The Eagles are starting off day two of the legal tampering window with a slightly surprising decision. Quarterback Nate Sudfeld has signed a one-year deal with the team and will provisionally become the primary backup to Carson Wentz.
The Eagles tendered Sudfeld a one-year contract last year and at the time, it was the obvious decision. He’d come a long way since being poached by the Redskins at the start of the 2017 campaign, and the leap in mechanical improvement during the 2018 preseason was notable. Sudfeld completed 43/74 passes for 5 touchdowns, tossing 3 interceptions in the process. But more importantly, he showed that he wasn’t afraid to let it rip and take big shots downfield.
One offseason later though and Sudfeld injured his wrist in preseason, forcing the Birds to bring in Josh McCown. What’s really interesting is that the Eagles then kept McCown as their QB2 despite Sudfeld returning to full health. McCown was called into action in week 2 and of course, that fateful playoff game, being trusted to run the offense as usual, as opposed to Sudfeld, who in 2018 was simply asked to hand the ball off before a dump pass in week 7 led to his first-ever NFL touchdown.
Sudfeld has looked strong in each of the last preseasons (going 10-18 for 1TD/0INT and 177 yards last year) and has clearly come on leaps and bounds. But there does have to at least be some slight concern as to why he’s never really been allowed to swim in hot water, with the Eagles keeping him away from it at all costs.
That may change in 2020, with Sudfeld currently the only QB behind Wentz on the roster outside of Kyle Lauletta. It seems as though the Eagles are high on Sudfeld. At least, high enough to keep him around for one more year. Could another strong offseason in this system ease all doubts and prove that the former Indiana Hoosier will indeed be ready to be dropped in the deep end at a moments notice? Only time will tell.
Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
