PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 03: Quarterback Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles walks the field as quarterback Jalen Hurts #2 huddles with the team during warm ups prior to the game against the Washington Football Team at Lincoln Financial Field on January 03, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The NFL playoffs are about to kickoff and over half the league is already looking forward to next year as they retool their roster for a better 2021 season. COVID reduced revenue streams this past season and the 2021 salary cap will reflect that. There'll be a plethora of veterans available this spring as teams try to get under the declining cap ceiling.
One of those veterans who will be available is Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. Wentz's tenure with the Eagles quickly soured as his on-field play cratered after injuries and a sudden loss of mechanics and poise. This was terrible timing for the team since his massive $128 million extension kicks in this off-season.
The Eagles don't have much of a choice with Wentz after another batch of reports came out about how unhappy he is about his situation. Being benched for Jalen Hurts was warranted, but his feelings were hurt when the former Oklahoma and Alabama signal caller was drafted last spring. This is the second time Wentz couldn't handle competition and responded poorly to the team addressing the backup position. With Doug Pederson now gone and Matthew Stafford already traded, it will be interesting to see what kind of market develops for Wentz.
There's been much discussion about whether the Eagles can get rid of Wentz due to the massive financial implications, but make no mistake that they can and will. Paying a malcontent $34 million to sit on the bench is even worse than paying him to play elsewhere. Trading him prior to June 1 would almost be a break-even financially for the organization, and after June 1 would save the team $25 million in cap space in 2022.
Wentz's contract is palatable as a two-year, $47 million deal during the 2021-2022 campaigns, according to Spotrac, and a manageable dead money hit as he turns 30 in 2023 if he busts. He's worth a flier for quarterback-needy teams that can't draft a top prospect. Here are at the top options that can afford Wentz and why they make sense for him.
Indianapolis Colts
The clearest fit for Wentz is in Indianapolis. His connection to head coach Frank Reich is easy after the two combined for a dynamic 2017 run where Wentz had almost 3,300 yards, 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 13 games when Reich was the Eagles offensive coordinator. Reich got the best out of Wentz and knows how to simplify his offense around his skill set.
The Colts have the third-most cap space entering free agency and a massive need at quarterback. They can easily absorb Wentz's $34.6 million cap hit and still have enough money to re-sign TY Hilton, Justin Houston, Denico Autry, and Xavier Rhodes if they choose. The draft pick compensation to the Eagles will likely be minimal, and the Colts have depth thanks to years of stacking picks and stashing talent.
There are still key questions for the Colts in this fit. Reich's RPO-heavy approach with Wentz helped change the NFL but also is stale now four years later; does he feel he can build a workable, modern-version of that offense that will be productive enough in 2021? Does he feel Wentz's dip in playmaking outside of the pocket is a result of injuries and capabilities, limited supporting cast in Philadelphia, or was 2017 the aberration?
If Ryan is available for a first-round pick (and yes that's likely the cost), this team can absorb their big contracts. The Colts have needs, but quarterback is the top one, whereas some other teams on this list have bigger cap constraints and roster limitations than the Colts. Wentz feels like the backup option for the Colts because of this reason.
Chicago Bears
Sportsbooks have the Bears as the second-favorite to land Wentz despite the team projected at the cap line in 2021. Getting to $34 million in open space would require restructuring key deals like Khalil Mack, Kyle Fuller, Charles Leno Jr., and extending Akiem Hicks. Those aren't bad ideas anyways, but the team has to decide whether they want to essentially guarantee another year on those individual contracts to open space.
The Bears absolutely need to address the quarterback position and consider Wentz if they're comfortable with restructuring deals. Mitchell Trubisky's resurgence is more of the result of a weak schedule and situational play, not some shocking revelation that the troubled passer has uncovered. Letting him walk in free agency must be the plan, bringing him back only in an emergency situation where they miss on every other option.
Wentz would fit well with head coach Matt Nagy. The Bears need to retain Allen Robinson or replace him, and continue to add talent though for this to work. Wentz dealt with similar weaponry in Philadelphia and wasn't good enough to win with an average cast, so the Bears must invest around him.
Nagy can use Wentz's athleticism and comfort outside of the pocket effectively to keep his efficiency high. He can function as a higher-end game manager in this offense and give the defense rest. There'd be nothing wrong with starting Wentz slowly as he rebuilds his confidence while the defense wins games.
The upside of Wentz is worth it. This team has already overcome similar lows with Trubisky, so there's little downside for the Bears. Like other teams on this list, looking into other veterans makes more sense, but the Bears should be attracted to the possibility of giving up a fourth-round pick or later for Wentz compared to a first-rounder.
New England Patriots
Like the Colts, the Patriots have a clear opening at quarterback and a ton of money to trade for Wentz. They rank fourth in cap space and will likely have more if they trade Stephon Gilmore as expected this offseason. The Cam Newton experience led to a painful offensive slog as the team lacked playmakers around him, and the Patriots needed to overhaul the unit regardless of their decision to let Newton move on.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels did some things well with Newton and he can incorporate his experience with the athletic power passer with Wentz. Keeping him on the move and developing quick-hitting routes make processing easier for Wentz, and McDaniels has done both throughout his career. Can the Patriots add at least two receivers to the offense and find playmakers for Wentz? Or will they miss on their investments in the position like they have so many times before?
Adding a weapon like Kyle Pitts in the draft and then signing a free agent like JuJu Smith-Schuster or Corey Davis would be required for Wentz to succeed. Adding two studs would give him a few productive and reliable options, and this offense would become competitive. Ryan also makes sense for this team, but Wentz seems more likely based on Bill Belichick's desire to find undervalued talent and save on draft picks.
San Francisco 49ers
Make no mistake about the 49ers' desires to land Matthew Stafford this offseason. But with the QB landing in the divison with the Los Angeles Rams, they’ll need to look elsewhere.
Failing to do so wouldn't leave the 49ers in too tough of a situation. Jimmy G is expensive and has an extensive injury history like Wentz. But he’s cheaper to move on from than Wentz. San Francisco is sitting 12th in the draft order, which means its in a reasonable spot to trade the pick along with a future first-rounder to get into the top four for either Justin Fields or Zach Wilson. Even a less expensive move up for Trey Lance makes sense.
The 49ers only have $20 million in cap space, but simply cutting Jimmy G opens up more than enough space for Wentz. There are not many options for subsequent moves, and they'd like to re-sign Jason Verrett or Richard Sherman, Trent Williams, and Kyle Juszczyk.
This looks like an unlikely landing spot for Wentz. Moving up for a cost-controlled, healthy rookie allows the team to keep the cheaper quarterback and re-signing more of their talent. The long-term would be in better hands with Wilson or Lance and they're both excellent schematic fits.
Washington Football Team
Would the Eagles really trade Wentz within the division? They traded damaged goods in Donovan McNabb to Dan Snyder once, and this could be another coup to dump their quarterback on him again. At least Wentz has some upside.
Washington has more than enough money to take on Wentz and definitely has a need. ESPN's Adam Schefter speculated that head coach Ron Rivera will reunite with Cam Newton for an absurd $25 million a year, which seems like a massive miscalculation if that's true. Signing Newton for a below-market deal does make sense though since Washington would have to maneuver to draft someone like Alabama’s Mac Jones in the draft, or get lucky trading for a veteran from elsewhere.
It's a little hard to imagine trading for Wentz when Newton is a valuable player at a cheaper cost and available. Newton's arm seemed to die as the season progressed, and maybe Rivera will look past his connection to Newton and see that as a sign of his body failing him. Wentz at least has a strong arm and room for a higher ceiling despite the extra associated costs.
It seems unlikely, seeing as the Eagles have more to lose by making this move if Wentz rebounds. Washington might be better off targeting Jones and signing Newton as an upside flier to compete with him.
Denver Broncos
The last significant option to trade for Wentz are the Broncos. Drew Lock utterly failed to deliver on the glimpse of upside he showed as a rookie in 2019, and the team has to feel desperate to win in 2021. This coaching staff and front office will be cleaned out if they don't take a step forward next year.
A move will be necessary though or else their best option to compete with Lock would be either Ryan Fitzpatrick or a rookie. Sitting ninth in the draft is a good spot to trade up, but the price for the premier picks will be extreme for a team that has a number of costly veterans on defense that need to be replaced in coming years.
Wentz can be a theoretical upgrade to Lock for a much cheaper draft pick cost, and he'd immediately have one of the best young surrounding casts in football. The Broncos offensive scheme will work fine for him and the team just needs him to be solid and not spectacular to compete for a Wild Card spot next season.
President of football operations John Elway, who just relinquished his GM duties, should love his physical traits and upside, and the team has the cap to get a deal done. This is a better fit than most of the teams on the list. Adding a top 10 pick to this roster along with a quarterback upgrade is a good start to the offseason. Even if Wentz busts, there's a chance Lock progresses as a backup and replaces him, and the Broncos may not have a realistic shot that someone better is actually available.