Nick Piccone
When word broke that Sam Bradford and the Eagles agreed to a new two-year deal yesterday, the Eagles’ fanbase was divided. I didn’t want the Eagles to re-sign Bradford, but thinking about the deal that the Eagles and Bradford did agree on, I have to say I’m glad it won’t hamstring the team from making more moves, either this offseason or next offseason, to improve this team.
With Bradford’s deal at $26 million guaranteed, the Eagles, for all intents and purposes, are only spending $13 million per year on Bradford, which isn’t bad considering the market for quarterbacks in today’s game. And the Eagles might even be able to get out of the deal after one year and it won’t have a huge effect on signing free agents or re-signing some of their own talent next offseason, either.
So far, much of the reaction from local reporters has been positive. The fans – meh. I’m somewhere in the middle. I still think they’ll draft a quarterback they believe is their future this upcoming draft, but they also give themselves another year and next year’s draft to find that franchise quarterback, also, if the quarterback they won’t isn’t available when it’s their pick in the draft. Effectively, Bradford’s deal is probably the best type of deal the Eagles could have hoped for at this point.
Here’s kind of a microcosm of local reaction to the deal. Dave Zangaro of CSN Philly:
In the short-term, the deal gives the Eagles their best shot of being competitive in 2016, while paying Bradford some big-time money. And in the long-term, if the whole thing blows up, it won’t handcuff the organization for years to come.
Head coach Doug Pederson, meanwhile, has been pretty clear about his philosophy on rookie quarterbacks. He likes the idea of a rookie coming in and getting the chance to learn under an established veteran. Bradford looks like the veteran. Now they just have to find the rookie.
More below.
What do you think? Are you happy with Bradford’s new deal?