Washington Commanders: Pros and (mostly) cons of Carson Wentz trade
By Hunter Noll
![JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 9: Quarterback Carson Wentz #2 of the Indianapolis Colts passes under pressure by linebacker Josh Allen #41 of Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on January 9, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars won 26 -11. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 9: Quarterback Carson Wentz #2 of the Indianapolis Colts passes under pressure by linebacker Josh Allen #41 of Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on January 9, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars won 26 -11. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/ab817aaec2cb2101ca7444b8fc95174ea309b57fad807cb9ce6fa28fbbcc2169.jpg)
Carson Wentz Pro: Not the worst option
Let’s end on a positive note. There were absolutely worse routes the Commanders could have gone here. He’s a better quarterback than Mitchell Trubisky. So there’s that.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Garoppolo would have cost just an absolutely insane amount. And you could make reasonable arguments for him being better or worse than Wentz. But even if you think he’s better, it’s not by all that much. And compared to what Washington would’ve had to give for Garoppolo, this isn’t a bad move.
Wentz is not the guy. He’s a solid quarterback who is going to make jaw-dropping plays at times, then just absolutely miserable plays shortly after. But he’s an upgrade to what they had last year. And he was one of the best “veteran” options left.
Washington probably gave up stuff they didn’t have to. And his salary is pretty ridiculous. But they should be a competitive team in 2022, which is fun.
Do they still get their QB in the draft this year? Or wait until next year? Could this have set them back from that path even further (worst case scenario)? Or is Wentz going to have a resurgence and be a star again?
Overall, I’m honestly not thrilled about getting Wentz. He’s an upgrade but not enough that they are Super Bowl contenders or anything. So giving up picks and taking on his salary just to maybe sneak into the playoffs doesn’t do it for me.
We’ll see fans arguing and complaining up until the regular season. Then we’ll see even more arguing and complaining after every single play. A good play will have all the supporters praising him and the haters acting like nothing happened. Then a bad play will have the supporters pretending like it wasn’t his fault and the haters saying “told you so”.
So you know, it will be the same thing Commanders fans have been doing since the Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins days. Fun.