Carson Wentz looked like a star.
Really, it doesn’t seem that long ago that he was being talked about as a potential league MVP as a second-year player. He threw for 3,296 yards with 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions and helped the Eagles go 11-2 with him as a starter.
But in NFL years that season — 2017 — is ancient history.
And here we are. Wentz is 30. He was traded from Philly to Indianapolis two seasons ago, and from Indianapolis to Washington prior to last season. The Commanders cut him loose Monday and his future in the league seems uncertain at best.
Here are some potential landing spots for Wentz, though, should he remain in the league:
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Dallas Cowboys
Remember when folks used to argue whether Wentz or Dak Prescott was the better quarterback? It looks like Dak is the clear winner there, but he wasn’t exactly great last season either, and he has a history of injuries.
Dallas is a team trying to get to a Super Bowl, and its backup, Cooper Rush, is headed to free agency. After a couple of promising starts in place of Prescott last season, Rush could be in line for a pay raise. That could put him out of the running for a return to Dallas.
Wentz on the other hand clearly has more tools than Rush, and the Cowboys know him well. Plus, he figures to come at a big-time discount. Dallas has a lot of moves that it needs to make and some big decisions ahead in terms of who it will keep and who it is letting go, but Wentz could be an interesting addition.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are currently trying to find cap space, and they just let go of linebacker Bobby Wagner to help there. Matthew Stafford isn’t getting any younger, and he is coming off a season-ending injury. The Rams brought in Baker Mayfield at the end of last season, and he played well in spots, but he is a free agent. If healthy, the Rams still have some tools, and Sean McVay has a great offensive mind. So, Wentz behind Stafford at a reduced rate could be interesting.
Carolina Panthers
Frank Reich played a big role in getting Indianapolis to trade for Wentz. That was probably the beginning of the end for him there so maybe he is truly done with Wentz. But the Panthers currently have an underwhelming trio of QBs — Sam Darnold, PJ Walker and Matt Corrall — on the roster. Wentz can compete with those guys to be the starter.
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XFL/USFL
It’s entirely possible, too, that the market for Wentz is just not there. There’s no doubt there are tools, and Wentz has put together productive seasons in the league. He’s still only 30. So, considering all of that and the fact that teams are just desperate for quarterbacks, one would think he could find another shot in the NFL if he wants it. But, there’s a bad buzz around the guy, too, and that may cause teams to not look his way. There’s a chance that if he wants to continue on he may have to step down to one of the other leagues currently going and show he can do it there to redeem his value in the eyes of the league.
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