Will Kelly Be Cautious About Bradford Extension?

It’s still weeks away from the start of Eagles training camp and two a day practice sessions. With over forty new players and multiple starting positions yet to be decided, there is plenty to be excited about. With the hype comes the cautious optimism that Sam Bradford will start and finish the 2015 season.

Even without ever taking a snap under center for the Eagles and all of the games missed to injuries, the upside with Bradford projects to have a higher ceiling than any of the other quarterback that Chip has had to work with since coming to Philadelphia. I understand that the “promise” of what Bradford can do in the Eagles systems with the weapons that he didn’t have in St. Louis provides a great level of excitement. At the same time, I’m hesitant with the notion of extending Bradford long term until after the 2015 season.

Projecting the annual dollar figure with the quarterback payouts the last few years, is it the “best” strategic move to commit 18-20 million annually to Bradford until we saw a fully healthy and productive player? Even if Bradford were to remain healthy for the entire season, finish with Pro Bowl worthy stats and lead the Eagles to a playoff win, I’d still argue that it would be wise to still weigh “options.”

If not Bradford than who is the quarterback for the 2016 season? This revolving door of starting quarterbacks is a big reason why so many people were willing to do whatever it took to land Mariota. There is speculation that Russell Wilson could be available via trade in 2016. I get that Wilson and his agent are working the “business” side of football, jockeying for positon with the reported twenty five million a season request. When the smoke clears, Wilson will get his long term and remain a Seahawk.

So where does that leave the Eagles? Free agency isn’t going to be the answer, possibly a trade for a veteran quarterback could be explored. Maybe Kaepernick becomes available if he fails to deliver for the 49ers this season, but that’s mere speculation at this point. Finishing as a playoff team in 2015 will put the Eagles outside of any draft position to land one of the top quarterback prospects, so all eyes are on Bradford to “save the day.”

The fear of the unknown, the health of Sam Bradford is ultimately the make or break of the 2015 season and beyond.

If it’s me, I’m flirting with the idea of the franchise tag for Bradford in 2016 if he indeed has the type of season that many believe he can finally have, if he can just stay healthy.
I would explore a long term deal, but it must be structured creatively, back loaded with the hefty yearly salary figures.

With how much Chip believes in his recovery process for injured players, his willingness to send a second round pick in 2016 in trading for Bradford and not able to land Mariota, I wonder what Chip would need to see and when he would need to see it for a long term to sign Bradford beyond the 2015 season.