NFL Insiders Rank QBs: Foles 22nd, Bradford T-23rd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Fans and analysts in the Delaware Valley have debated it ad nauseam (and will continue to do so) this summer---Nick Foles or Sam Bradford? And even if you gather the opinions of respected insiders around the league, 35 of them in fact, you won't get a concrete answer.
ESPN Insider Mike Sando surveyed eight personnel directors, six general managers, four head coaches, five offensive coordinators, five defensive coordinators, three salary-cap managers, two ex-GMs, two ex-head coaches, and one offensive assistant coach. The anonymous voters ranked the quarterbacks and placed them into tiers---tier 1 being the elite and tier 5 being the worst.
Both Foles and Bradford fell into the backend of tier 3, classified as "quarterbacks who are good enough to start but need lots of support, making it tougher to contend at the highest level."
Coincidentally, the two QB's were ranked right next to each other---Foles at No. 22 and Bradford tied for No. 23 with Teddy Bridgewater of the Minnesota Vikings.
However, according to the executives, Bradford clearly has more upside. The primary concern with Bradford, who the Eagles acquired this past offseason in a trade with the St. Louis Rams for Foles, is of course health-related.
"There is no quarterback I loved more than him coming out," one head coach said of Bradford via ESPN.com. "I am pulling for him. If he can stay healthy, he can be so accurate. Keep him as a 3 but only because of the injury factor."
Foles, who suffered a broken collarbone in Week 9 of last season, was down seven slots from his previous ranking after throwing 13 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in just those nine 2014 starts.
"You wish he was your backup because he could go win some games for you, but I wouldn't want him to be my starter," a head coach said of Foles.
You can see the full QB rankings here.