Jaguars, Colts discussed potential Foles trade prior to Rivers signing

The Jaguars appear to be interested in dealing veteran quarterback Nick Foles — at least for the right price.

The latest report comes from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo that the team had talks with the Indianapolis Colts regarding a potential trade Foles just prior to the Colts inking a deal with former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers.

“The Colts and Jaguars also had discussions about a potential trade for Nick Foles,” Garafolo reported earlier today. “And it got to the point where they were discussing draft pick compensation, and it sounds like this was going on while they were also having contract discussions with Phillip Rivers.”

While an inner-division trade, particularly one for a quarterback, is rare, the Jaguars appear at the very least interested in dealing Foles for the appropriate price, and it appears multiple teams have already begun at least preliminary discussions with the club while evaluating their other options.

Two days ago, ESPN’s Ed Werder reported the Chicago Bears were interested in Foles or Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, who also is in limbo with his respective club due to the near-certainty of the Bengals acquiring former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the number one overall selection.

Yesterday, long-time New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady officially moved on from the team by agreeing to terms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which means the Patriots are certainly in the market for a quarterback, draft or otherwise. There is a strong possibility that the Patriots and Jaguars could eventually speak regarding the quarterback.

For the Jaguars, if the team were to trade Foles it appears they will not need to surrender much in the way of cash considerations, meaning the full amount of Foles’ contract, minus the guaranteed portion of the deal, will be transferred from the team acquiring the veteran quarterback. The Jaguars would save $3,125,000 against their cap for the 2020 league year, while clearing the remaining portion of the deal for 2021.

While the Jaguars are certainly entertaining offers for the veteran quarterback, as ESPN’s Mike DiRocco indicated earlier this morning, the team appears to only want to do so at the right price. Having an ability to gain real draft capital in the mid to late rounds of the 2020 draft would likely be the ideal target point for the team to move on from Foles.

Although a potential trade for Foles could come to fruition eventually, teams are also discussing their other options. As the Colts have with Rivers, teams are discussing quarterbacks such as Dalton, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who was allowed to seek a trade yesterday after the club agreed to terms with former New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and former Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston.

It appears it could only be a matter of time until Foles is dealt away from the team, however teams have options regarding which direction they want to go.

For the Colts, their previous interest in Foles makes sense. Colts head coach Frank Reich coached Foles as a member of the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles, and raved about the quarterback just prior to the team’s week 11 matchup in Indianapolis. The Jaguars do not appear to be afraid to deal the quarterback to a rival if at all possible.

Over the next few days, the Foles situation could come to fruition as the team continues to answer calls and discuss their options.