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Carson Wentz Trade Rumors: Colts Haven't 'Significantly Changed' Offer for QB
February 17, 2021
The Indianapolis Colts have reportedly not changed their initial offer to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Carson Wentz.
According to Zak Keefer of The Athletic, the Colts and Eagles remain engaged in Wentz trade talks, but the Colts are not budging from what they offered more than a week ago.
While it is unclear what the Colts have offered, ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen reported recently that the Eagles want a trade package similar to what the Detroit Lions received for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Detroit sent Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for two future first-round picks, a 2021 third-round pick and quarterback Jared Goff.
Per Michael Lombardi of The Athletic, a team source said the asking price for Wentz was "ridiculous, laughable and not worth countering."
Wentz is younger than Stafford at 28, but it would be difficult for a team to justify giving up multiple high draft picks for the former considering his struggles last season.
The five-year NFL veteran was one of the NFL's worst starting quarterbacks, going 3-8-1 before getting replaced by rookie Jalen Hurts.
In those games, Wentz completed 57.4 percent of his passes for 2,620 yards, 16 touchdowns and a league-high 15 interceptions. His quarterback rating of 72.8 was a career worst as well.
To make matters worse, Wentz is signed through 2024 with a salary-cap hit that exceeds $30 million each season, which is a huge financial commitment to make to a quarterback who played horribly in 2020.
Wentz was an MVP candidate in 2017 when he completed 60.2 percent of his passes for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 13 games before a torn ACL cut his season short.
He hasn't been the same quarterback since. Although he showed flashes in 2018 and 2019, he bottomed out last season.
A change of scenery would likely do Wentz well, but that may not be possible if the Eagles don't alter their asking price.
Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer spoke to an NFL management source not related to the Eagles who expressed their belief that if Wentz doesn't want to go to the Chicago Bears in a trade, the Eagles will deal him to Indy for whatever they can get in return (possibly a second-round pick and more). Philadelphia would then take a quarterback with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
Indianapolis may be Wentz's best landing spot since Colts head coach Frank Reich was the Eagles' offensive coordinator when Wentz was at his best in 2017.
The Colts are in desperate need of a quarterback following Philip Rivers' retirement. With a lack of good options available in free agency or via trade, Wentz may be their best bet considering his relationship with Reich.