The quarterback market just got a little more interesting. ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting Sam Bradford has asked the Philadelphia Eagles for a trade, and will not be showing up for any of their remaining offseason workout program. This report comes less than 12 hours after Yahoo! Sports reporter Charles Robinson said that Bradford would not ask for a trade.
It remains to be seen if the Eagles will actually deal Bradford, but this does not make the situation easy. They would clear out 2017 cap space, but would see their 2016 cap eat $11 million in dead money from last month's 2-year deal.
Will Bradford be dealt? If he refuses to show up, I don't see how the Eagles can keep him. They hold leverage in terms of taking back bonus money if he holds out into the season, but do they really want to have to deal with that this fall? It just seems like the easiest option is dealing him and moving on with Chase Daniel as the starter.
If the Eagles grant his request and look for a trade, I would not be at all surprised to hear the 49ers mentioned in rumors. I don't think Bradford ends up in Santa Clara, but the Eagles will need to do what they can to create some kind of market for Bradford. They lose some leverage with his trade demand. They have some value as Bradford is only due a $7 million base salary in 2016. He is due $13 million in 2017 base salary, as well as a $4 million roster bonus, but a new team could part ways with him prior to that if need be.
Now we sit and wait to see when and if a deal gets done. The Broncos and Jets are the two teams most desperately in need of a starter. I'd include the 49ers, but we've heard enough about Trent Baalke's interest in Blaine Gabbert that I won't include them at this point. I would be amused if the Broncos added another Eagles quarterback so soon after trading for Mark Sanchez.