Dallas Cowboys: A closer look at Carson Wentz
The name many folks are starting to talk about is North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz, and one of the teams interested in the senior quarterback is the Dallas Cowboys, as we all know they are in need of gaining not only depth at the spot, but a long-term future replacement for the oft-injured and 35-year-old Tony Romo.
Earlier this week, I wrote about whether former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg would be a good fit for the Cowboys, but there is also another option the Cowboys could use in Wentz, though now some experts are saying he could be a first-round selection.
Mike Mayock of the NFL Network tweeted this of Wentz on Jan. 8:
Related Story: Cowboys: Myles Jack at No. 4?
Dane Brugler of CBS Sports wrote on Jan. 9, following Wentz’s victory in the FCS National Championship Game, how he proved he is capable of being drafted in the first round:
"“Entering the game, I expected rust from Wentz after he missed the second half of the season due to a broken wrist and hadn’t seen game action since mid-October. But that wasn’t the case as he looked extremely sharp and showed off several NFL traits, throwing with anticipation, timing and touch.”"
In his return in the FCS Championship game, Wentz really excited NFL draft experts and scouts with a 16-of-29 performance for 197 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed the ball nine times for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
More from NFL Spin Zone
- Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
- Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
- Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
- Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens
His most recent game before the FCS National Championship game was on Oct. 17.
For his four-year collegiate career, Wentz played in 42 games where he totaled 5,115 yards passing with 45 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, as nearly all of his numbers came his junior and senior seasons.
What scouts love about Wentz is the fact he’s 6-6, 235 pounds and he seems to be a very pro-style type of quarterback, but he does need to work on one aspect of his game.
According to Brugler of CBS Sports, he wrote of some weaknesses in the game of Wentz, one that could hamper him in the NFL:
"“Locks onto reads and needs to develop his eye use, staring down targets and leading defenders. Needs to improve his passing anticipation and feel for timing routes. Downfield accuracy is inconsistent, often leading receivers too far … Bad habit of pre-determining throws and forcing the ball into tight coverage.”"
That aspect of his game concerns me as the NFL defensive coordinators will make sure they try to take advantage of the weakness in the game of Wentz, but his overall potential outweighs that weakness, and it is a weakness that can be fixed with proper coaching.
Take, for example, he can throw the football with solid arm strength, and he’s a mobile quarterback, which would work well in the offense of the Cowboys, as they are used to having a starting quarterback like Romo who is able to make plays with his running abilities.
In just seven games for NDSU this season, even in FCS competition, Wentz was exceptional at running the football when needed with 63 rushes for 294 yards and six touchdowns, and during his junior season, he carried the ball 138 times in 16 games for 642 yards and six touchdowns.
That’s impressive no matter the level of competition, especially for a quarterback with his size.
Here is some film from Draft Breakdown of Wentz from a game vs. Weber State this past season. Watch the run by Wentz around the :50 mark of the film, and you see the athleticism of Wentz when running the football for a touchdown.
But in another running play in the film, he does rush the football well again, though he needs to not take straight-on hits, because if he were to do that against the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants or the Washington Redskins … that would make a team sweat a little too much.
That video also showed his arm strength and his spread the football around on a variety of offensive sets.
Here is another video of Wentz, this one from this season against Montana:
The Cowboys should really consider drafting a player like Wentz, but with the fourth overall pick, I don’t see that occurring as of this moment in January. The combine will be very interesting to see how not only Wentz, but some of the other quarterbacks in this draft, perform.
More nfl spin zone: Is Christian Hackenberg the answer for Dallas?
I like what I’ve watched of Wentz, but would a quarterback be a smart move for the Cowboys to draft in the first round? I’m not sold on that thought yet. If it was in the second round, I’m for that, but now with the way some are talking, will Wentz even be available by then?
What is your take on Wentz and where the Cowboys should start looking for a quarterback of the future in the upcoming draft?