Being an Eagles fan has been awfully painful both before and after the team won the Super Bowl in 2017. Wentz's situation in the City of Brotherly Love spoiled rather quickly after he was benched in favor of the 2019 Heisman Trophy Runner-Up Jalen Hurts, who the team took with the 53rd overall pick in last years draft. For the final four games of the regular season, Wentz rode the bench while Hurts got a crack at being the teams starting QB going forward.
One of the biggest stories heading into this offseason was QB Carson Wentz and his future with the Philadelphia Eagles. From the start, Indianapolis seemed to be a perfect match. Head Coach Frank Reich was credited with transforming Wentz into the MVP runner-up he was in 2017 and the Colts roster is filled with young talent, especially in their offensive line, a position the Eagles have struggled to field. It was reported throughout the past month that the Chicago Bears were also in the race for Wentz, but it was also “leaked” that Wentz had no interest in ever suiting up for the Windy City. On February 18, Adam Schefter confirmed via Twitter that the Eagles were shipping Wentz to Indianapolis for a 3rd round pick in this year’s draft and a conditional 2nd round pick in next year’s draft that could easily turn into a first if Wentz plays 75% of his possible snaps this upcoming season.
Coming out of North Dakota State University in 2016, the Eagles took Wentz 2nd overall, right behind Jared Goff who was also traded this offseason. After the Eagles traded their expected starter, Sam Bradford, before the start of the 2016 season, Wentz started all 16 games for Philadelphia and finished with 16 TD, 14 INT and a 46.7 QBR while leading the Eagles to a 7-9 record which put them at the bottom of the then competitive NFC East. The 2016 Eagles lineup was easily the worst roster Wentz has been surrounded with and he would soon prove that with a few weapons, Wentz could be a franchise quarterback.
2017 was the most and maybe only historic season in the long history of the Eagles franchise. A successful offseason highlighted by the development of Carson Wentz meant high expectations for the team and Wentz himself. Before suffering a career-altering knee injury in Week 14 against the Rams, Wentz was the leading MVP candidate after posting 33 TD with only 7 INT in 13 games.
After Wentz’s injury, veteran QB Nick Foles stepped in and led Philadelphia to their first ever Super Bowl Championship. From then on out, Wentz’s effectiveness was criticized and questioned and his numbers have yet to quiet the hate and disbelief.
The Eagles suffered through many, many injuries last year that certainly left Wentz out to dry. The most affected position was certainly the offensive line which featured 14 different players throughout the season. In his 12 games behind center, Wentz was sacked 50 times which averaged out to over 4 sacks per game. In Indianapolis, their O-Line protected an immobile 39 year-old QB (Phillip Rivers) very well by allowing only 93 pressured passes, 19 sacks and 37 hits in his 16 games.
There have been multiple reports since the Wentz trade was made public that the Eagles are already planning to bring in competition for the QB1 spot on the depth chart. Presumably, the Eagles will head into next season with Jalen Hurts and another young QB likely acquired via the draft.