PHILADELPHIA (WIP Sportsradio) — The Carson Wentz era in Philadelphia is coming to an end.
The Eagles have agreed to trade the 28-year-old quarterback to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
That second-round pick could become a first-round pick depending on the amount of playing time Wentz gets in Indianapolis, or if the Colts make the playoffs.
The trade is not official until March 17.
Wentz was the Eagles' No. 2 overall pick just five years ago, when Howie Roseman famously moved up in the 2016 NFL Draft on two separate occasions. First, by trading linebacker Kiko Alonso and cornerback Byron Maxwell to the Dolphins in order to move up five slots. Then, trading three top-100 picks — a first-round pick in 2017, and a second-round pick in 2018 to the Browns in order to move from pick No. 8 to pick No. 2 overall.
After an unremarkable 7-9 rookie season, Wentz took off in 2017, throwing 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He led his team to an 11-2 record and the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC, before tearing his ACL in Week 14. Of course, Nick Foles took over, and the rest is history — the Philadelphia Eagles were crowned Super Bowl LII champs.
The following season, the Eagles struggled, going 5-6 in Wentz's 11 starts. Toward the end of the season, Wentz suffered a back injury, forcing him to miss yet another postseason, and once again, Foles led the Eagles to an improbable playoff victory in Chicago over the Bears.
In 2019, the Eagles signed Wentz to a four-year deal worth $128 million — $107 million guaranteed — keeping him under contract through the 2024 season. Wentz had a very successful ensuing campaign, winning nine of his 16 starts, while throwing 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and throwing for a career-high 4,039 yards.
The Eagles earned themselves a home game in the wild card round against the Seahawks, but Wentz was forced to leave the game early after suffering a head injury due to a controversial hit from defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. The Eagles lost 17-9, and Josh McCown finished the game at quarterback for the Eagles with Foles now in Jacksonville.
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2020 was a disaster year for Wentz, as the Eagles were 3-8-1 in his 12 starts before he was benched for rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was confusingly drafted in the second round. In those 12 games, Wentz threw a career-high 15 interceptions and took a career-high 50 sacks, while completing a career-low 57.4% of his passes.
To be fair, since the 2017 Super Bowl, Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles as a team have dealt with numerous injuries on offense — especially on the offensive line — and poor play from the wide receiver position.
Since re-joining the Eagles in 2019, wide receiver DeSean Jackson has played in just eight of 32 games, catching just 23 total balls. Over that same time period — the last two seasons — Jackson's highly paid veteran wide receiver counterpart Alshon Jeffery has played in just 12 of 32 games, with just 49 total receptions.
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Over the last year, Wentz's relationship with the team — specifically with former head coach Doug Pederson — had reportedly waned. Pederson was let go after the 2020 season and the Eagles hired Indianapolis Colts Nick Sirianni to replace him on Jan. 24.
Wentz will be reunited with Frank Reich in Indianapolis. The Colts head coach was the offensive coordinator during Wentz’s first two years in Philadelphia.
With Howie Roseman still in place as the Eagles' general manager, the team will now focus on the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft, an area where Roseman and the front office have struggled in recent past. The Eagles currently own the No. 6 overall pick.