PHILADELPHIA -- Under normal circumstances, it would seem far-fetched to suggest the Philadelphia Eagles could consider trading Sam Bradford a week after signing the quarterback to a two-year, $36 million contract.
These are not normal circumstances.
The NFL landscape changed dramatically on Wednesday. The market for quarterbacks shifted, and the Eagles might be in a position to take advantage of that.
The Denver Broncos, who are still hungover from their Super Bowl victory, are suddenly without a starting quarterback. Peyton Manning's retirement wasn't surprising. The departure of Brock Osweiler, who signed with the Houston Texans, was very surprising.
The Broncos will have a tough time selling their fans -- and the players on their sterling defense -- on the prospect of Trevor Siemian as their starting quarterback. Siemian, a 24-year-old who just finished his rookie season, is the only quarterback on the Broncos' roster.
What are the Broncos' options? Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is a free agent after starting for the New York Jets last season? Robert Griffin III? Colin Kaepernick? They have some choices there.
But the Eagles would be smart to make a phone call. Would Bradford be more appealing to Denver general manager John Elway and coach Gary Kubiak? Both of them are former quarterbacks. Elway, like Bradford, was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
If Denver is interested, the Eagles' next call would be to Bradford. It would be a little awkward, trying to trade a player right after negotiating a new contract with him. Bradford made it clear that he wanted to be back in Philadelphia.
But the Broncos would have to be considered appealing. They just won the Super Bowl. They have an excellent defense and enough offensive weapons to be successful. Colorado borders a sliver of Oklahoma, where Bradford grew up, played college football and maintains an offseason home.
ProFootballTalk.com reported Wednesday that Bradford hasn't received his signing bonus yet. The $11 million is scheduled to be paid out in two payments, one on March 18 and another $5.5 million on Sept. 1. If the Eagles could work out a trade for Bradford, the Broncos could pick up those payments.
Again, it's unlikely. But Bradford might welcome a move to a team closer to home. And he might not mind avoiding a scenario in which he is competing with Chase Daniel, the other quarterback the Eagles signed.
Daniel could step into the starting role, with the Eagles likely to make drafting a quarterback a priority.
That was not the Eagles' plan when they negotiated the two-year deal with Bradford. But the NFL landscape looked different then. It has changed, and the Eagles might want to consider taking advantage of the situation.