FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2019, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nick Foles (7) scrambles out of the pocket during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in Jacksonville, Fla. A person familiar with the trade says the Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to send quarterback Nick Foles to the Chicago Bears for a compensatory fourth-round draft pick. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because trades don't become official until the league year begins later Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File)

Jaguars trade Nick Foles to the Bears

Claire Nemethy March 18, 2020 Football, NFL 696 Views

The Jacksonville Jaguars traded veteran quarterback Nick Foles to the Chicago Bears for a compensatory fourth-round pick. The trademarks the quarterback’s fifth team and sixth stop in his eight years in the NFL.

His stops are listed in the following tweet:

With the trade, Jacksonville now has 12 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, including two first-round picks at No. 9 and No. 20. The team also has three picks in the 4th round, two picks in each of the 5th and 6th rounds and one pick in each of the 2nd, 3rd and 7th rounds.

What the trade means for the Jags’ salary cap

In 2019, the Jaguars signed Foles to a 4-year, $88 million contract with $50.125 million guaranteed.

The trade saved the Jags $3.125 million this year and cleared up $26.875 million from next year’s salary cap, per Michael DiRocco, ESPN NFL Nation Jaguars reporter.

DiRocco tweeted that the Jaguars’ quarterback mismanagement led to the organization absorbing $35.25 million in dead salary cap money in the last two years.

Scrutiny over Jacksonville’s front office decisions

Some NFL analysts and journalists felt the contract to be too large for Foles, who is arguably a career backup. When the quarterback signed with Jacksonville last year, he was coming off a solid playoff performance with the Eagles after taking over for injured starter Carson Wentz in December.

Justin Barney, sports editor for News4Jax, believes the Jaguars failed to get enough production out of Foles, given the amount of money his contract is worth.

Was it a good trade?

Ian Rapoport, NFL Network insider, said that competition could be beneficial for current Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Meanwhile, Jacksonville fixed the issue of paying Foles while Minshew emerged as a fan-favorite.

Trevor Sikkema, a senior NFL draft analyst for The Draft Network, believed the Bears’ trade for Foles to be unreasonable contract management by both teams.

Disappointing 2019 performance for Foles

The 2018 Super Bowl MVP could not live up to expectations. Jacksonville lost all four of the matchups that Foles started.

After Foles suffered a broken collarbone injury against the Chiefs in Week 1, the Jags turned to rookie Gardner Minshew, a sixth-round draft pick out of Washington State, until Foles recovered.

The veteran returned to play three more games for the Jaguars, only to be benched after a poor showing against Tampa Bay.

In that game, the 31-year-old quarterback finished with a 1.2 QBR, according to ESPN. He also had three turnovers in the first three drives of the game.

The Jaguars looked to Minshew to finish out the season.

The Jags place trust in Minshew

In 14 games, the rookie compiled a 60.6% completion rate with 3,271 yards passing and 21 touchdowns to only six interceptions. On the ground, he rushed 67 times for 344 yards, posting 5.1 yards per carry.

With the trade, Minshew became the uncontested starting quarterback heading into the 2020 season.

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