Sticking with Wentz isn’t best policy for Sirianni
We were told ad nauseum how smart Carson Wentz was when the Eagles took him off the board with the second pick of the 2016 NFL draft.
Wentz certainly looked the part early in his rookie season and particularly in his second NFL campaign, setting the Eagles’ single-season record with 33 touchdown passes in just 13 games.
The last TD was legendary. Wentz, the major ligaments in his left knee shredded, threw a low laser to Alshon Jeffery. There was no other opening in the Rams’ defense.
Wentz hasn’t been the same guy since the injury, and he hit the wall last season. He held the ball forever, the best illustration being the safety he took while dropping back to throw in the end zone against the Cleveland Browns.
No NFL player was sacked more last season than Wentz, who was dropped 50 times. No one threw more interceptions than Wentz, tied with Denver’s Drew Lock for the league lead
with 15. Wentz also led the league with 19 giveaways. And he did all of that in just a dozen starts.
Rookie Jalen Hurts, who started the last four games for the Eagles last season, also has been billed as offthe-charts smart. He almost aced a test that measures the decision-making ability of a quarterback and make no mistake you could see it in his play last season despite the 1-3 mark as the starter.
If Wentz is required to compete with Hurts for the starting job this season, as new head coach Nick Sirianni intimated recently on sports talk outlet WIP, particularly in a new offense, Hurts will win the job. No question in this writer’s mind at all.
Which brings us to the second part of the Eagles’ quarterback quandary. Word has leaked that Sirianni has spoken with Wentz. That means management has spoken with Wentz, as well. At this point, there is no reason for dialogue unless the Eagles want to move Wentz, who got Doug Pederson fired and has shown no sign that he wants to stick around.
Quarterback talk is all the buzz around the league after the shocking deal that landed Matthew Stafford with the Los Angeles Rams, with Jared Goff and a couple of first-round picks going back to Detroit. It clearly identified the teams desperate for quarterbacks.
The list of quarterbackneedy teams included the Washington Football Team, which put out spin that it offered more for Stafford, the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots.
If the Rams reportedly inquired about Aaron Rodgers, you can be certain Deshaun Watson was the basis of one of their conversations, as well.
The Goff trade is noteworthy because the Lions not only acquired the first overall pick in the 2016 draft, they took over his cumbersome four-year, $132 million contract. Wentz is represented by the same agency as Goff and got a four-year, $128 million pact that is every bit a burden.
Not to say the Eagles would do this but try to visualize them trading Wentz, disgruntled tight end Zach Ertz and a couple of firstrounders to the Houston Texans for Watson, a twotime Pro Bowl talent.
The Texans don’t have a first-round choice and just one second-day selection, a third-rounder, in the upcoming draft. They have a new head coach in David Culley. They have more than enough salary cap room to take on the contracts of Wentz and Ertz. Stranger things have happened.
Or consider the Colts, who have almost $65 million in cap room, and last year were on the verge of acquiring Ertz, only for the veteran to wind up on injured reserve. The obvious is Colts coach Frank Reich’s connection to Carson Wentz, who had his best season with the Eagles while Reich was coordinator. If anybody can get the best out of Wentz, it’s Reich. What about exchanging first-round positions with the Colts (No. 6 for No. 21), and getting a conditional second-day pick in exchange for Wentz? Or, add Ertz to the package for an exchange of first-rounders and two conditional secondday picks.
Maybe Colts safety Justin Blackmon could be in the deal in lieu of a pick. To get rid of Wentz and that contract, you’re going to have to give up more than you’d like. The Goff trade is the type of move you see in the NBA.
Wentz is coming off an awful season, has a history of being hurt and let’s be honest, isn’t well respected by teammates. Former Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins said the Birds didn’t do Wentz any favor by coddling him.
ESPN insider Chris Mortensen, weeks ago, reported that Wentz’s relationship with the Eagles was “fractured beyond repair.” Mort’s recent information is that it hasn’t changed.
“My understanding is that’s not a settled situation,” said Mortensen, adding that the Wentz domino could be the next one to fall in this already interesting offseason.
Anyone who watched Sirianni at his first news conference should have questions about his chances of getting Wentz back on track. Adding quarterbacks coach Brian Jones, a highly regarded coaching prospect, clearly tilts the scale toward Hurts, whom he’s known for years.
Saddling Sirianni with a Wentz fixer-upper sure wouldn’t be smart. Rather, it would be the formula for failure.