Eagles chose Nick Foles over Chase Daniel, turn focus to salary cap

Nick Foles was drafted by the Eagles in 2012 and played three seasons for the Birds — including his record setting 27 touchdown, two interception season in 2013. He holds several team records but was jettisoned in favor of Sam Bradford as the Chip Kelly regime seized ultimate power.

He’s been pretty well-traveled since then, with stints in St. Louis and Kansas City in both a starting and backup role.

Monday, the Eagles announced he was back in Philly.

The 28-year-old signed a two-year deal worth $11 million with $7 million guaranteed. Which means a year after signing Chase Daniel — another former Chiefs quarterback to a three-year, $21 million deal — he’s on the outs, right?

According to NFL sources, Daniel asked for his release and is expected to get it. He says it has nothing to do with Foles, and instead that he “believes he is a starting quarterback.”

Daniel carries with him a $6 million cap hit, and it sounds like there are no takers on the trade market. The Eagles will hope to get their cap relief after Daniel inks a deal with another team as his contract contains offsets that allow savings when another team pays him instead.

Clubs like the Jets, Browns, 49ers and Texans are all looking for quarterbacks and could take a chance on Daniel.

Meanwhile, as the team is pinching pennies left and right.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Eagles and Zach Ertz reached a deal to renegotiate the big contract extension they gave the tight end last offseason. The$3.225 million due toErtz’sas his base salary this season has become a roster bonus, which will save $2.58 million incap space.

This move will change Ert’z$5.6 million cap hit and spread it out over a longer length of time.

The creative accounting will need to continue as spotrac.com estimates the Eagles are more than $6 million over the salary cap. Howie Roseman, in a news conference Friday said he did not plan to cut Jason Kelce — leaving Ryan Mathews and a few others as possible causalities heading into April’s draft.

“Our cap people, led by Jake [Rosenberg], do a great job, tremendous job of putting us in situations to be successful, and you’ve got to be flexible at these times,” Roseman said. “I think our situation is tough this year, but as we look out, it continues to improve.”

The Eagles will not make another expenditure on defensive tackle Bennie Logan. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the free agent is signing a one-year deal with Andy Reid and the Chiefs. After the departure of Nolan Carroll to Dallas, the Eagles don’t have any more big-name free agents to retain.