Kansas City Chiefs

Doug Pederson lays down the law on the Eagles' QB situation

Published Mar. 10, 2016 4:59 p.m. ET

Dan Graf

When you re-sign your starting quarterback for two years and $36 million and eight days later bring in another QB for three years and $21 million on the first day of free agency, there will be questions as to your intentions.

New Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson wanted to stop such chatter immediately on Thursday, one day after his team signed free agent Chase Daniel to play alongside – make that behind – Sam Bradford. So he held a press conference.

“Sam Bradford is the number one,” Pederson told reporters Thursday, via CBSPhilly. “Chase Daniel is the number two. And then we’re working on the number three. So I just want to put that out there right now, going forward.

“It eliminates any distraction going forward and now we go out and we play ball from here.”

Chase Daniel

Pederson, of course, had been the offensive coordinator in Kansas City, where Daniel spent the past three seasons as a backup to Alex Smith. Daniel went 1-1 as a starter there and has a grand total of 77 pass attempts in six seasons as a pro with the Saints and Chiefs.

Bradford bounced back from a season and a half lost to ACL injuries by throwing for 3,725 yards, 19 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions in 2015, his first year with the Eagles. He was the first overall pick in the same 2010 draft that had no time for Daniel, but Bradford has a 25-37-1 career record as a starter and got some of the blame for the Eagles’ 7-9 record last season under fired coach Chip Kelly.

Sam Bradford

It was no sure thing he’d be back in Philly under Pederson, but now that he is – with Daniel behind him – there was just one little quarterback matter for the new coach to address: What about Mark Sanchez, who was 4-6 as a starter in two seasons under Kelly?

“Right now, he’s still on the roster,” Pederson told reporters. “Again, that’s still part of the evaluation process. He could be the No. 3.”

Given that not many third-string quarterbacks make the $4.5 million Sanchez is scheduled to earn in 2016, don’t be surprised if the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft is a No. 2 somewhere else next season.