Eagles trade Carson Wentz to Colts: Grades for each team

Carson Wentz has been traded to the Indianapolis Colts with the Philadelphia Eagles receiving modest draft picks. Grading the trade for both teams. 

Carson Wentz has a new home, albeit with a familiar face. The Philadelphia Eagles have traded the former No. 2 overall pick to the Indianapolis Colts, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen, where the quarterback will be reunited with Frank Reich, the current head coach Indianapolis and Wentz’s former offensive coordinator in Philadelphia.

After a tumultuous 2020 season that saw Wentz get benched for rookie Jalen Hurts amid immense struggles, the rumors that the quarterback could be traded began to emerge. However, the Eagles continued to look for value in return as the Colts and Bears emerged as the two most likely destinations. Now he’s headed to Indianapolis.

In return, Philadelphia will get a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick. Per Schefter, the second-rounder next year can turn into a first-round pick if Wentz plays 75 percent of the snaps at quarterback in the 2021 season or if he plays 70 percent of the snaps and Indianapolis goes to the playoffs.

That’s a slightly smaller return than some expected but the deal is now done. So let’s take a look at the Carson Wentz trade for both the Colts and Eagles and hand out a grade to each team for what they did with this deal.

Carson Wentz trade grade for the Indianapolis Colts

The case for Carson Wentz joining the Colts was always obvious. This is obviously a flawed quarterback who has regressed since being in the MVP conversation in 2017 but it was Frank Reich who helped guide the signal-caller to that point. With a glaring hole at the position following Philip Rivers’ retirement, a potential reunion made sense.

However, what was holding Indianapolis back was the return they would have to send Philadelphia. Taking on Wentz and his contract is no small task, even for a team flush with cap space. Subsequently, they had to work out the right deal to make it happen.

Giving up a 2022 draft pick that could turn into a first-round might increase that risk but the conditions of it actually make it favorable for the Colts. If Reich is able to revive Wentz’s career, then Indianapolis would be happy to give up what will be a late first-round pick for their quarterback given his age and the state of the rest of the roster.

Moreover, the fact that they were able to only give up a third-round pick this year affords them the opportunity to continue improving that roster around Wentz. And if the quarterback fails to deliver, then they still have both first-round picks to aid their cause. Simply put, this is a win, albeit not a massive one, for the Colts. Grade: A

Carson Wentz trade grade for the Philadelphia Eagles

You can’t wholly fault the Eagles for the shortcomings of Wentz. They won a Super Bowl with Doug Pederson at the helm of the team, even if the quarterback was out injured and made way for the legend of Nick Foles in the playoffs. Thus, who could’ve foreseen that Reich may have had the biggest hand in that success and that Pederson would aid the demise of Carson Wentz?

Having said that, they have to walk away from this trade feeling both disappointed and optimistic simultaneously. On one hand, they are taking on a historically high dead cap hit by trading Wentz, which isn’t good for a team already up against it with the cap. Moreover, they didn’t get the outright return they had reportedly hoped for.

At the same time, though, they can now start fresh with a young quarterback in Jalen Hurts and a new coaching staff. The Wentz shadow is no longer hanging over the franchise and they have two top-100 picks to help their future. Moreover, if it works out for Indianapolis, then they also have an extra first-rounder next year.

It’s a nice enough haul for the Eagles when you get down to it, especially for such a distressed asset that carries such a hefty salary. Grade: B-