a two-year contract. This raises questions about Chicago's plan for Siemian, and especially Foles.

Siemian is a local celebrity of sorts.

He was a quarterback for Northwestern from 2012 to 2014, famously pulling off upsets of Penn State, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame his senior year. The Denver Broncos made him their 7th round pick in 2015, and he ended up going 8-6 as a starter the following season. Since then, he's been relegated to more of a backup role with stops in New York and New Orleans. Last season was his best as a pro. In six appearances, he amassed 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Though far from a star, it is clear he offers legitimate value off the bench in emergencies. [video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Trevor-Siemian-300-Yds-2TDs-Highlights-vs.-Titans.mp4"][/video] This, plus his contract, make it likely the Bears don't see him as another third-string training camp body. He is likely their #2 option. Thus we come back to the issue at hand. What is going to happen with Nick Foles? If the team were to cut him, they would receive $3 million in salary cap space with $7.6 million in dead money. However, a trade would net them $8 million in space and a draft pick.

Nick Foles' trade value is considerably higher now

That is because almost all the guaranteed money of his current contract has now been paid. Any team that deals for him wouldn't be obligated to pay him anything beyond this season. Given his obvious experience and success as a backup in the NFL, one would think there are at least a handful of teams that might be interested in his services. Especially if the price tag isn't likely to be any higher than a late round pick. It is possible the team was waiting on any move until they found a viable replacement. Now with Siemian in the fold, Poles has that guy. He is free to shop Nick Foles around until he finds a buyer if he hasn't been doing so already. Teams like Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Carolina, and Seattle could make sense for him.

As always, it comes down to timing and fit.

This development makes one thing clear. Poles remains determined to unload every bad contract on the roster as soon as possible. He proved this with Khalil Mack, Tarik Cohen, and Eddie Goldman. If he can secure some extra draft capital for Foles, he will do so.