The Indianapolis Colts are optimistic about their chances to revive the career of quarterback Carson Wentz after they traded two draft picks to the Philadelphia Eagles in order to get him.
However, not everyone shares the team’s optimism that Wentz will bounce back in the manner they are projecting. Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report listed Wentz as the one Colts player already on the hot seat entering the 2021 season.
“Andrew Luck threw a wrench into the Indianapolis Colts’ inner workings when he abruptly retired. Since then, the team has featured three starting quarterbacks in Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers and now Carson Wentz.
Of the three, Wentz brings the most long-term potential. But the Colts coaching staff must rediscover what once made him the face of the Philadelphia Eagles franchise.
Bad habits and bad blood formed in the City of Brotherly Love. He’s now in a situation where he’s comfortable with the coaching staff based on previous relationships.
Wentz’s reemergence isn’t a given, though, and Indianapolis sunk a significant investment in its new signal-caller. If things aren’t working midway through the season, general manager Chris Ballard may be forced to make an executive decision and bench Wentz rather than lose a more valuable draft asset. The package the Eagles received includes a conditional second-round pick that will automatically turn into a first-round selection if Wentz plays 75 percent of the team’s offensive snaps or 70 percent of the snaps with a Colts playoff appearance.”
The Colts haven’t been shy about Wentz’s poor 2020 season. Even Wentz himself has admitted it didn’t go the way he planned it. But they are hoping to put that in the past in order to find their quarterback of the future.
What’s interesting about the Wentz trade is that it is essentially a two-year deal with an option for two more. The Colts can get out of Wentz’s contract following the 2022 season if he hasn’t proven to regain his form.
Everyone is looking forward to what the Colts will look like with Wentz under center, even if the seat he’s sitting on is a little bit warm.