Ever since Carson Wentz officially went on the trade block, the rumor has been a trade to Indianapolis.
Thursday morning, that rumor became true. The Eagles will receive the Colts’ 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick.
The Eagles are also eating over $30 million in Wentz’ cap hit.
The 2022 pick would become a first-round pick: If Wentz plays 75% of the snaps for the Colts or he plays 70% of the snaps and the Colts make the playoffs.
Wentz re-joins former NFL quarterback Frank Reich in Indianapolis, who was his offensive coordinator in Philly in 2016 and 2017.
Wentz was on an MVP pace in 2017 before an injury sidelined the former North Dakota State quarterback. He threw for 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions in just 13 games.
The Eagles went 5-6 in 11 Wentz starts in 2018. He threw 21 TDs and just seven interceptions. He threw for over 4,000 yards and threw 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions, playing all 16 games and finished as the QB10.
Wentz played in just 12 games last season. He threw a league-high 15 picks and was sacked 50 times. Giving way to Jalen Hurts after going 3-8-1 as the starter.
Wentz joins a fairly young Colts offense led by second-year running back Jonathan Taylor, who rushed for 1,169 yards and 11 scores as a rookie.
He will be throwing the ball to second-year WR Michael Pittman Jr., who caught 40 balls for 503 yards and 1 touchdown in eight starts with Philip Rivers. Veteran WR TY Hilton had a late-season revival with 56 catches for 762 yards and five scores.
The Colts have the second-most cap room in the NFL and may use that equity to add another weapon for Wentz.
Between 2009 and 2016, 22 quarterbacks were drafted in the first round, with this trade, none of them remain with the team that drafted them.
Hurts officially QB1 in Philly
There was a small glimmer of doubt that Hurts would start over Wentz if Philly failed to trade him.
With the trade, it is 100% that Hurts will start under center in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Hurts played in 15 games last season, but started just four, throwing for 1,061 yards, six scores and four interceptions. He rushed for 354 yards and three scores.
Tight end Dallas Goedert caught 11 balls for 120 yards in Hurts’ first three starts. Jalen Reagor was the second-most successful pass catcher in terms of receptions with 10 catches for 125 yards.
The Eagles are bound to use draft capital on pass catchers, especially with Zach Ertz likely on his way out, maybe to Indy. However, they haven’t been great at that in the last couple of seasons.
