Why the Carson Wentz trade can work for the Commanders

The Washington Commanders officially have their QB1 for 2022, in former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz. And yours truly has some thoughts and opinions ready to fly about this trade. Instead of typing this out on the day of the trade, I decided to let the trade sit for a few days.

Hopefully, the emotions have exited my system enough to provide a coherent opinion. And spoiler alert: I am not as down on the trade as many are. In fact, I think the Washington Commanders did the best they could do with a less than ideal situation.

To not delay the inevitable; here is my full opinion on the Carson Wentz trade to the Commanders.

Here’s why trading for Carson Wentz can be a positive for the Commanders.

Before we dive in, one thing needs to be said: The Commanders are in QB purgatory. This means, there is no perfect solution to the persisting problem in the nation’s capital. Well, maybe a Russell Wilson trade was the perfect solution, but Wilson wanted no part of the Burgundy and Gold.

This brings us to why Washington was in the situation they were in, in the first place. They swung big for the veteran quarterbacks. They were told no by Wilson. They almost certainly asked Deshaun Watson’s agent beforehand, and assuredly got a “thanks, but no thanks” answer. There is also a chance that he gets a lengthy suspension, wherever he ends up.

Odds are Derek Carr and his agent gave them the same answer, in a hypothetical question if the Raider were to be made available.

With this, Washington was left with minimal options. They were beginning extension talks with star receiver Terry McLaurin and if they did not act fast, they were left to bid on Mitchell Trubisky, Marcus Mariota and Jamies Winston. Or draft a quarterback in a lackluster class. Convincing anyone, including McLaurin, to sign with what the QB situation was like before last Wednesday was going to be a tall order.

So, Washington landed on the former second overall pick, Carson Wentz. Wentz is nearly everything an NFL team wants in a quarterback. Standing at 6’5″, 240 lbs he is the prototypical size for an NFL quarterback. At the 2016 NFL Combine, he posted an 9.63 RAS score (out of 10) with elite agility scores and a 4.77 40 yard dash.

So he is also plenty athletic enough and he has a bazooka attached to his right shoulder. From a physical talent standpoint, there is nothing holding Wentz back from being one of the game’s elite quarterbacks.

There are the questions no doubt. Former Eagles teammates described him as abrasive and someone who “pushed you away.” ZaK Keefer of the Athletic, reported that Wentz refused hard coaching and the rift between the Colts had become severed long before the Week 18 debacle in Jacksonville.

However, then there are the five teammates of Wentz, WR Michael Pittman Jr, LB Darius Leonard, C Ryan Kelly, WR Zach Pascal, and CB Kenny Moore II who positively supported Wentz on social media following his trade to the Commanders. Wentz had been having offseason workouts with Pittman Jr, Dezmon Patmon, and Parris Campbell up until he was traded.

Taking in all of those factors, my opinion brings me to this: Trading for Wentz is a smart, calculated risk by the Washington Commanders. He possesses the quick twitch, athleticism, and ability to make every throw Rivera was seeking. He clearly has, at the very least, begun to learn from the mistakes he made in Philly, as many teammates of his in Indy support him.

He still has the potential to put it all together as a quarterback. Maybe his problems really are between the ears, maybe they are falling into the trap Tobias Funke fell into in Arrested Development, saying, “it’s never worked for anyone else–but it might work for us.”

With Wentz, however, he gives Washington at worst a better version of Taylor Heinicke. He will still most likely provide the high variance that Heinicke brought but with the physical tools of Wentz, his highs project to be much higher. For example, Wentz can provide awe-inspiring throws like this, as well as throws that make you want to throw your remote through the TV this one.

Wentz is certainly a risk for the Commanders. But with the selection of Dwayne Haskins and passing on trading up for a quarterback last year they ultimately painted themselves into this corner. Wentz is at least a dart throw that has a chance to get Washington out of QB purgatory. And if he does not pan out, Washington can cut ties with no financial penalty next offseason.