Ranking Nick Foles’ best potential landing spots in 2019
By Ian Wharton
4. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals made the bold decision to hire Zac Taylor away from the Los Angeles Rams as their next head coach. While some will scoff at the notion, Taylor could prove to be the next coaching superstar. I appreciate their willingness to try a new candidate over a retread or in-house option like Hue Jackson.
What Taylor wants at the quarterback position is completely unknown, but the Andy Dalton-era could end if he wants a different skill set to remake the offense around. Though Foles is in a similar tier to Dalton overall, the former has proven himself as capable in the biggest moments, while Dalton’s benign presence is uninspiring.
If Taylor brings staples of the Rams’ offense to Cincinnati, then a quarterback who can perform at a high-level in structure will be critical. Foles has shown with two coaching staffs that he’s accurate enough and trusting of playmakers when in rhythm. Having A.J. Green available to him is a huge advantage as well considering his success with another big, talented receiver in Alshon Jeffrey.
The reason why the Bengals rank lower than the next few teams is that it still feels unlikely. The Bengals can escape Dalton’s contract without dead cap this off-season, but they can use him as a bridge instead of guaranteeing money to Foles.
What’s more likely is the Bengals target Murray in the first-round at No. 11 or via trade back, or wait to pick a developmental quarterback later and possibly address the position high in 2020. Taylor may feel he can plug and play a mediocre quarterback into a Rams-inspired system and find success.