I understand that the St. Louis Rams want to go all-in on a quarterback they believe could finally get their franchise back on track. They traded former top pick Sam Bradford in order to land Nick Foles this offseason and they know that it would probably give a strong impression if they were to award Foles a shiny new contract before he plays a game in St. Louis.
That explains why, according to NFL Media, the Rams are pushing to sign Foles to an extension before he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
According to [Ian] Rapoport, the Rams would like to avoid Foles playing out the final year of his deal, which they believe would put them in a financially difficult position if Foles’ performance increases his market value. The Rams would also like to avoid having to use the franchise tag.
You want to assume your quarterback will gain value and nobody wants to use the franchise tag, but this seems like an unnecessary gamble, especially considering Foles has dealt with injury and consistency issues ever since entering the league as an afterthought third-round pick in 2012.
In 2013, Foles set a new single-season record with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 27-to-2 while also leading the NFL in yards per attempt (9.1) and posting the third-highest passer rating in league history (119.2). But the 26-year-old missed large chunks of the two seasons that sandwiched that one as a result of injuries. And he also missed time in 2013 due to a groin injury and a concussion.
Even when Foles was healthy last year, he struggled within a system that usually inflates the performances of those who take part in it. He completed fewer than 60 percent of his passes and his passer rating of 81.4 ranked 27th among 33 qualified quarterbacks. He was no better with a 79.1 rating as a rookie in 2012, and he’s a sack-taking machine who continues to lack pocket presence.
It’s completely possible Foles’ 2013 campaign was a fluke, which is why the Rams would be better off letting him prove otherwise during a contract year.
