3 biggest positives from Commanders’ trade for Carson Wentz

1. Wentz is team’s best QB since Kirk Cousins

We hate to bring up Kirk Cousins, who’s causing quite the stir in Minnesota for refusing to take a paycut, but it’s pretty crazy to think where Washington would be had both parties agreed to a long-term extension years ago.

Really makes you wonder, but we digress.

The point we’re making, though, is that Wentz is Washington’s best quarterback since Cousins, a former Pro Bowler in 2016 who eclipsed 4,000 passing yards (almost had 5,000 in 2016) and accounted for at least 25 touchdown passes in three-straight seasons from 2015 to 2017, his last with the team.

Can we at least give the guy a shot before he’s written off? His volatility will terrify fans, and rightly so, but we’re still talking about a 29-year-old quarterback who’s averaged 239.6 yards per game in his career, and thrown for 140 touchdowns to 57 interceptions (90.1 passer rating).

Is Wentz susceptible to the occasional stupefying turnover? Yes, but he was markedly more responsible with the football in Indianapolis last season (just seven INTs) and he can push the ball downfield.

According to PFF, Wentz finished 25/59 for seven touchdowns to three interceptions on throws 20 or more yards downfield in 2021. In the same category, he made 17 big-time throws to just three turnover-worthy plays.

We know he has his limitations, but don’t let his reputation on NFL Twitter convince you he’s not a major upgrade. We’ll say it until we’re blue in the face: Wentz is the team’s best quarterback since Cousins departed in 2017.