Why Hasn’t Carson Wentz Been Traded Yet?

Philadelphia has been going through the routine post-football season blues during this time of year. The Sixers and Flyers have been going through ups-and-downs in the midst of their regular seasons and the Phillies are just about to start Spring Training. But the Eagles remain the top story in the city despite being done for over a month because the fanbase has been anticipating the trade of quarterback Carson Wentz.

For over a week now it seemed inevitable that the once-potential franchise quarterback for the Eagles was going to be traded to a new team, the only issue is that everyone is still waiting. There are several theories as to why this is the case: Howie Roseman and company are trying to get the most they can get in the deal. The only issue is that in most trade scenarios it’s the Eagles who need to get rid of Carson Wentz more than any team in the NFL needs to trade for him.

With the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears appearing to be the two primary suitors for Wentz’s services, it looks like the Eagles are trying to drive up the price and gain a 1st round pick if not multiple in the trade. The problem with that is that Wentz only has so much value at this point in his career. The team that trades for him isn’t getting him for what he was last season, they’re trading to see if they can potentially revive his career into at least what he was in 2018-19. If he turns back into his 2017 self then Wentz is worth two 1st rounders, but that is completely uncertain, not to mention the historic amount of quarterback movement that’s expected to come this offseason.

As this never-ending saga continues the big question is whether or not the Eagles are waiting for the right time or if they’re blowing their best chance to get rid of Wentz. If a couple of 2nd round picks is the best they can do then perhaps they have no choice but to take the deal just to get his contract off the books. If the Eagles don’t trade Wentz by March 20th, then they owe him $10 million in a roster bonus. While the team would love to save those $10 million, maybe paying him that before making the deal will be apart of a compromise when trading him after.

Although Howie pulled off a master stroke in 2016 by trading Sam Bradford away for a 1st round pick because of an unforeseen injury to Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, it’s highly unlikely type of situation would occur again. And there is also the factor of Wentz possibly only wanting to go to Indianapolis over anywhere else. But since he has doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract the Eagles can tell him “Too bad.” if they get the best offer from a team he’s not interested in.

Whether this trade soap opera finally happens tomorrow or in late-March, it’s necessary for the Birds to do the deal and move on. The Carson Wentz Era on the field flamed out in a blaze of glory, but off the field it’s going out with a whimper. Perhaps it’s a fitting way to go out for a player who has one of the most complex legacies in Eagles history, maybe even more complicated than Donovan McNabb’s.