The Philadelphia Eagles are still trying to get the best return on a deal for Carson Wentz, although the offers the franchise has received have been far below expectations. If the Eagles are going to negotiate with the Indianapolis Colts, they may have to embrace the reality of not having a choice back in the first round for their former franchise defender.
By Zak Keefer of The Athletic, Colts have not changed significantly his initial offer to the Eagles from a week ago – which was a reported package of about two draft second round choices, with a third round choice or a fourth choice as a sweetener. The Eagles and Colts are still talking about a possible Wentz switch, but with the lack of other suitors, Indianapolis has no reason to increase its offer.
The Eagles want at least one choice in the first round for Wentz. The Chicago Bears were the quarterback’s favorite, but those negotiations don’t seem to have evolved.
The Colts are best suited for Wentz, due to having a head coach he trusts, Frank Reich (who was the Eagles’ offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017) – and they have an attack style similar to what Wentz led when he became one of the best young NFL quarterbacks in his first two seasons. Indianapolis also has an offensive line that allowed the second lowest number of sacks in the league last year (21, tied with the Green Bay Packers) and features a young core of players in a skillful position that includes Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman. The Eagles can get the Colts to increase their offer by putting Zach Ertz and his contract in the deal, a familiar face for Wentz and a tight end that the franchise needs for its attack.
Philadelphia has a deadline to negotiate with Wentz, who is due to receive a $ 10 million bonus on March 19. This bonus is why Eagles don’t have as much advantage as they think when trying to close a deal. According to CBS NFL analyst Joel Corry, the $ 10 million would be financial expenses and an upper limit for a deal. The maximum value or dead money from Philadelphia would consist of the $ 33,820,611 bonus apportionment remaining in the Wentz contract, hence the reason the Eagles would want to negotiate with Wentz before that date.
Eagles may just have to accept the best offer available, instead of trying to create a market where there are already few suitors. Maybe eating the bonus on the list will end up being the way to get the best deal for Wentz.