Stokley: Foles not a ‘significant upgrade’ over Keenum for Broncos

Jan 29, 2019, 4:12 PM Updated: Jan 30, 2019, 7:23 am

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On Monday, sources told “Pritchard and Cecil” co-host Cecil Lammey the Philadelphia Eagles may let quarterback Nick Foles “walk free and clear,” given there’s not enough cap space to franchise tag or come up with a trade scenario. And the Eagles decision, Lammey said, might influence the Denver Broncos’ decision on whether to pursue Foles this offseason.

However, “Stokley and Zach” co-host Brandon Stokley said on Tuesday he’s not convinced picking up Foles would be a significant upgrade over who the Broncos currently have under center: Case Keenum.

“I’m looking at Nick Foles and I’m saying, what kind of upgrade would we have here? And I don’t think a significant upgrade at the quarterback position,” Stokley said.

Stokley said that he does believe Foles would make a bigger impact on the Broncos than Keenum, yes, but he doesn’t have the requisite sample size from the Eagles quarterback to know exactly how much.

“The kicker is, if you did have that two-year sample size, Philly probably wouldn’t let him walk out the door,” said “Stokley and Zach” co-host Zach Bye.

In 12 games (eight starts) over the past two seasons for the Eagles, Foles has put up impressive statistics, throwing for a 16-game average of 2,600 yards and 16 touchdowns with just eight interceptions and a completion percentage of 66.9.

The Eagles under Foles in 2017 and 2018 went 6-2 and earned a victory in Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots.

During his previous five NFL seasons — including stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, and the Eagles — he had a 16-game average of 3,510 yards passing, 11.2 touchdowns, and 5.4 touchdowns with a 60.4 completion percentage.

In that span, Foles started 36 games and earned a record of 20-16.

During Keenum’s first season in Denver in 2018, he went 6-10, throwing for 3,890 yards with 18 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, and a 62.3 completion percentage.

Stokley’s comments come a few weeks after “Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mark Schlereth said the Foles many teams appear to covet heading into this offseason isn’t likely the same guy he’s been the past two seasons for the Eagles.

“He’s not going to be the guy you’ve seen the past couple of years …” Schlereth said.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.