Tension is reportedly growing between quarterback Chase Daniel and the Philadelphia Eagles after the team named Carson Wentz as the starting QB for the 2016 NFL season. This could lead to the unhappy backup QB to opt out of his contract with the Eagles.
Earlier this week, the Eagles made a surprising move by trading away Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings, a team that has been looking for a quality QB ever since Teddy Bridgewater got seriously injured during a preseason game.
Aside from the Vikings, the trade also had a huge impact on the roster of the Eagles. Now that Bradford is gone, the Eagles have turned to Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2016 draft, to lead the team as its main passer for the upcoming season.
"Everybody feels like this kid is ready to go," coach Doug Pederson said about Wentz. "We drafted him to take on the reins. It's something now that we've prepared to do. He's such a special guy. This stage is not too big for him."
After moving Bradford, Wentz and Daniel became the Eagles' remaining quarterback. This means that after Wentz was named as the team's starter, Daniel will serve as his backup.
For a veteran star who has been playing in the NFL since 2009 with the Washington Redskins, losing a prime position to a rookie player may not feel good. Before the NFL draft in April, Daniel signed a three-year contract with the Eagles that's worth $21 million. He was brought on the by the team to be its No. 2 quarterback after Bradford.
Being the next in line, Daniel did not expect to become a third-stringer when Wentz was brought in to the team. But now that he's No. 2 again behind a more inexperienced athlete, there's a chance that Daniel might leave the team in the hope of finding a starting job with a different franchise.
If Daniel doesn't leave, then the Eagles might consider trading him away since $21 million for a backup is pretty expensive. As a solution, they could exchange him for a cheaper replacement who can still serve as a reliable backup to Wentz.
