Philadelphia Eagles fans could not have been happier when the team traded up to the No. 2 spot, where they are likely to make Carson Wentz or Jared Goff their first draft selection. But shaking out the depth chart will be interesting come their likely arrival in Philly, especially given what the Eagles having in the wings.
While the Eagles have committed to Sam Bradford as their starter for the 2016 season, they gave up five draft picks, including a first-rounder in 2017 and a second rounder in 2018, just to move up to the No. 2 spot. So it is pretty imperative that their investment works out. ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, however, sees the number of available Eagles quarterbacks being a problem for the team early on.
“The problem right now I see in Philadelphia is they have too many quarterbacks to be friendly with,” said ESPN analyst Jon Gruden, a former Super Bowl-winning head coach and Eagles assistant. “How are they going to distribute any reps and get anybody ready when you got Sam Bradford making $18 million, you’ve got Chase Daniel who’s a backup making $7 million, and now you have the No. 2 pick in the draft? I don’t know how you’re going to get these guys reps and get them ready, but Doug Pederson will have to answer that.”
With Bradford, Daniel, and either Wentz or Goff in camp, reps are certainly going to be at a premium. Throw in a new, first-year head coach and a new offensive system, Gruden thinks that there won’t be room for everyone to stick given the investment being made in the No. 2 pick.
“You’ve got a new head coach who’s running a new offensive system – he better get it in there quickly, because the games are about to start – so who’s going to get the reps and who’s going to get the leftovers?
“You don’t have time to get three guys reps. You just don’t. If you do, you’re not running a real sophisticated offense. It’s hard to get one guy to go today, let alone two. So there could be a trade. I don’t want to start any rumors in Philadelphia, but if they do draft a quarterback with all they have invested in him, I’m sure they’ll want to get him as many reps as possible, and that’s going to make somebody I think unhappy and perhaps expendable.”
Gruden does certainly make a fair assessment for the Eagles. A team does not make this kind of big investment in just any kind of player to move up to the No. 2 spot. Assuming they choose whichever of the top quarterback prospects the Los Angeles Rams don’t draft in either Goff or Wentz, they will be pressured to play him sooner rather than later.
The Eagles could still conceivably keep all three, but it makes for an interesting dynamic if Bradford struggles early and often, especially given his inconsistent play last season. No matter how you look at it, there seems to be a potential quarterback controversy brewing in Philly. Bradford’s already spoken about his displeasure with the Cleveland trade, and the situation could get dicier after the Draft.
