After trading for Carson Wentz, the Washington Commanders have a guy to play quarterback next season, but he might not be the guy for very much longer than that.
Wentz, who Washington added in a deal involving multiple draft picks with the Indianapolis Colts, is under contract for the next few seasons, but with only guaranteed money for the 2022 season the Commanders are more renting the former No. 2 overall pick than buyers.
So, what kind of quarterback play can Ron Rivera and Commanders expect from Wentz? Former NFL tight end Logan Paulsen told The Team 980 that Washington is getting a guy with “some physical tools” but a lot of ups and downs in his game.
“Obviously, he was the second pick overall, he’s very, very talented, you see his arm, he’s got a live arm. He’s got a knack kinda of for making plays, [but] there’s a lot of variance to his game, I’ll just say that,” Paulsen said on Russell & Medhurst Wednesday.
“There’s a lotta up, a lotta down. The down is really bad, the upside is really good,” he said. “You just see these tremendous, running out, flick of the wrist ball goes 45 yards in the air dime to the receiver wide open. Running to the left, flick of the wrist to the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown. He’s got some of that to his game, but he’s not quite the athlete that he used to be. To me, to my eye, it looks like the back issue that he had a couple of years ago is still bothering him, like some of the rotational stuff, lacks some of the athleticism. I had one person tell me in terms of precipitous fall from a physical standpoint reminds him of RGIII and I get that when you watch him on film.”
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Paulsen added there are times when Wentz’s accuracy is “not great” and that is something that has stuck with him through his pro career.
“I think [the accuracy issue] is exaggerated now because he’s lost some of that ability to compensate [for it] and make plays with his athleticism,” he said.
Paulsen said Wentz reminds him a little bit of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, but “in talking with people around the league, obviously, Jimmy Garoppolo is this tremendously charismatic locker room presence and leader and Carson Wentz doesn’t seem to have those same characteristics.”
Overall Paulsen summed up Wentz thusly: “Okay playing quarterback, little inaccurate at times, lotta variance to his game, definitely an upgrade over the quarterback situation last year – so just from that standpoint, a physical tools standpoint, an upgrading, I think you should feel good about that – I think he does a lot of stuff at the line of scrimmage which you like, you like to see that kind of mental involvement from your quarterback.
“But, unfortunately I think, it’s not just him you’re getting here, you’re also getting some baggage elements, you’re getting a pretty big price tag which isn’t totally fatal, but you also gave up some draft capital, which in this year’s draft, I think is very significant.”
Paulsen put the new Commanders quarterback in the 17-28 range in the NFL.
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Does Wentz fit with the offense Scott Turner and Ken Zampese want to run in Washington?
“In my estimation, this offense wants to be a little more down the field, from that standpoint I think Carson Wentz adds value,” Paulsen said on The Team 980. “When you watch his tape you see a guy who’s got a big, strong arm and it’s not hard for him to push the ball down the field.”
Paulsen admits that Wentz isn’t the most consistent down-the-field passer, but his ability to stretch the field is an upgrade over last season's starter in Washington Taylor Heinicke.
“But at least now the field defensively needs to be guarded in a much vaster sense. So I think that’s important for this offense and I think it is kinda a nice fit,” he said.
Paulsen said that if you look at last year's schedule and last year's games, Wentz could have added 3-4 wins. Is that enough to make Washington a contender in the playoffs? No, but his play would be an upgrade.
However, Wentz’s reputation as a tough person to get along with in the locker rom is a concern.
More importantly than his sometimes inconsistent play, Paulsen said the aspect that has led to a “bad taste in [his] former team’s mouths is how he has been within the locker room, at least with the people I’ve spoken to within the last 24 hours.”
Paulsen added Wentz’s “self-centeredness” has “rubbed people the wrong way” and that is something to watch for in Washington.
Follow @BenKrimmel and @Team980 for the latest.
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