There’s about to be a new entry on Chase Daniel’s resume. The veteran journeyman backup quarterback has asked for his release, and the Philadelphia Eagles have granted it, according to the team.
Chase Daniel released by Eagles
The veteran backup hopes to compete for a No. 1 role.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
After the Kansas City Chiefs declined to pick up Nick Foles’ option, the Eagles re-signed Foles on a two-year deal. Foles is expected to be the backup to second-year signal caller Carson Wentz. Foles had the best season of his career in Philadelphia in 2013, throwing for 2,891 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just two interceptions over 13 games.
The return of Foles made it impractical for Philadelphia to keep Daniel. The Eagles raised some eyebrows when they signed Daniel to a three-year, $21 million contract prior to the 2016 season. He was set to count for $8 million against the cap this season, and by releasing him, Philadelphia absorbs $7 million in dead money.
Daniel drew some interest on the trade market, but a viable deal never materialized. As a longtime backup, the 30-year-old has just 78 career passing attempts and two starts. He does bring years of valuable experience and a reliable veteran presence as a backup, but he has indicated that he would like to be a starter.
The New York Jets may be a reasonable destination for Daniel. New York currently has Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty on the roster. Petty had 133 pass attempts last season for the Jets, and Hackenberg had zero. Daniel could compete for a starting role in New York.
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace was the New Orleans Saints’ director of scouting when the team brought in Daniel as an undrafted free agent following the 2009 draft. The Bears signed Mike Glennon to a deal that averages around $15 million per year, which suggests he is expected to be the starter in Chicago. Daniel could presumably compete with Glennon to earn that role, but it seems like a long shot based on Glennon’s contract.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said on air Monday morning that a return to the Saints could also be possible. Daniel does bring years of valuable experience in New Orleans’ scheme and a reliable veteran presence as a backup.
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