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Former Arizona Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles has been traded by the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Chicago Bears, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Bears are sending a compensatory fourth-round pick to the Jaguars.
QB trade: Jacksonville is trading QB Nick Foles to Chicago for the Bears’ compensatory fourth-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 18, 2020
Bears’ coaches such as Matt Nagy have worked with Foles in past and know him well.
Foles, 31, signed a 4-year, $88 million contract with Jacksonville last March, with more than $45 million guaranteed. That came after he spent the previous two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, including the 2017 season when he took over the starting job for an injured Carson Wentz and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl title (earning him MVP honors for that game).
Foles broke his collarbone in Jacksonville’s season-opener, then returned for three games in late November before being benched for rookie Gardner Minshew. Altogether, Foles completed 77 of 117 passes (65.8%) for three touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Bears (8-8), whose mantra is also Bear Down, have one of the stingiest defenses in the NFL, so they could emerge as one of the top teams in the NFC if Foles plays at a high level. He will compete with former No. 2 overall pick Mitchell Trubisky for the starting job.
Foles played for the Wildcats from 2009-11, racking up a program-record 10,011 passing yards.
QB play is about talent, yeah. But it is also about fit. Relationships. Chemistry. Comfort. Nick Foles is all of that for Matt Nagy. I love the move. Now they have a real chance to make some noise!
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) March 18, 2020
The Bears taking on Nick Foles' giant contract for basically no reason isn't remotely close to the dumbest move by an NFL team this week.
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) March 18, 2020
Imagine that.