Will the Bears Cut Nick Foles Soon?

The fate of Nick Foles with the Chicago Bears remains uncertain, with trade options and release scenarios on the table. This article explores the potential outcomes for Foles based on current market conditions and the Bears' strategy.

Current Trade Value and Options

While Nick Foles might still have some trade value, the Bears are considering whether to trade him or hold onto him until the draft or training camp.

Trade Scenarios

A trade involving Foles would likely only happen after the NFL draft and free agency if teams still want a QB. Some teams that failed to acquire a QB through draft picks or free agency might be interested in Foles. However, with no banks of willing suitors, the Bears might face a tough decision.

Release Options

Based on Foles' performance and the Bears' financial situation, there are two main release scenarios:

1. Release Foles

Since the end of the 2020 season, Nick Foles has mainly been a financial burden rather than a valuable starter or backup for the Bears. Under his contract, the team has taken on some of the $88 million, 4-year contract given to him by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. This has enabled Foles to earn around $8 million annually, but it makes him an expensive free agent.

Considering Foles' current trade value, it could be an all-time low, especially since he couldn't secure a backup job with any team. Given these factors, the Bears might decide to release him, even after signing Andy Dalton in free agency and Trevor Siemian to replace him as a backup. However, Siemian's two-year, $4 million deal also means the team won't want to release Foles just yet, as they don't want to eat all the dead money.

2. Keep Foles

While releasing Foles might be tempting, the Bears have a cap hit of around $8 million for Foles, which would still fall on the team if they release him. Therefore, the Bears might decide to keep him for now, as moving on completely is not an immediate option.

Trade Possibilities

It's possible that Foles might still get traded for a late-round draft pick. His performance level has generally been comparable to other backup QBs like Andy Dalton, Tyrod Taylor, and Case Keenum. As we saw with Case Keenum, he was traded for a 7th-round pick relatively recently. Even though Foles has a better resume due to his Super Bowl MVP award, teams might still see him as valuable enough for a mid-to-late-round pick.

Furthermore, the Bears might consider more of a 6th or 7th-round pick for Foles, especially if they find a backup-needy team like the Texans.

Conclusion

Ultimately, no one can predict with certainty what will happen to Nick Foles. However, it is possible that he could get traded for a 7th-round pick near the end of the draft or shortly after. It's hard to envision the Bears outright releasing him, but it is not completely impossible.

For more updates and insights, stay tuned for the latest NFL news, where we'll keep you informed on any potential moves involving Nick Foles and the Chicago Bears.