EARTH CITY, Mo. — When St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher confirmed Tuesday that the team is already interested in signing quarterback Nick Foles to a long-term contract despite him having never played a snap in a game for the Rams, the reactions were seemingly split down the middle.
On one side, there were many who wondered why the Rams would want to hand over big dollars to a quarterback who has so much to prove in a Rams uniform. On the other, some saw the value in signing Foles now before the season, when he could send his price tag shooting through the roof.
Personally, I can see the arguments on both sides. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at some reasons why it makes sense for the Rams to sign Foles soon and some arguments why it doesn’t.
Why it makes sense:
Signing Foles now could result in the Rams getting a bargain. Let’s say the Philadelphia Eagles had tried to extend Foles before last season when Foles was coming off a 27-touchdown, two-interception performance in 2013. Foles’ price was soaring, though it was still a one-year sample size. But Foles returned, his numbers took a major hit and he suffered an injury that limited him to just eight games. It remains to be seen how Foles will fare in a Rams uniform, and though that also qualifies as a reason not to sign him, the unknown also could keep his price more reasonable. Think Andy Dalton or Alex Smith — something in the $13-17 million-a-year range rather than something closer to $20 million annually or having to use the franchise tag after the season.
The scariest proposition for any NFL team right now is simply not having a starting-caliber quarterback on the roster. The Rams have been a prime example of what below-average quarterback play can yield in the past two seasons. When they traded Sam Bradford, they made it a point to get a quarterback in return. They wanted one who can be a starter, and without Foles involved that deal never gets done. The Rams now have Foles on the roster, and he seems to want to stay with them. Getting a deal done now eliminates any anxiety the Rams might have about having to find a starter in the draft or betting their future on their ability to develop a rookie like third-round pick Sean Mannion.
The Rams have 16 players set to become unrestricted free agents after the season. They also could have that small matter of a possible move to Los Angeles coming after the season. In other words, they have a lot on their plate. Getting a deal done now with Foles or any of the players they want to keep around for the long haul lessens the stress for what could be an incredibly busy offseason.
Why it doesn’t make sense:
As mentioned, Foles hasn’t played in a game for the Rams yet. He’s coming off a season in which he struggled with interceptions and injury. The Rams can’t afford to have either of those become an issue in 2015. The offense isn’t expected to be a high-powered passing attack, which means Foles’ two primary jobs are taking care of the ball and not getting hurt. The 10 interceptions in eight games in 2014 are a red flag, and with the Rams expected to have three new starters on the offensive line, Foles’ durability could be put to the test again. Signing him now only to see him struggle with either or both of those issues in 2015 could be crippling to the salary cap for a couple of years, even if they get him at a reasonable price.
Foles is making a big transition from Chip Kelly’s wide-open offense to the Rams’ more conservative approach. While it’s a change he should be able to handle, there are still a lot of unknowns on how that will go. Something as simple as taking snaps under center hasn’t really been a part of Foles’ repertoire in a long time. Now, he has to get those mechanics down and learn a new scheme with new terminology. Signing him without seeing how that translates to games is a tricky proposition.
While it’s understandable that a team would fear not having a quarterback, making a big decision and devoting big money to a player who has never played for your team based on emotion isn’t exactly a great way to do business. Fisher said Tuesday the Rams believe in Foles based on what he did in Philadelphia and what he’s showed so far in St. Louis. The Rams don’t figure to ask Foles to carry the load for the offense, which makes re-signing him, even at a so-called discount, an expensive venture.
