Former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz is reportedly heading to Indianapolis after the Colts agreed to a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in involving multiple draft picks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortenson.
The agreed upon deal, which was reported by multiple media outlets Thursday, Feb. 18, doesn't become official until March 17, which is the start of the new NFL year. The Eagles are receiving a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and a conditional 2022 second-round selection that could turn into a first-rounder, according to ESPN.
The deal provides resolution to what was a tumultuous last season for Wentz with the Eagles in which in was benched late in the year for rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts. Wentz had his worst statistical season for the Eagles in 2020, finishing the years with a career-low 57.4 completion percentage.
Wentz passed for 2,620 yards this past season with 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, the most interceptions his thrown in a season during his five-year NFL career. The Eagles drafted Wentz No. 2 overall in the 2016 draft. Philadelphia won the 2017 Super Bowl, a game in which Wentz didn't play in due to injury.
Philadelphia has agreed to trade Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick that could turn into a first, league sources tell @mortreport and me.
Below is the social media reaction to the blockbuster trade:
Wentz super fan Giovanni Hamilton had an emotional goodbye for his favorite QB.
"You're still my hero," Hamilton said. "You always will be. ... Colts fans you really have a real one."
just woke up and heard the news
i love u @cj_wentz always ur fan brother pic.twitter.com/w01Fy7EBYg
It’s not every day you get to meet your hero.#EaglesCamp | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/dezSoFcM9J
Let’s get to work!!! Welcome to Indy! Can’t wait to see what the future holds in the 317 https://t.co/vZTRJGiX1E
Congrats to my new teammate @cj_wentz can’t wait to get to work!
Carson Wentz about to have the career resurgence of a LIFETIME!!!! Congrats #Colts, y’all got a good one!
Carson Wentz made some of the wildest plays early on in his career. pic.twitter.com/aGILEAm513
Carson Wentz made some of the most spectacular plays i've ever seen from an Eagles player.
Thank you for many magical moments, @cj_wentz. Best of luck with Reich in Indy. You'll do great.#Eagles pic.twitter.com/JZw6MIZW29
Wish u the best big time @cj_wentz appreciate ya! Enjoy our battles in practice
Eagles RT Lane Johnson to me on Carson Wentz trade
“Man I’m happy for him....Him and Frank are really close they have good chemistry” @6abc #Eagles #CarsonWentz pic.twitter.com/jeJblwK30f
NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo said the presence of Hurts played a role with Wentz's unhappiness with the Eagles. Philadelphia drafted Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
"He wasn't happy, dating back to when they took Jalen Hurts last year," Garafolo said on the NFL Network.
From NFL Now on @nflnetwork on the #Eagles' trading Carson Wentz to the #Colts pic.twitter.com/Y0HMAhgaoM
"When the QB and head coach are in unison, you win a lot of games. Carson Wentz and Frank Reich will be great together."
— @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/qCjxfXkW78
And with the trade of Carson Wentz, there will now not be a single QB drafted in the first round from 2009-2016 that is still with his original team.
0 out of 22 total.
Despite the trade to Indianapolis, Carson Wentz will still have the largest cap hit on the Eagles' roster in 2021: a $33.8M dead cap charge, the largest dead cap charge in NFL history.
Three points on the Eagles' side of the Wentz trade ...
1) Philly traded up twice in 2016 for him, THEN gave him a massive contract. This is not an ideal conclusion.
2) Given how Wentz played in '20, the return is fine.
3) Philly did win a Super Bowl in Wentz's 5 years there.
Carson Wentz PFF Grade/rank by year:
2016 - 69.9 (21st)
2017 - 84.9 (5th)
2018 - 79.4 (14th)
2019 - 76.5 (14th)
2020 - 65.0 (31st) pic.twitter.com/MKB1ZCpYmY
This trade is great news for Nick Sirianni. Navigating the Carson Wentz/Jalen Hurts situation would have been extremely tough. Now, he gets to start fresh and build without having the Wentz drama over his head. #Eagles
New Colts QB Carson Wentz's contract ...
• $25.4M in 2021 fully guaranteed.
• $22.001M in 2022 ($15M vests next month).
• $25M in 2023.
• $26M in 2024.
So either $40.4M over 1 or $47.4M over 2, if it doesn't work out. And if it does? At $24.6M APY, a very reasonable deal.
Reports: #Eagles have agreed to trade QB Carson Wentz to the Colts.
