Stock watch is a hot phrase when assessing an athlete's trade value, and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles sent his stock into another galaxy on Sunday while leading his team to their first Super Bowl win in franchise history.
Foles threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns, in addition to also catching a scoring pass himself following an audacious trick-play call, to help the Eagles earn a 41-33 win.
He consistently hit receivers while showcasing poise in the pocket and a strong arm to hit tight spots.
The NFL was in a quarterback drought this season, as a number of teams struggled to find consistent signal-callers. Foles has one season left on his current contract, with free agency coming after the 2018 season, but teams will almost certainly be knocking on Philadelphia's door to inquire about Foles this off-season.
And why not? He spent most of the season with a clipboard, watching as second-year pro Carson Wentz dazzled Eagles fans with mouth-watering glimpses into the future.
But Foles answered the call when Wentz went down with a torn ACL late in the season, maintaining in the NFC Championship game and Super Bowl the same high-level offense the Eagles enjoyed with Wentz.
"I'm going to stay aggressive with Nick and let his playmakers make plays," Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said on NBC before the big dance.
That is about as big a compliment as a head coach can give his backup quarterback entering a Super Bowl, and Pederson meant it. The playbook was open all game on Sunday, allowing Foles to throw downfield, audible and even catch a touchdown pass.
After his success late this season, and becoming a Super Bowl winner, it's hard to imagine Foles accepting a back-up role with so many starting opportunities potentially available.
Even possible contending teams such as the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos appear poised to add quarterbacks to their rosters, and Foles could be the perfect option.
The way Foles' contract is structured makes it likely Philadelphia will trade him this off-season. Though he signed a five-year deal with the Eagles before the 2016 season, his contract becomes void if he is still on the roster in February 2019.
While the Eagles just witnessed the importance of having an elite backup QB, they could be more enticed to cash in on Foles' sudden popularity and earn compensation for him this off-season.
Given the caveat in Foles' contract, his future seems fairly simple: he likely won't be in an Eagles uniform next term.
Where he ends up is a tough question to answer, but the Cardinals seem like a perfect solution. Arizona is a veteran team, and assuming Larry Fitzgerald does return next season, they have the offensive weapons to contend.
Foles proved this post-season that he can lead a team to the promised land and, after being named one of the most unlikely Super Bowl MVPs in history, he now looks poised to move on and give another team a chance to compete in the playoffs.
