With another NFL season coming to an end next Sunday, it is time for various teams to figure out what they will be doing at the quarterback position for next season. Over the last few weeks, we’ve heard Super Bowl MVP and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles being mentioned as a possible solution for teams such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos.
However, you can officially add another team to the list of possible suitors for Foles’ services.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported on Sunday that the Redskins are planning as if they will not have starting quarterback Alex Smith next season under center. The 33-year-old signal caller suffered a horrific leg injury on Nov. 18 against the Houston Texans, breaking both his fibula and tibia.
Rapoport added that Washington believes Smith will miss the entire 2019 season and will be pleasantly surprised if he is ready by Week 1.
With this latest news, it begs the question of what will Washington do? If they want to compete next season, they cannot run Colt McCoy out there for a full season.
One option for them is to explore the free agent market, where quarterbacks such as Teddy Bridgewater, Joe Flacco, and Tyrod Taylor will be available.
If they do not like what is available to them in free agency, they could explore the option of drafting a quarterback with their first-round selection. However, this is not the best draft class for young signal callers.
Therefore, the only plausible thing they can do is make a trade for a quarterback, which brings Foles and Indianapolis Colts backup Jacoby Brissett into the picture.
As we all know by now, the Eagles are not expected to bring back Foles, who has a $20 million option on the table. But would Philly be willing to trade the 30-year-old Super Bowl winning quarterback to their division rival?
It honestly depends on how much Washington is willing to give up, knowing that Smith has four years left on his mega contract.
One would expect that Eagles want at least a high draft pick in exchange for Foles. However, the Redskins only have five picks in this upcoming Spring’s draft, including three in the first days of the draft.
For a team like Washington, who has a ton of holes to fill, they may want to hold onto their second-round pick. Therefore, Brissett might come as a cheaper option for them.
The 25-year-old quarterback was the Colts’ starter last season before Andrew Luck took back over the reigns this season.
Brissett completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 3,098 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Even though his stats were not that impressive, the former third-round pick believes he is a starter in the NFL.
“I want to be a starter in this league,’’ he said (h/t CBS4 Indy). “If that’s what you’re asking me, yeah, I want to be a starter in this league.”
Is Brissett right in his thinking? Without a doubt. He’s proven with both the Colts and New England Patriots that he can win games.
However, Colts GM Chris Ballard made it abundantly clear two weeks ago that they would have to be blown away by another team to trade Brissett.
“I think he’s a starter in the league,” Ballard said (h/t Indianapolis Star). “It would take somebody doing something that would blow me away, and it has to be the right thing for the kid, too. I’m not just sending him anywhere.”
If we take Ballard’s statement with a grain of salt, then Washington would not be the right thing for Brissett. They are the most dysfunctional organization in the NFL and seem to make puzzling decisions.
However, if you are Doug Williams and Washington, you would love to have Brissett, who is scheduled to make a modest $890,000 next season.
When you factor that in plus whatever upside he has left, Brissett would be a better acquisition rather than reaching for a quarterback in the draft.
