Pro Football Focus will be providing analysis for every major signing and trade during the 2015 free-agency period, accounting primarily for the quality of player and his fit with his new team, and focusing less on the financial terms of the deal.
Here are trade grades for the deal in which the Philadelphia Eagles send Nick Foles, a fourth-round pick and a provisional second-round pick to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for Sam Bradford and a fifth-round pick.
Link to grade articles on every major deal
Eagles get: QB Sam Bradford, 2015 fifth-round pick
Rams get: QB Nick Foles, 2015 fourth-round pick and provisional 2016 second-round pick (if Bradford doesn't start for Philly this season, the Eagles retain the pick, per ESPN's Adam Schefter)
Philadelphia Eagles: C-plus
The last we saw of Sam Bradford was in 2013, and at that time he was one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league. His accuracy percentage (completion percentage adjusted for receiver drops and other factors) was 74.7 percent, which was seventh best among 41 qualifying quarterbacks. The last time he played a full season was 2012, when he was above average, grading out at a plus-8.5 in his PFF pass rating.
The obvious concern with Bradford is his health. In every year since becoming a starter Bradford was pressured more than the average quarterback, which leads to more hits and sacks. In Philadelphia, he will be behind one of the best lines in the league, so he should take fewer sacks and hits -- which lowers his injury risk.
The move looks like an upgrade for the Eagles. While Foles played well in 2013, his play deteriorated in 2014. His accuracy percentage in 2014 was 68.6 percent, which ranked in the bottom 10 among quarterbacks.
Adding a potential second-round pick in 2016 in order to potentially upgrade at quarterback might be a little steep, but the provisions in the trade help in case Bradford doesn't start or is hurt.
St. Louis Rams: C-minus
While the Rams are getting a quarterback with less of an injury history, they are also getting a quarterback who hasn't played as well in the NFL, despite his early statistical success.
One of Foles' biggest problems is his play under pressure. He completed just 39.8 percent of his passes under pressure and posted a 4-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
He goes to a Rams team whose offensive line had a pass blocking efficiency of 75.7, which was the fifth worst in the league. The Rams have already released Jake Long, who was one of their best pass protectors in 2014. The only players who we know will be starters on the offensive line in 2015 are Greg Robinson, who struggled badly as a rookie, and Rodger Saffold.
In making this trade, the Rams now have less upside at the QB position for potentially a second-round pick in 2016. St. Louis in recent years has done a nice job of stockpiling picks and this seems to be another case of it. However, it looks like it could be at the expense of the 2015 season with Foles behind that suspect O-line.