Nick Foles trade to Kansas City?

By: Jake Rajala

The Kansas City Chiefs have unveiled a successful offseason at this midpoint of July. On offense, The reigning AFC Champions upgraded the offensive line unit by signing Joe Thuney in free agency and acquiring left tackle Orlando Brown in a trade from Baltimore Ravens. Andy Reid hasn’t made a lot of changes on the defensive side of the football this offseason, but the team surely expects young profiles like second year cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and second round pick linebacker Nick Bolton to transcend into defensive stars in the 2021 season. 

The Chiefs clearly have improved the roster and filled in weak spots with proven upgrades. With that being said, it’s very clear to see that the Chiefs are AFC favorites and Super Bowl contenders. 

Andy Reid, also known as Big Red, clearly has his team sitting pretty heading into training camp. The Chiefs are in a great position to start the regular season on fire and stroll into matchups against the Baltimore Ravens, divisional rival Las Vegas Raiders, and Buffalo Bills with loads of confidence. However, I see a slight, unique concern on this prometheus-like Chiefs squad.

The Chiefs backup QB amid the well oiled AFC juggernaut is the below average No. two QB, journeyman signal caller, Chad Henne. To sum up Henne’s lack of explosion and proven ability at this stage in his career, the 36 year old QB has thrown for a “combined five passing touchdowns in the past five years”. Henne with the backup role is especially a cause for concern because Mahomes has missed three games combined (and playoff gametime) in the last two seasons. 

I believe the number two QB position has been drastically underlooked given the other weak spots being prioritized, the cap situation, and the praises from the rooftops for Mahomes shadowing the interest in miniscule talent, or competition added to the QB room. However, I believe the Chiefs could blatantly use a more robust talent at the number two QB spot and there’s a perfect backup QB candidate for the Chiefs offense. 

Reid’s former QB Nick Foles, who resides in Chicago, would be the perfect addition to Chiefs nation. Foles has the experience of Reid’s high flying offense, he’s one of the top backup QBs in the league, and he would be a sizable upgrade over Henne.

The Chicago Bears drafted Justin Fields and signed veteran pocket passer Andy Dalton this offseason. Fields and Dalton are battling for the starting QB gig, while Foles is seen as the odd man out. CBS Sports rightfully states Foles is a potential trade candidate amid a two headed QB battle brewing between Dalton and Fields. Matt Nagy would expectedly ship out the veteran QB if the right offer comes along. Foles is ought to be worth a 6th round draft pick in such an exchange. 

New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys have been rumored to be trade candidates for the former stud Eagles QB. However, I believe the Chiefs would not only be the best fit for Foles, but it would ultimately be an underrated move by a Super Bowl contending team. 

Foles was a QB under Reid when he entered the league as a Eagles third round draft pick. After Foles spun out in Philadelphia, he then reunited with Big Red in Kansas City in 2016. Foles’s time in the Windy City could be coming to an end, so he should go back to his roots and reunite with the coach that drafted him into the league.

Foles may not be a consistent starting QB in this league, but he’s thrown 20 passing touchdowns in the past few seasons as a rotating starter, he’s been a Super Bowl MVP, and he’s only 32 years old. The Chiefs could get an experienced, yet young profile, in Foles. When Mahomes sat out the January third matchup against the Chargers, the Chiefs lost 38-21 and lacked any explosion. In the Super Bowl showdown, Mahomes was clearly rusty and not himself, which resulted in a crushing 31-9 loss. 

The Chiefs clearly look like a shell of themselves when the MVP Pat Mahomes is not in the lineup. And unfortunately, Mahomes has missed too much time in recent memory. The former Super Bowl MVP that edged out Brady on the big stage can be the Chiefs QB to step onto the plate, if Mahomes goes down with another wretched injury.