Jaguars News: Nick Foles set to become a free agent

The Jacksonville Jaguars may have gotten some good news when it was announced that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles will become a free agent.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are in the market for a veteran quarterback. The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Wednesday they the organization will not place the franchise tag on Nick Foles, allowing him to become a free agent. I was never good at playing connect the dots, but does the news of the signal caller’s impending status mean there is a chance he wears a Black and Teal uniform in 2019?

For the many fans who want to see a different body under center other than Blake Bortles, this could be good news. Of course, it is only speculation right now.

"“We’re going to let Nick Foles be a free agent,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “He deserves an opportunity to lead a team.”"

And with that statement, the national media once again has a story to write on where the top quarterback prospect in free agency might land. The Jaguars have been linked to Foles, who was MVP of Super Bowl 52 last season, even before the 2018 NFL came to a close.

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In order to even be a consideration as a team to land free agency’s biggest prize, the Jaguars must continue to clear cap space. On Wednesday, the team announced that defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has agreed to restructure his current deal. There will be more decisions made regarding veteran players and creating cap space by either restructuring existing contracts or players being released and becoming free agents.

The Jaguars figure to be one of the teams in the driver seat to ink Foles to a deal. The quarterback has a relationship with the team’s offensive coordinator John DiFilippo, who was the quarterbacks coach in Philadelphia in 2017 when the Eagles beat the Patriots to win the Lombardi Trophy.

In addition to finding a new signal caller, the Jaguars are in need of depth on the offensive line, depth at running back, wide receiver and tight end, and a healthy offensive line.

For the Eagles, it was time to let Foles become a leader of another team since the organization is committed to Carson Wentz as its starter.

"“I would love to lead a team,” Foles said at the close of the 2018 season. “The starter thing, leading a team, impacting a locker room … that’s why we play the game, to impact people, to create an atmosphere.”"

The move announced by the Eagles today also means the Eagles will benefit from the move. According to the ESPN.com story, By letting him become a free agent, the Eagles are expected to receive a compensatory pick as high as a third-rounder in 2020.

As of right now, the Jaguars have four quarterbacks on their roster – Bortles, Cody Kessler, Tanner Lee, and Alex McGough.