After shipping Nick Foles to the Rams last week in order to acquire Sam Bradford, the Eagles could be aiming to move on from another quarterback currently on their roster. According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN (Twitter link), Matt Barkley, Philadelphia’s fourth-round selection in 2013, is on the trade block and could be had for a late-round pick.
Though rumors persist that Bradford is merely trade bait, the Eagles appear to be set at QB. Bradford looks like the favorite to start, and Mark Sanchez, re-signed to a two-year deal last week, will act as the No. 2. Barkley, then, is viewed as the third-string option, the role he’s played for the past two seasons. The USC product attempted 49 passes during his rookie season, but just one in 2014.
The 24-year-old Barkley was originally viewed as a lock to be selected in the top-10 of the 2012 draft, but after opting to return to USC for his senior season, he struggled, ultimately falling to the 98th overall pick in ’13. Barkley has never been looked at as a starting option in Philly, and when he has played, he’s exhibited a lack of arm strength that has talent evaluators worried about his NFL future.
Even given the paucity of capable QB options around the league, I’d be surprised if a club gave up more than a conditional seventh-rounder (the same compensation the Patriots received for Ryan Mallett) in exchange for Barkley. If the Eagles do deal Barkley, they’d presumably turn to Tulsa product G.J. Kinne, who’s been on their practice squad and is currently signed to a futures deal, as their third quarterback.