PHILADELPHIA -- Quarterback Chase Daniel, who worked with Doug Pederson for three years in Kansas City, agreed to a three-year contract Wednesday with the Philadelphia Eagles. The deal was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan.
The move can't be made official until 4 p.m. ET Wednesday when the new league year begins.
Daniel, 29, will rejoin Pederson, who is now the head coach of the Eagles. Mark Sanchez, the Eagles' backup for the past two years, is likely the odd man out. Releasing Sanchez would save the Eagles $3.5 million in 2016 salary cap space.
The Eagles signed quarterback Sam Bradford to a new two-year contract last week. Bradford is likely to be the Eagles' starting quarterback with Daniel serving as the backup.
Daniel and Bradford have brushed shoulders before. Daniel played at the University of Missouri while Bradford was at Oklahoma, when both schools were in the Big 12 Conference. Missouri's only two losses in 2007, including one in the Big 12 championship game, were to Bradford's Oklahoma team.
In 2007, Daniel was invited to New York as one of the finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Florida's Tim Tebow won the Heisman that year. A year later, Bradford won it.
Daniel entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2009. He ended up with the New Orleans Saints in 2010 as a backup to Drew Brees. Daniel spent three years with the Saints before joining the Chiefs in 2013.
That year, Pederson became the Chiefs' offensive coordinator under head coach Andy Reid.
Pederson has emulated his mentor, Reid, with this move. When Reid left Green Bay to become head coach of the Eagles in 1999, he brought Pederson along on a three-year contract. Pederson's role was to start and run the offense correctly while first-round pick Donovan McNabb learned the system.
Pederson was released after the 1999 season.
Daniel will help Pederson teach his system to the Eagles. But Bradford is likely to remain the starter under his two-year, $36 million contract. Pederson, who backed up McNabb, Brett Favre and Dan Marino during his career, values the impact a smart backup can have.
Daniel's role will be that much more important if the Eagles draft a quarterback this year. Pederson has said that would be his ideal plan, bringing in a young quarterback to develop. With Bradford learning the offense and starting, Daniel would have time to help a rookie make the transition from college to the NFL.