“80 Percent Chance” Eagles Sign Tim Tebow If They Can Trade Matt Barkley

Update:

Dianna Marie Russini confirms reports that the Eagles are trying to trade third-string QB Matt Barkley.

• According to Russini, there’s an “80 percent chance” they will sign QB Tim Tebow if they can find a trade partner for Barkley.

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According to Jason Cole of the Bleacher Report, the Eagles’ interest in former first-round pick QB Tim Tebow depends on their ability to trade third-string QB Matt Barkley.

Sources tell Cole that Barkley is available for trade and the Eagles would be willing to accept a late-round pick pick such as a fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-round selection in return for him.

This would allow Tebow to take over as the team’s No. 3 quarterback.

Cole mentions that even though Tebow isn’t exactly a great passer, he would fit in the Eagles’ spread offense, due to his ability to run and the fact that things could open up for him in HC Chip Kelly’s offense.

The other point Cole makes is that a third-string quarterback doesn’t necessarily need to run the entire offense given that he’s a contingency option at best. With this in mind, they could get Tebow comfortable with a package of plays and the fact that he can run with the ball may actually help his productivity in the event they would need to go with a third-string quarterback.

The Eagles surprisingly brought Tebow in for a workout on Monday but he wound up leaving without an offer from the team.

ESPN’ Chris Mortensen later reported that the Eagles are willing to trade Barkley for a late-round pick, which obviously fits with what Cole is saying.

Barkley, 24, still has another two years remaining on his four-year, $2.739 million rookie contract. He’ll make reasonable base salaries of $592,50o and $685,000 over the remaining two years of the agreements.

Last year, Barkely appeared in one game and attempted one pass and ran for three yards.

Tebow, 27, has reportedly been working on revamping his throwing motion in the hope of getting another shot in the NFL.

The Broncos used the No. 25 overall pick on Tebow back in 2010. He lasted just two years with the team before he was traded to the Jets. The Patriots brought him in for the 2013 training camp, but he was among their final roster cuts.

He last appeared in an NFL game during the 2012 season when he completed six of eight passing attempts for 39 yards to go along with 32 rush attempts for 102 yards and no touchdowns.