The Philadelphia Eagles may or may not be heading for a tumultuous 2021 offseason, with coach Doug Pederson and general manager Howie Roseman tackling all sorts of issues in their team’s most important position: Quarterback. Both said publicly that they believe in ex-incumbent Carson Wentz, whose descent from the MVP bid hit a new low in 2020 with his end-of-season bench, but reports indicate that the real relationship between Wentz and the Eagles is hurting and, perhaps, intended for a division.
Negotiating Wentz, who just signed a $ 128 million extension in 2019, may not be the wisest move for the Eagles’ QB situation, nor would it pay much for Philly in the form of immediate wage cap assistance, as a deal at the start of the season it would only result in a net savings of around $ 800,000. That said, if both sides are, in fact, committed to divorce – whether because Wentz understandably wants to seek redemption in a more favorable environment, or because the Eagles firmly believe in alternative options – there are a handful of destinations that make sense as points landing potential.
Here is an initial look at some of the most logical suitors, if Philly wishes to receive offers for her QB star:
This potential adjustment has become a cliché – and for good reason. Philip Rivers just took them to the playoffs, but he is 39 years old and has already said he won’t last much longer. Coach Frank Reich just became Wentz’s offensive coordinator during the most promising period of his career (2016-2017). The Colts are made to fight now. They will not be in a great position to draw a long-term prospect in 2021. Best of all, they must lead the NFL in terms of salary cap. Don’t you think Reich and Chris Ballard will weigh all of that, including the future benefits of Wentz and Rivers, if both are available to them?
Drew Lock is already in town, and John Elway seemed genuinely interested in helping the young man grow. Elway is also probably tired of waiting for a turnaround, with the Broncos posting a winless season for the fourth year in a row. He was certainly not ashamed to go through the veteran QBs. Wentz wouldn’t necessarily love the idea of entering a QB room with a popular established player already, but Lock is on a cheap deal until 2022. Denver would have plenty of time to evaluate both options alongside an underestimated support cast.
Wentz’s vision for the team your old team hitting the Super Bowl (while he was forced to watch outside) would be wild. But the connection is logical. Cam Newton probably won’t (or shouldn’t) return as a short-term solution. Bill Belichick is a notable fan of Wentz’s skill set. The Pats are still looking for a post-Tom Brady long-term option. They are arguably more willing than any team to strike a blow at big-name rejects. And the Eagles have been notorious New England trading partners. This move would allow the Pats to bet on the positive side of Wentz, but potentially still return to containment sooner or later.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
Derek Carr in general has been better than most people believe for the past two years, but he hasn’t been good enough, especially in the final stretch, to guarantee an unshakable commitment in the future. A year before making Marcus Mariota one of the highest-paid backups in the NFL, Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock would certainly be even more attracted to Wentz’s availability as a high-value bet; both were highly prized by Wentz and his work ethic for years. This, of course, would require a separation from Carr (with no financial benefit), but if the Raiders are serious about taking the next step, perhaps a major blow is needed.
This depends almost entirely on what the new regime looks like, but it is reasonable to assume that Detroit could spin from the “defensive” focus of the Matt Patricia era and restart the entire attack, complete with a Matthew Stafford switch. Is Wentz an upgrade over Stafford? This is very debatable, but he is at least five years younger and could benefit from the change of scenery. At worst, it would be an intriguing Teddy Bridgewater bridge / recovery project in Carolina.
Black Horses
Chicago Bears
Wentz and Nick Foles get along very well, but there is no way that number 11 will attract yet another round of endless debate and speculation about their work by reuniting with their old backup in Windy City. That said, if the Bears somehow move Bellows and decide to let Mitchell Trubisky walk, it makes a lot of sense. Matt Nagy and QBs coach John DeFilippo, who held the same position in Philadelphia during the escape from Wentz’s MVP caliber, would embrace the opportunity to save his career in Chicago.
San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Shanahan would probably prefer to meet with one of his old trusted friends, like Matt Ryan or Kirk Cousins. But none of these QB numbers are readily available. Jimmy Garoppolo, meanwhile, it looks like a 50-50 chance of returning to 2021. Niners may not see Wentz as an obvious update on Jimmy, but Shanahan may be seduced by the idea of resurrecting a superior talent in his QB-friendly system, especially with that defense also on your side. San Francisco openly had fun replacing Garoppolo with a veteran before 2020, so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t do it again.
Pittsburgh Steelers
That depends entirely on how Ben Roethlisberger ends in 2020. As long as he’s in town, it won’t happen. But if Big Ben really does hang up, Pittsburgh will be forced to acknowledge the reality that there is no obvious short or long term solution in QB. If Wentz could be corrected for considerable restructuring, he could stay in the state, play for a historic franchise with a better supporting cast. The Steelers, for their part, would capitalize on their continuous playoff window with a QB that once showed traces of Big Ben.