Following a disappointing 2015 season, the Los Angeles Rams cut ties with former Arizona Football quarterback Nick Foles at Foles request.
Rams granted QB Nick Foles' request to be released, per source. Now a free agent.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 27, 2016
After the beloved mullet-sporting gunslinger was benched towards the end of last season, former Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles requested to be released from the Rams to continue his hopes of being a starter elsewhere in the NFL.
It should not come off as a surprise that the Los Angeles Rams decided to part ways with one of their former Pac-12 quarterbacks on their depth chart. However, Foles signed a contract extension last offseason worth $14 million guaranteed over two years and this likely led to the Rams decision to dump him now that they drafted Cal Bears Jared Goff No. 1 in the 2016 NFL Draft.
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It’s likely that the amount of guaranteed money also made Foles an unattractive trade target, but his request for release came with an agreement for less guaranteed money, making him a free agent.
Foles threw for 10,011 yards in his three seasons in Tucson, making him Arizona’s career passing yards leader. He notably got the Cats off to a 7-1 start his junior season, helping the Cats climb all the way to No. 9 in the AP Polls at one point during the season.
While his senior season was a disappointing season for Cats football, Foles still registered stats that made him one of the best quarterbacks in college football nationwide and he became the most decorated quarterback in Arizona history. As a result, the Philadelphia Eagles and then-coach Chip Kelly selected Foles in the 3rd round of the 2012 NFL draft.
Foles has since established himself as one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL at times in his career, earning a nod to the 2013 Pro Bowl while garnering Pro Bowl Offensive MVP honors. The Pro Bowl served as a culmination of sorts to one of the best seasons the NFL has ever seen from a quarterback in terms of a touchdown-to-interception ratio perspective. Foles was able to throw 27 touchdowns, including an NFL-record seven in one game, to only two interceptions in 10 starts for the Eagles that season.
, thus sending the former Wildcat to St. Louis.
Now that the Rams have relocated to Los Angeles, the team made a splash on draft day by trading up for the number one pick to take Cal quarterback Jared Goff first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Goff’s selection presented a logjam in the Rams’ quarterback depth chart that also features former
Goff’s selection presented a logjam in the Rams’ quarterback depth chart that also features former Oregon State Beaver Sean Mannion as well as Case Keenum. Dumping one of them seemed inevitable and Foles’ departure seems to be mutual.
What’s next for Foles? There are a number of teams that are in the market for a quarterback, especially on the west coast. The San Francisco 49ers would seem like a logical fit for both Foles and the team if not for a burned bridge with his former Eagles coach Chip Kelly.
currently at the helm. Starting quarterbacks frequently get injured during the season and it cannot hurt to have someone with experience on the bench
From a personal standpoint, I think the Arizona Cardinals should consider signing Foles as a potential replacement to Carson Palmer. Nick has played two of his best NFL games at the University of Phoenix Stadium, one with the Eagles and one with the Rams.
Foles is not afraid to throw the ball down the field and he has demonstrated a high football acumen that leads to a low turnover rate, which gives me some reason to believe that he at least deserves a chance to compete for the future Cardinals starting job with another former Michigan State quarterback, Drew Stanton.
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Regardless of what direction his NFL career heads at this point, Wildcats fans should never forget what he did for the football program in Tucson. Though he wasn’t able to guide the Cats to a Holiday Bowl or Alamo Bowl victory, Nick put Wildcats football on the map again. Best of luck on your future team Nick and remember to Bear Down!