The last two weeks of the NFL season have turned the 2021 offseason quarterback roundabout upside down. In Philadelphia, the idea that the Eagles could move from Carson Wentz to newcomer Jalen Hurts was something you would say to troll fans for one thing would you say excite Eagles fans.
Several train stops to the north, the Jets managed to break the hearts of their own fans by disturbing the Rams on Sunday and losing control over the No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft. It seemed a foregone conclusion that the Jets would get rid of Sam Darnold and of Trevor Lawrence’s draft, but now that it looks like Clemson’s star quarterback is probably going to the Jaguars with the main choice, the Jets have all the options at the table.
We will evaluate three major decision points for this off-season and find out what can happen next, with the predicted dominoes that may fall. I will use the ESPN Football Power Index projected draft order as the expected draft order at the end of the season.
Each of these three scenarios is independent of each other, and I will try to clarify the logic of each team on why these movements can make sense. I will use Spotrac’s estimates for 2021 cap space, which will inform the decisions that each team will make. Let’s start with a scenario that we could not have considered before the start of this season:
Jump to a scenario:
Eagles negotiate with Carson Wentz
The Jets keep Sam Darnold
The Cowboys label, change Dak Prescott
As we’ve discussed in recent weeks, if the Eagles decide they want to leave their former franchise quarterback, there is a team that is the most likely destination …
The Eagles leave Wentz for the Colts for a third round choice and a 2022 conditional selection.
The Colts are the best candidates for Wentz. Eagles fans will not be thrilled with the price, but the organization has virtually no advantage in doing this deal and cannot afford to take on an expensive replacement. The addition that makes this business work is the conditional choice; let’s say the Eagles have a choice in the third round in 2022 if Wentz makes it to the Pro Bowl or a choice in the second round if he is a Pro Bowler and the Colts make it to the AFC Championship Game.
The Eagles would go ahead with Jalen Hurts as a starter, but they would still like to add a reserve in case Hurts fights or gets hurt. With limited space, the Eagles can chase an old friend …
The Bears exchange QB Nick Foles for the Eagles for TE Zach Ertz and a 2021 choice in the sixth round.
Chicago doesn’t have much of a limit either, but Ertz’s $ 8.3 million salary would be replaced by Jimmy Graham, who is likely to be cut after the season. We all know how much general manager Ryan Pace loves his tight end, and Ertz would join Cole Kmet in two tight end sets for the Bears.
Bellows has a base salary of $ 4 million in 2021, which makes it financially viable for his former team. What could the Bears do after parting with Bellows?