Eagles Starting Over After Trading Carson Wentz

by Marc Narducci | Feb 23, 2021

Nobody could have envisioned such a drastic downfall for Carson Wentz, but his days of being the Eagles franchise quarterback are over.

Multiple reports say Wentz was traded for a third round pick this year and a conditional second round pick in 2022. The second round pick can become a first round selection if Wentz either plays 75 percent of the Colts’ snaps in 2021 or plays 70 percent of the snaps and the Colts make the playoffs.

The Eagles and Colts aren’t able to confirm this trade until the start of the 2021 NFL league year on March 17. The Eagles, did, however, publish the trade information on their website with the headline: Reports: Eagles acquire conditional first-round pick and more from Colts in trade for QB Carson Wentz.

Last season, with Philip Rivers as quarterback, the Colts went 11-5, earned a wildcard playoff berth and lost to the Buffalo Bills in the first round. Rivers retired after the season.

The Eagles will have a $33.8 million dead salary cap charge for Wentz in 2021 but his salary will be off the books after that.

Wentz was benched in the third quarter of the 12th game of the season against Green Bay and never returned. Despite only playing 12 games he led the NFL with 15 interceptions. His passer rating of 72.8 was ranked 34th in the 32-team league.

This came just three seasons after Wentz was in the running for MVP before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in the 13th game of the year against the Los Angeles Rams in 2017.

You all know the rest of the story.

Nick Foles came in and quarterbacked the Eagles to the Super Bowl championship.

Just as a refresher, Foles was sensational in the Eagles 38-7 NFC championship win over Minnesota, completing 26 of 33 passes for 352 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and a 141.4 passer rating.

Then he completed 28 of 43 for 373 yards, three touchdowns one interception and a 106.1 passer rating in the Eagles 41-33 Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots. Foles also caught a 1-yard scoring pass on the famous Philly Special play.

When Wentz was declared out for the year with a back injury late in the 2018 season, Foles came in and not only led the Eagles to the playoffs, but guided them to a first round 16-15 upset win at Chicago before losing 20-14 at New Orleans.

What is hard to believe is how well Wentz played even a year ago. He led the injury-depleted Eagles to four consecutive wins to clinch the NFC East and before suffering a season-ending concussion in the opening 17-9 playoff loss to visiting Seattle.

During that 2019 season Wentz completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 4,039 yards, 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.

The downfall for Wentz came when the Eagles drafted Jalen Hurts in the second round. He has not been the same since. Maybe Wentz felt the Eagles had greater needs for that second round pick. He probably also questioned the team's commitment to him, using such a high selection on a quarterback.

And after this lost season, Wentz but demanded a trade out of town.

Now Wentz is reunited with Indianapolis coach Frank Reich, who was the Eagles offensive coordinator during the Super Bowl season.

Can he succeed in his new surroundings?

Absolutely.

The Colts have one of the best offensive lines in the league and some good skill players in running back Jonathan Taylor (of Salem High) and receiver Michael Pittman, who just completed their rookie seasons.

Indianapolis needs another playmaker or two, but this is a stable organization that has been in the playoffs in two of Reich’s three seasons.

While many are bashing Wentz out of town and he certainly deserves criticism, he helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, by earning the NFC’s top seed and homefield advantage in the playoffs.

Foles will be looked on more fondly for actually winning the Super Bowl, but Wentz did contribute.

That still isn’t enough to suggest that his tenure was a resounding success.

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He was brought to Philadelphia to be the quarterback for at least a decade if not longer and he fell way short of that goal.

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Author: Marc Narducci

Eagles Starting Over After Trading Carson Wentz

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