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Derik Hamilton / Associated Press
It’s going to be one wild NFL season – possibly the wildest in recent memory.
This is because 2021 could be the year of the quarterback carousel.
We’ve already seen a huge deal in the position, with the Detroit Lions sending Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for two firsts (one each in 2022 and 2023), a third in 2021 and Jared Goff.
And that can only be the beginning.
As Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter of ESPN report, the Philadelphia Eagles join disgruntled quarterback Carson Wentz. The no. 2-pick in the 2016 draft (behind Goff) comes down in a downward 2020 series, which tied him for the NFL lead in interceptions and being put in favor of Jalen Hurts. But he is also a 28-year-old quarterback who showed elite skill and played a key role in Philly’s 2017 Super Bowl run.
Since the Eagles were reportedly looking for a “Stafford package” from a trading partner and Wentz with a 2021 cap push of nearly $ 35 million, it will require a large investment to make this trade work.
But as we have just seen with Stafford, there is no shortage of teams that want to play Let’s make a deal.
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Jack Dempsey / Associated Press
Wentz to the Las Vegas Raiders is admittedly a long shot, for one fairly strong reason: the $ 22.1 million cap worn by current signalman Derek Carr for 2021.
But since the quarterback market was already wild, let’s kick the carousel in turbo.
By most statistical standards, Carr had a good 2020—4103 passing steps, 27 touchdowns, nine picks and a pass rate (101.4) that was in the top 10.
And yet, as apparently since the moment Jon Gruden took over as head coach for the Raiders in 2018, trade rumors are still circulating around Carr – in part because he’s 16 games under .500 as the team’s starter.
Please note, we are not talking here. The Eagles probably have little interest in adding a slightly older fullback than Wentz with a slightly lower salary. But if the Raiders are serious about moving the 29-year-old Carr, there will be suitors – including every other team listed in this article.
Gruden and Mike Mayock, general manager of Raiders, had good things to say about Wentz. In 2017, Gruden told a group of high school football players that Wentz is the quarterback to emulate. Mayock named Wentz as the no. 1 QB prospect named in the 2016 class.
It will be difficult to sell Carr in retail after the acquisition of Wentz. But it would (in theory) be possible for Las Vegas to trade Carr to recoup some of the spending spent on Wentz.
Shark. Every race needs a dark horse.
Trading package: 2021 Round 1 Pick (No. 17 overall), 2021 Round 4 Pick, 2022 Round 2 Pick
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Brian Westerholt / Associated Press
It’s less than a year since the Carolina Panthers gave Teddy Bridgewater a $ 63 million three-year contract.
But after Bridgewater’s pedestrian season (3,733 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions), the Panthers were one of the teams that reportedly made a turn at Stafford.
If Carolina is willing to put his top-10 pick for Wentz on the table as well, the Panthers should be included in this conversation.
Granted, Wentz does not have Stafford’s resume. His 2020 was ugly. But don’t forget that when Wentz tore his ACL in 2017, he was the frontrunner to become the NFL MVP. That season, he had nearly 3,300 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and just seven picks over 13 games. His passing was 101.9.
The following season, Wentz was not cat food either. In 11 games, he averaged nearly 280 passing yards per game, placed a 21 to 7 touchdown-to-intercept ratio and had a career-best pass rate of 102.2.
Wentz’s 2019 campaign was not as good as the previous two years, but his numbers that season were not terrible. From a statistical perspective, he showed more reason to think that last year was an exception.
It also offers a higher ceiling than Bridgewater and will only turn 29 before the calendar turns to 2022.
If the Panthers were willing to no. 8 to get Stafford, it’s not a way to think the franchise is doing the same for Wentz.
And the early election in April should get the attention of Howie Roseman, general manager.
Trading package: 2021 Round 1 Pick (No. 8 overall), 2021 Round 3 Pick, 2022 Round 4 Pick
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Justin Edmonds / Associated Press
It’s not exactly news that the Denver Broncos need help at quarter.
After promising a 4-1 series at the end of his rookie year in 2019, Drew Lock fell back badly in his second season. He did not complete 60 percent of his passes, threw an NFL-high 15 interceptions (equal, coincidentally enough with Wentz) and barely scored a pass rate of 75.
This is a continuation of a theme that has existed since Peyton Manning’s retirement in 2015.
Wentz offers team president John Elway, new general manager George Paton and the Broncos the opportunity to upgrade at quarterback. And since Denver Detroit allegedly offered a top-10 pick in 2020 and Lock for Stafford, it’s clear the team wants one.
Why the Lions accepted the Rams’ offer, there are the heads on Easter Island who are the great mysteries of life.
The question now is whether the team is willing to offer the same package to Wentz – and whether that would be enough for the Eagles.
The Broncos are unlikely to sweeten the pot significantly more than for Wentz, so if the Eagles are serious about their claims, this trade is not particularly likely.
But a deal with Lock and the ninth pick will give Philly two picks in the top 10 and a cheap assurance behind second-year profile Jalen Hurts.
This is an offer from both sides.
Trading package: Pick 20 Round 1 (No. 9 overall), 2021 Round 3 Pick, QB Drew Lock
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Adrian Kraus / Associated Press
When I wrote a similar column about Stafford two weeks ago, I was expecting him to land in Indianapolis.
Of course, I did not think Detroit could get two firsts for Stafford – or that the Rams would convince another team to tackle the abomination that is Goff’s contract.
The Colts mark all the subjects of the kind of team that will make a big move at quarterback. Indy is coming off a playoff battle after an 11-5 campaign. The team’s contest window is apparently open – whether it’s skill position weapons, attacking line or defense, Indy does not have a noticeable weakness.
Well, except for the massive hole on the fullback that Philip Rivers’ retirement left behind. Wentz would fill that hole nicely, and given the success he had when Colts head coach Frank Reich was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia, there is probably no team in the league that has more confidence that it can turn Wentz around. .
The problem comes down to compensation.
Zak Keefer van die Indianapolis Star do not see the Colts paying out of a sense of desperation. “We know the Colts will not get into a bidding war,” Buyer tweeted, “and they will not just make a move to move. I felt like I was this morning that the team is not going to do anything out of character just to solve the QB problem.”
Assuming Keefer’s right, the Colts will not hand over multiple firsts to the Eagles for a quarter with an injury history that was mostly terrible in 2020.
However, unless there is a team (like the club in the next entry) that pays for Wentz, the Colts must stay in the Wentz race.
Swapping him out of the NFC would also be a nice bonus for Roseman.
Trading package: 2021 Round 1 Pick (No. 21 overall), 2021 Round 3 Pick, 2022 Round 2 Pick
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Kamil Krzaczynski / Associated Press
Per Mortensen and Schefter, the Eagles are looking for a big draw in a Wentz deal – as in several first rounds.
It is understandable for several reasons, and not the least of which is that the death toll of nearly $ 34 million for trading Wentz will take up the Eagles’ salary resources in 2021 except.
This season is a laundry. There is no way around it.
And if Philly is really getting some round 1 picks for Wentz, there is one team above all others that can pull the trigger.
The Chicago Bears have been a playoff team in two of the past three years, but that’s no threat to the elite NFC franchises. The reason for this is not difficult to determine – whether it was Nick Foles or Mitchell Trubisky, the quarterback game for the Bears was …
Well, let’s put it this way: 2020 would not be Wentz worse. 2017 Wentz would get into the Windy City streets named after him.
Head coach Matt Nagy is reportedly an offensive fad and quarterback guru. Bears GM Ryan Pace has shown the willingness to make a big deal, and in 2018 he won several no. 1s traded to conquer Khalil Mack.
If the Bears do not improve noticeably next season, the one will probably not be in service much longer.
There are also reports that Foles could be included in a trade package per 670 The Score’s Joe Ostrowski (h / t Bleeding Green Nation), sending him back to the team he led to a Super Bowl LII victory.
That’s good, because if Wentz showed up in Windy City and Foles was there, you know, it could be uncomfortable.
The wisdom of mortgaging the future for Wentz is questionable. But if a team is going to do that, Da Bears is the smart money.
And if Wentz is traded within the NFC needed to get the first ones, then Roseman will do it.
Trading package: 2021 Round 1 Pick (No. 20 overall), 2022 Round 1 Pick, 2022 Round 3 Pick, QB Nick Foles
Contract and salary restriction information via Spotrac, unless otherwise stated.