It feels like just yesterday I was discussing the possibility of a Carson Wentz trade to Indianapolis.
The Colts’ interest in Wentz came to a head Thursday morning. The Eagles traded Wentz to Indianapolis for a conditional 2022 2nd round pick and a 3rd round selection in this year’s draft.
The move comes just 2 years after the Eagles handed Wentz an extension worth over $100 million in guaranteed money. Philadelphia will now have to pay a dead cap charge worth over $33 million because of the trade — with dead cap charges being money that is paid to players who are no longer with a team.
The trade has plenty of caution weaved into it as well. The 2022 conditional 2nd round pick that the Colts traded to Philly will turn into a 1st if Wentz is able to stay healthy and play 75% of his snaps in the upcoming season. They are clearly aware of his injury history and new tendency to miss open throws. Subsequently, they made sure they won’t have to give up a 1st round pick if that’s the case.
The upside for Indy is enormous though. The Colts have a roster that could make the playoffs with backup QB Jacoby Brissett starting, it’s that good. But last season showed they need a real stud at QB to truly round them out. Their QB from 2020, Philip Rivers, wasn’t a star by any means but simply avoided turning the ball over and really let the run game and defense control games. With that formula, they still won 11 games and gave the 2nd-seeded Bills a run for their money in the Wild Card round.
Wentz can make Rivers’ 2020 season look like child’s play though. He’ll add another layer to the playoff-caliber Colts if he starts playing at the MVP level he played in 2017.
In Philly, the main benefactor is going to be QB Jalen Hurts. He subbed in as starting QB at the end of the 2020 Eagles’ season for the then-benched Wentz. Hurts displayed a fantastic ability to open the field up with his running and delivered some top-tier throws in limited action. He was poised in the pocket consistently and his time at Alabama and Oklahoma on the national stage has made him a quick learner in terms of professionality.
He made his fair share of rookie mistakes though and probably won’t be a top 10 QB by the end of this season. In any case, his solid play last season has him poised to be the starter as the Eagles begin a rebuilding phase.
In 2017 the Colts looked poised for a rebuild themselves. They were coming off a 4-win season but instead miraculously made the playoffs thanks to a dynamic QB in Andrew Luck. Still remembering that miracle season, they are hoping Wentz will have a similar effect in improving this team. However, the difference in intangibles between Luck and Wentz is concerning.
When Luck was on the field or in the huddle, he had this energy about him that was palpable; you just knew something special was going to happen and his teammates did too. Although his talents were undeniable, his leadership was what brought him notoriety and respect in such a competitive arena. I mean, there’s a reason the guy led the league in game-winning drives in just his rookie season, he was the born winner Indy needed.
With Wentz, his last year in Philadelphia put his morale in limbo. He was so unsure of himself that the drafting of QB Jalen Hurts in 2020 made him lose confidence. The Eagles’ decision to draft Hurts was questionable to be sure but was made to account for the possibility that Wentz struggled with another injury. He misread their intentions and paid for it by having the worst season of any starter in 2020.
The confidence issues were only accelerated by the Philadelphia media that trashed Wentz after every game as well. Regardless, as a QB deemed worthy of a $128 million extension, Wentz had no excuse to fold under pressure. Especially when Aaron Rodgers took home MVP this season after seeing Green Bay draft QB Jordan Love, who was seen as a replacement for Rodgers. Instead of using it as fuel, Wentz let the doubt surrounding Hurts’ presence drown him.
One can argue that the Eagles had no right to pressure Wentz by drafting a QB (especially when they chronically needed WRs in a stacked draft). But if he continues to fold under expectations in Indy through next season, it all but proves the pressure was in his head all along.
He isn’t doomed though. Now that he is in a less cutthroat environment, look for Wentz to try and rekindle that swagger from 2017. It certainly helps that he is reunited with his former offensive coordinator Frank Reich. He oversaw Philadelphia’s 2017 offense and helped guide Wentz to his best career year. If there is anyone who can revive Wentz’s career, it’s Reich.
All in all, this was the most logical move for both the Colts and Eagles. Philly gets rid of a QB who had no interest in continuing his career there and now has some more assets to start fresh. For the Colts, they gain a QB whose potential may take them back to football’s promised land…
If only it were that simple.
