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Nick Foles is likely due for a big pay increase next season

( (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images))

After the release of DeSean Jackson, the Eagles have a little over $20 million in cap space remaining. Besides paying this year's rookie class, the big spending is likely over as the Eagles will now look to roll over as much remaining cap space as possible into next season.

Why? Nick Foles and his impending new contract.

The Eagles' franchise quarterback is set to make exactly $750,880 this season, an obvious steal for a player who is being expected to repeat the same Pro Bowl-caliber year he had last season.

This is the last year Foles will come cheap, however. So far, the team has been unable to re-structure his deal; as per the collective bargaining agreement, no rookie can have his deal re-done until after his third season. For the Eagles, that means they will be able to re-negotiate Foles' deal starting next year.

While those negotiations are still a year away, you can bet that the moves the Eagles made this offseason were made with Foles in mind, and the contract he could land next offseason.

So what kind of money will Foles get?

Gauging the market on Foles is not easy. The stats show he is one of the best young quarterbacks in the game. Last season, Foles finished with 27 touchdowns to just two interceptions. That is going to be hard to repeat, so let's say he does take a step back. If Foles can turn in just 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions next season, and the Eagles win the NFC East as many expect, he will have 50 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions in two years -- as well as two division titles.

That is the kind of resume that gets quarterbacks paid -- big time.

And if Foles does that, it will be hard to argue he is not a top-10 NFL quarterback. If he improves, and throws for, say 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, that argument obviously becomes even harder.

Here is a look the top 10 deals handed out to quarterbacks not on their rookie contract.

1. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

Guaranteed Money: $58 million

Average Salary: $19.2 million

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Guaranteed Money $54 million

Average Salary: : $22 million

3. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Guaranteed Money $54 million

Average Salary: $18.1 million

4. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Guaranteed Money $42 million

Average Salary: $20.75 million

5. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Guaranteed Money $41.5 million

Average Salary: $17.66 million

6. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Guaranteed Money $40 million

Average Salary: $20 million

7. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Guaranteed Money $40 million

Average Salary: $18 million

8. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Guaranteed Money $38.1 million

Average Salary: $15.3 million

9. Eli Manning, New York Giants

Guaranteed Money $35 million

Average Salary: $16.25 million

10. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Guaranteed Money $33.2 million

Average Salary: $14.66 million

If Foles gets the average of those 10 deals, he will walk away with $43.5 million in guaranteed money and an average base of $18.1 million.

Despite his would-be claim of being a top-10 quarterback, it is just hard to see Foles walking away with that kind of money.

Why?

Having Chip Kelly as his head coach helps on Sundays, but it might not help him when it comes to a new deal. The Eagles will have to ask themselves how much of Foles' success is due to his skill, and how much is due to Kelly. That might not matter during the season, but if Foles is looking for monster money, the team could decide he is replaceable, as long as Kelly is the head coach.

You also have to wonder how having Kelly as his coach would affect Foles on the open market, as other teams could also have concerns about how the quarterback would fare with a different coach.

Finally, if you are Foles -- and you already come from a family worth tens of millions -- you have to ask yourself just how far you are willing to press the Eagles on a deal, when switching teams is probably not a great career move. Foles leaving a little extra cash for the team would also allow them to keep stockpiling playmakers around him, something that will make his life a lot easier.

Plus, the last time the Eagles thought they had a "franchise" quarterback on their hands was Michael Vick in 2011. They gave him a deal with $35.5 million guaranteed, and an average base of $16 million. While that was Joe Banner who handed out the deal, it is just unrealistic to expect the Eagles to hand out a monster contract to Foles. Not with the complications surrounding his actual worth, not with Kelly likely feeling Foles can be replaced and not with the way the team likes to work the salary cap.

With all of that in mind, after looking at the different contracts handed out, and trying to pin where exactly Foles will fall on the quarterback totem pole following next season, here is a shot at what the quarterback should expect.

Contract: 5 years

Total value: $85 million

Guaranteed: $38 million

That deal would put him ahead of young quarterbacks such as Andrew Luck of Indianapolis and Robert Griffin III of Washington (at least until they get new deals), but still behind players like Stafford, Roethlisberger, and Romo. That is probably right where Foles belongs, and is likely right where his deal will fall.

Follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks