Washington Commanders: Pros and (mostly) cons of Carson Wentz trade

Carson Wentz Con: Money and draft loss

Wentz is making a ton of money this season. And it appears the Commanders are going to be footing the bill for that. This means they are strapped for cash like really strapped. So expect some contract restructures. Even with that though, it’s not like they can go all-in to get any free agents now either.

You could argue that this is just a one-year problem. But it still sets things back a little bit and that’s bad.

As for the draft loss, Washington has a talented roster. But they need more than just a quarterback. Especially a QB that isn’t exactly seen as one of the top-tier at his position. And you’ve just dropped back a few spaces in the second-round this year, and lost your third-round pick this year. Meanwhile, you’ve lost at best your third next year – and that might become a second.

If you want to get a star quarterback, you sort of have to expect to give away some picks. Giving away a couple of “early” picks for a good-not-great-at-best quarterback isn’t the move that’s going to get your franchise in the winning direction.

Carson Wentz Pro: Arm strength

Honestly, this would’ve been a positive for just about anyone coming in. Unless it was Gardner Minshew (who somehow has a worse arm than Taylor Heinicke) a new quarterback would be an improvement when it comes to getting the ball down the field.

This is good news for any Commanders fan that sat there in 2021 banging their heads on the wall watching Terry McLaurin absolutely roast his coverage, only to get underthrown. Seriously, how many times did we see the wide receiver get right past his guy, and then the throw isn’t even competitive?

Go back and watch the games against the Dallas Cowboys. Trevon Diggs had a great year but wasn’t great in coverage. Their fans love to bring up how he shut down McLaurin. But if the QB was making the throws he should’ve been making, it’s a much different story. All day.

Wentz isn’t perfect. For years I have said he’s the only quarterback I’ve ever seen who can throw a perfect dot between three defenders 30 yards down the field on one play, then overthrow (or underthrow) a screen pass by 10 yards the next. But he does have the arm to at least get the ball deep down the field. And McLaurin finally having that in a QB should be exciting.