Matt Ludtke / Associated Press
The relationship between Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles is reportedly “fractured” and the quarterback will request an exchange during the off-season, instead of competing with Jalen Hurts for the starting position that goes into the 2021 NFL season.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported the following update on Sunday NFL Countdown before the Eagles’ regular season final against the Washington Football Team:
“His relationship with the Eagles is practically broken. In fact, it is fractured. Wentz is expected to ask the Eagles for an exchange and will help the Eagles facilitate the exchange. The reaction of Jeffrey Lurie, the owner, will be vital to this one, but now Wentz clearly wants to leave Philadelphia and start again somewhere else.“
Several teams, including Indianapolis Colts led by coach Frank Reich, who previously served as Wentz’s offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017, are expected to express interest in the QB, but the price asked by the Eagles will be “significant”, for Mortensen.
Wentz fought before being replaced by Hurts before the team’s game in Week 14 against the New Orleans Saints. He completed a career drop of 57.4 percent from his shots to 2,620 yards with 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 12 games.
The 28 year old takes 28th place on ESPN Total QBR (49.4) and 34th in the classification of passer (72.8) going to the last week of the regular season. It is a sharp drop from the previous three years, when he made 81 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in 40 appearances.
That left Eagles coach Doug Pederson with little choice but to give Hurts a choice in the second round of 2020, the chance to start the attack during the long run of the campaign. Although the Heisman 2019 Trophy finalist was successful, counting six touchdowns (five passes and one rush) in the past three weeks, it was not enough to change the Eagles’ fortunes. They were eliminated from the playoff contest with their loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16.
In late December, Pederson praised Wentz for how he handled the quarterback change.
“Listen, this is something I really appreciate about Carson how he handled it,” he he told reporters. “He doesn’t want to be a distraction for the team. He wants to help the team win. That’s the main point. We don’t let that kind of thing creep into our thinking and try to keep him out of the locker room so as not to divide his team. “
It does not appear that Wentz is interested in an extended battle with Wentz for first place in the depth table in Philadelphia, however.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously reported that the selection of the Pro Bowl 2017 “is not satisfied with the way the events unfolded in the organization” and would like to “move on” if he is hired for a reserve role.
While there was likely to be a basic interest in Wentz in the trade market based on his previous success, the contract situation could make this difficult for all interested parties, along with the Eagles.
A post-June 1 negotiation would create $ 25.4 million in extra limit space for Philadelphia in 2021, but leave a dead limit of $ 24.5 million for 2022, for Spotrac. Meanwhile, his four-year contract, $ 128 million, runs through 2024, with limits ranging from $ 31.3 million to $ 34.7 million, a problem for the procurement team.
In turn, Wentz may need to agree to a substantial restructuring of the contract to accommodate a negotiation.