Despite reports that at least four teams were interested in his services, quarterback Mike Kafka has cleared waivers.
Kafka, who was waived by the Eagles as they trimmed their roster to 53 players on Friday, is now an unrestricted free agent free to sign with any team.
The fact that no team wanted Kafka, even though he comes cheap with a contract that pays him minimum salaries the next two years, may indicate that NFL teams are starting to figure out that when Eagles coach Andy Reid gives up on a quarterback, he knows what he’s doing. Reid, who tried to trade Kafka before waiving him on Friday, has a track record of trading quarterbacks at the right time: In Reid’s time in Philadelphia, the Eagles have received a second-round pick from the Dolphins for A.J. Feeley, a sixth-round pick from the Vikings for Kelly Holcomb, a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick from the Redskins for Donovan McNabb, and a second-round pick and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for Kevin Kolb. None of the teams that traded for those quarterbacks got good value for them.
It’s still possible that Kafka, a 2010 fourth-round draft pick of the Eagles, could make something of the NFL career. But it’s telling that in the judgement of 31 NFL teams, he wasn’t worth a waiver claim.