Are the Eagles About to Score Big in the Carson Wentz Trade?
When the Eagles hired Colts assistant Nick Sirianni to become their next head coach it looked like the organization planned to keep Carson Wentz and attempt to rejuvenate his career. However Wentz has continued to remain silent about his status with the Eagles, with all signs pointing to him still wanting out of Philly.
Then on the day before the Super Bowl Adam Schefter confirmed the big news:
Eagles are expected to trade Carson Wentz in the coming days in what would be the latest blockbuster QB deal to rock the NFL, sources tell @mortreport and me. The most pertinent questions now become where, when and for what. But it could happen as early as this week.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 6, 2021
In an offseason that has already had major quarterback movement with the Jared Goff/Matthew Stafford trade and more expecting trades, Wentz seems to be apart of the next blockbuster deal. The only difference being that the Eagles are looking to gain more in this deal as opposed to the Rams. Los Angeles had to give up two other first round picks in order to get rid of their struggling 2016 first round quarterback with an albatross contract. But it seems that Howie Roseman and company actually want to gain high draft picks in exchange for Wentz.
Eagles are asking for two 1s for Carson Wentz, which has led to some dial tones, including from one team previously perceived to be a favored landing spot.
— Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) February 6, 2021
On the surface it looks mindboggling to think any NFL team would want to give that kind of draft capital for the worst quarterback of 2020 with a brutal contract. The one thing that Wentz has going for him what he did before 2020 and before his series of bad injuries. And there happens to be a couple of teams ready to win now who are actually willing to acquire Wentz and see if they tap in on his potential.
Case very different for two rumored teams.
Colts: Strong belief Wentz can thrive in their structure with their coaching.
Bears: 1st-round pick? Who cares? If it doesn’t work out, GM knows he’s gone anyway. Instability at the top can lead to short-term risk and long-term damage.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) February 6, 2021
So it looks like there are two teams who are currently in a bidding war for the Eagles quarterback. The Colts have always been an major candidate for obvious reasons. There’s the Frank Reich connection and the fact that Indianapolis has been looking for their long-term answer at quarterback since Andrew Luck’s abrupt retirement. With an above-average quarterback the Colts will be good enough to compete with the Chiefs and the Bills for the AFC Championship.
And then there are Da Bears who are also in desperate need of an above-average quarterback to go along with their elite defense. Things haven’t been the same in Chicago since the infamous Double-Doink and head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace will have one last chance to provide the Bears some progress. They probably figure that if they get Wentz and he plays like his 2020 self then they’ll get fired, something that seemed inevitable anyway. But even if he plays like his 2019 self in Chicago, then the Bears should be good enough to go deep in the playoffs. And it just makes the Chiladelphia Beagles more and more a reality. Though another issue with that will be if Wentz and Nick Foles can co-exist again. Unless . . .
Source is telling me Bears deal for Wentz is close. Foles is speculated to be included with another offensive player and a first rounder. Buckle up.
— Natalie Egenolf (@NatalieEgenolf) February 7, 2021
Boy the irony of the Eagles choosing Wentz over Foles two years ago . . . and then trading Wentz for Foles . . .
So even if the idea of giving up a First Round pick for Carson Wentz still sounds ludicrous, the Eagles front office know that there are a few teams out there who desperately a veteran quarterback who could be “good enough.” As much Roseman has been deservedly criticized for his decisions over the past couple of years, he deserves huge props for pulling off this kind of deal. It would be his most impressive trade since moving up from 13 to 8 to 2 in the 2016 NFL draft where he drafted the quarterback who helped the Birds win the Super Bowl in 2017 . . .