Carson Wentz went from being one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the NFL to one who made a record out of the number of times they were sacked. Despite a successful four years with the Philadelphia Eagles, one season became his demise leading to the quarterback’s trade one year ago today.
Now, after finishing his first season with the Indianapolis Colts, where does Carson Wentz stand moving forward?
THE FALL OF WENTZYLVANIA
As the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Carson Wentz out of North Dakota State University. His rookie year proved hopeful as he transformed into an MVP-caliber player the following season. Wentz led the Eagles to the playoffs in 2017-2019, playing a massive role in their Super Bowl run.
After averaging a whooping 3,547 passing yards in his first four seasons, Wentz hit a wall entering 2020. Despite a true lack of weapons and a history of injuries, Wentz made several rookie mistakes. He finished the year with his lowest career stats in passing yards (2,620), touchdowns (16), completion percentage (57.4), and passer rating (72.8).
His benching in Week 8 caused an interruption in his relationship with Doug Pederson and Howie Roseman, leaving the quarterback wanting a change of pace. With an opportunity to reunite with former offensive coordinator Frank Reich, Wentz made his intentions clear and got exactly what he wanted.
On February 18, 2021, the Eagles traded Wentz to the Colts, receiving a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 conditional first-round pick.
With Wentz’s trade came the highest debt in NFL history — $33.8 million of dead money for Philadelphia.
A FORMER FRANCHISEE
While Wentz settled into Indy, he found his footing, averaging 244.2 yards in the first half of the season. After winning one game in his first five, he rallied to pull off eight of the Colts’ next ten games.
However, with a playoff spot on the line, Wentz returned to his 2020 play, completing 58.9% of his passes for only 333 yards and two touchdowns in his final two games. Though the Colts failed to make it to the post-season, Wentz pulled through for Philadelphia, earning the Eagles their conditional 2022 first-round pick.
All-in-all, Wentz’s performance wasn’t bad. He finished the season with 3,563 passing yards and 27 touchdowns. However, the Colts may be looking to part ways sooner than expected. And the decision would have to come within the next few weeks.
By the third day of the 2022 league year (March 19), Wentz’s salary will become fully guaranteed. If Indianapolis releases the quarterback before that date, they will incur a dead cap hit of $15 million.
