What were the primary factors behind quarterback Carson Wentz’s eventual demise with the Washington Commanders?
The foregone conclusion was officially confirmed on Monday as the Washington Commanders released Carson Wentz. A move that was almost assured considering his underwhelming production levels and the financial implications involved.
Washington became the latest team to take a chance on Wentz following a high-profile trade from the Indianapolis Colts. After a good start in Week 1, things tailed off dramatically and the former first-round selection was unable to take advantage of one final opportunity late in the campaign before Sam Howell came into the fold.
Cutting Wentz saves the Commanders $26.17 million in cap space, which is a huge sum to better spend elsewhere. The team also parted ways with Bobby McCain, leaving them with $35.34 million in available funds before placing the franchise tag on Daron Payne, according to Over the Cap.
What the future holds for Wentz is unclear. But here are three primary factors behind his eventual demise with the Commanders.
Primary Factor No. 1
Commanders play-calling
Although Carson Wentz didn’t look like the same player that was a potential NFL MVP candidate with the Philadelphia Eagles once upon a time, the Washington Commanders didn’t do him any favors from a play-calling standpoint. Scott Turner was unable to put his signal-caller in the best positions to thrive, which eventually forced Ron Rivera into a different direction – Eric Bieniemy, to be precise.
Had Bieniemy been around last season when Wentz was transitioning, things might have been different. But the player won’t get the chance to work with one of the most respected offensive minds anywhere in the league.
The Commanders’ OL was porous
It wasn’t just the play-calling aspect that hurt Carson Wentz. The Washington Commanders got almost no consistency from their offensive line, which was porous almost from start to finish and something the one-time North Dakota State product just couldn’t overcome.
Wentz got an average of 2.3 seconds in the pocket, which was his lowest since entering the league in 2016. He was sacked 26 times in just eight games, which is another damning indictment of how much the Commanders must upgrade their protection in the coming weeks.
Of course, Wentz held onto the football too long at times. There was also real hesitancy in terms of pocket awareness and decision-making that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Blaming others is all well and good. But this is the second consecutive season where Wentz failed to maximize another opportunity to become a productive NFL starter.
Given how things normally go, Wentz might not get a third chance. Certainly not when it comes to going elsewhere and being guaranteed a starting berth.
As for the Commanders, expect those in power to address their offensive line as a matter of urgency during free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft. Anything else would be borderline malpractice based on how things unfolded throughout the 2022 campaign.
Commanders couldn’t regain Carson Wentz’s confidence
Once a quarterback starts losing confidence, it’s a long road back. The Washington Commanders felt they could regain this for Carson Wentz, but the former No. 2 overall selection was too far gone and this became evident whenever he was put in critical situations.
Being hesitant is the worst thing any NFL quarterback can do. Opposing defenses smell it from a mile away and have no trouble exploiting certain flaws that can emerge as a result.
Wentz found that out to his cost, completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 1,755 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. His passer rating of 80.2 and 33.0 QBR further highlighted his difficulties under center.
Accepting a backup role somewhere is probably the best Wentz can hope for right now. This will be a humbling experience for such a highly-regarded player when he came out of college, but it’s the reality after three consecutive years of inconsistent performances.
The Commanders made the only feasible call by releasing Wentz. And they did at least set up his contract to benefit the organization in the event expectations weren’t met.
Although it might be difficult to accept, sitting on the sidelines for a season or two could be the best way for Wentz to regain confidence. Something that was sorely lacking in Washington and was arguably the biggest factor in this trade not going according to plan.