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Eagles draft QB Nick Foles

The Eagles drafted Arizona quarterback Nick Foles in the third round, a not-so-subtle hint that they may be looking for Michael Vick's replacement sooner rather than later.

The Eagles selected Arizona quarterback Nick Foles as their third-round draft pick. (Michael Conroy/AP)
The Eagles selected Arizona quarterback Nick Foles as their third-round draft pick. (Michael Conroy/AP)Read more

The Eagles drafted Arizona quarterback Nick Foles in the third round, a not-so-subtle hint that they may be looking for Michael Vick's replacement sooner rather than later.

There aren't many franchise quarterbacks that come out of the third round, but Foles is considered a developmental quarterback that perhaps Andy Reid believes he can turn into a starter.

"We all know quarterback in a pretty important position," Reid said. "When you see one you like you snap him."

The Eagles said he had offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg call Vick to give him a heads up that the Eagles were taking Foles. Mornhinweg worked out the 6-foot-5, 243-pound Foles and the team brought him in for a visit pre-draft.

"I did get the sense that they were interested," Foles said in a conference call.

A third rounder isn't exactly a major investment. The Eagles already have Mike Kafka, a fourth round pick from 2010, and Trent Edwards on the roster. Edwards, who spent last season out of the NFL, was signed off the street in February.
His position would seem to be more precarious than Kafka, who Reid recently said was the backup, although Edwards has much more experience.

Vick has four years left on his contract, but most of the guaranteed money only comes in 2011. Reid has been critical of the 32-year old this off-season, saying he has to avoid contact and potential injury. The Eagles flirted with acquiring Baylor's Robert Griffin III, who went to the Redskins second overall, and with signing Peyton Manning, who eventually inked a deal with the Broncos.

Foles had an impressive senior year, statistically speaking, at Arizona. He passed for 4,334 yards, completed 69.1 pct of his passes and tossed 28 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. Foles' record as starter over three seasons was 15-18, though.

The 22-year old is a pocket passer. Foles has an above average arm, but doesn't wow scouts with his power. He throws well on the run, but is not considered a scrambler.

"I'm not a Mike Vick by any means," Foles said.

He is the first Arizona quarterback to be drafted since 1961 (Eddie Wilson).

Foles is the seventh quarterback taken in the draft, behind Andrew Luck, Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler and Russell Wilson of Wisconsin, who Reid said he also narrowed his sights on. Michigan State's Kirk Cousins was rated as the fourth-best quarterback by some analysts, but was still on the board after three rounds.

Get complete coverage of the 2012 NFL draft.