Carson Wentz's tenure as quarterback with the Indianapolis Colts didn't even last an entire year. According to multiple reports, the franchise has agreed to ship the 29-year-old to the Washington Commanders, in exchange for a draft-pick package. Both teams have reportedly swapped second-round picks for this spring, and the Colts will also receive third-rounders in 2022 and 2023.
In addition, the Commanders are taking on Wentz's entire $28 million salary for next season, and that 2023 third-round pick can become a second if he plays 70-percent of their snaps. The final two years of Wentz's deal have no guaranteed money, which means Washington could move on from him after 2022 without dead cap hits. So, it's three teams in three seasons for Wentz.
"It was a pleasure playing with him. It's crazy -- I really didn't know anything about it, and probably a lot of guys didn't," Colts running back Nyheim Hines told the Maggie and Perloff show on Wednesday. "We trust Chris and Frank through everything, so they're going to bring in another guy or whoever we have there. My job is to go there and play to the best of my ability... There's no way [Wentz] didn't hear about it. It was everywhere, I'm sure he heard...
"I'd like to think they have a plan. I don't know what's going on behind closed doors. But I'm pretty sure we have a great staff, coach, general manager, and owner that allow us and them to do their jobs well. So, I'm sure there's a plan. I'm sure it was highly thought through. We're a really great organization full of great people, so I know that they're going to bring a great guy here, and the locker room is going to believe in him."
Despite playing a career-high 17 games, racking up 3,563 passing yards, and throwing for 27 touchdowns with only seven picks, Wentz faltered late in the season while stakes were high. With a wild-card berth on the line in Week 18, the Colts choked against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, and that upset loss eliminated them from playoff contention. Wentz's overall numbers were ugly, as he threw for just 185 yards and produced a career-low 4.4 QBR.
The Colts have now hopped on the quarterback carousel, and their options are limited. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, they're expected to be in the running for veteran Jimmy Garoppolo, who'll most likely be traded by the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. The Colts have lacked quarterback stability since Andrew Luck's retirement, as head coach Frank Reich will now have his fifth starter in as many seasons. Oh, and here's another wrinkle: the Colts are scheduled to host the Commanders in 2022.
The entire Colts conversation between Hines and Maggie and Perloff can be accessed in the audio player above.
You can follow the Maggie and Perloff Show on Twitter @MaggieandPerl and Tom Hanslin @TomHanslin.