Why The Eagles Should Keep Nick Foles Over Carson Wentz

Nick Foles is only 11 months removed from winning Super Bowl LII with the Philadelphia Eagles - along with the big game's MVP award.

But because this is the NFL, Foles is set to leave Philadelphia in free agency this offseason. Head coach Doug Pederson has already vowed that the team will be building around Carson Wentz, whose season ended early because of injuries for a second straight year.

Earlier this month, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Foles is going to become a free agent in 2019. He carries a $20 million option for next season, but as Rapoport noted, they're not picking it up unless he's starting. That's way too much money to give to a backup.

Foles has had to play out these last two games for the Eagles as Wentz continues to nurse a back injury, and it's believed that his season is over. In his place, Foles has "only" led the Eagles to big-time victories against the powerhouse Los Angeles Rams (on the road, by the way), and Houston Texans.

The 29-year-old Foles had 24 completions for 270 passing yards in that game against the Rams, handing Jared Goff and co. their first home loss of the season. Foles followed it up with an excellent performance against Houston, completing 35 passes for 471 yards and four touchdowns - leading Philly to a potential season-saving 32-30 victory.

Wentz understandably struggled for much of the 2018 season, trying to rebound after suffering a gruesome ACL tear late in the 2017 campaign. He finishes 2018 with 3,074 yards and 21 touchdowns - but only went 5-6 as the starter.

Foles, meanwhile, has gone 3-1 as the starter for Philadelphia. And even though we have to remember Wentz was dealing with numerous injuries, there's no denying that Foles was the better quarterback for Pederson this year.

Many thought Foles was just a one-hit wonder last season, simply getting hot at the right time and winning the three biggest games of his life. But instead, Foles has looked like an MVP caliber quarterback in his four starts for the Eagles this season. What more could they have asked from him?

That's why the Eagles should actually consider keeping Foles and trading Wentz in the offseason. Or, they could simply see if Foles will come back at a discounted price in 2019 - and have him and Wentz battle it out for the starting duties. That seems unlikely, though.

Think about it. Wentz is 26 years of age now and has already suffered a torn ACL and a nagging back injury. Those are the types of injuries that could completely derail a player's career, no matter the age.

Foles is only three years older than Wentz, and there are no health concerns with the former. He hasn't suffered any serious injuries that could ruin a career, and Foles has been healthy for most of his football career. The same cannot be said about Wentz.

We've seen what both players look like when they're healthy and in peak form. There really isn't that much of a difference between Foles and Wentz. But what we do know is that the former is a money player, capable of winning when all the pressure in the world falls on his shoulders.

With Wentz, we don't know yet if he's a clutch performer, and how he'll respond to pressure in the postseason. Foles can win you a Super Bowl and pull off some much-needed wins against elite competition late in the season. That's the definition of a clutch performer.

So are the Eagles really going to part with Foles, who has looked every bit like a franchise quarterback since re-signing with them in the 2017 offseason? He's only 30 years of age next year, looks like an MVP candidate under Pederson's offense and has already won on the grandest stage.

As great as Wentz is, you don't know if this guy will be able to stay healthy throughout his career. Yes, Wentz is an MVP caliber quarterback when he's on the field. But again, the key words there are "on the field."

And think about what the Eagles could get in a potential trade for Wentz. You'd be looking at a bundle of draft picks - at least two first-rounders. With key players like Jay Ajayi, Brandon Graham and Golden Tate likely to leave this offseason, Philadelphia will need to get all the picks they can to replace the lost pieces.

The Eagles really have every incentive to keep Foles. He's still in his prime, is healthy and wins the big games. In keeping Wentz, the Eagles can only hold their breath and simply hope that he stays healthy from here on out.

Keeping Foles is truly the safest option for Philly. In trading Wentz, they'd add more pieces to what could be a potential dynasty in the making. Everybody knows the Eagles will wind up letting Foles go and roll with Wentz for the long run, but that doesn't mean it's the right call.

If the Eagles think this through carefully, they should end up making the decision to keep Foles and move on from Wentz.

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