Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard and head coach Frank Reich need to find their fourth starting quarterback in four seasons in the coming months, as the retirement of Philip Rivers created yet another colossal vacancy. Given their cap space and past familiarity with Carson Wentz, the Colts have been frequently mentioned as a potential landing spot for the former No. 2 pick.
Wentz, who was at one point considered an MVP favorite and coming off of three straight seasons in which he led the Eagles to the playoffs, threw 15 interceptions and was sacked 50 times in 12 games this past year. Still, there’s hope that Reich could get his hands on him and figure out how to fix him.
Ballard claims that he’s “exploring lots of options” amid the frequent links to Wentz, a sign that the former No. 2 overall pick and one-time MVP candidate could restart his career in Indy after fizzling out in Philadelphia last season. While 2020 looks concerning for Colts fans, that shouldn’t deter them from making this trade.
Chris Ballard is joining @dandakich right now. Thread to follow.
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) February 5, 2021
On the QB/Wentz chatter: “We are exploring lots of options...I can tell you this, there’s no trade going down today.”
With a contract that could enable the Colts to potentially move off of him if he doesn’t pan out, the financial implications that come with trading for Wentz shouldn’t trouble a Colts team with more than enough cap space. If he’s on the market, there are reasons to believe Wentz will be more successful in Indianapolis than he was in Philadelphia.
There are 3 key reasons Carson Wentz could work with the Indianapolis Colts
3. Carson Wentz and Frank Reich have familiarity with each other
Reich was the reason Wentz was an MVP candidate back in 2017.
Wentz’s best season came in 2017, when he threw 33 touchdowns and was intercepted just seven times. Coincidentally, that came when Reich was his offensive coordinator. What makes Reich so great, as has been proven with the Colts, is the fact that he has been so adaptable as a play-caller.
He was dealt with a risky gunslinger in Andrew Luck, a mobile, inconsistent quarterback in Jacoby Brissett, and in immobile grey beard in Philip Rivers. Reich has had success with all three, a sign that he could end up returning Wentz to the player that completely demolished the rest of the NFC in 2017.
Doug Pederson took on offensive coordinator duties last year, and the result was an offense that led the league in average depth of target, yet struggled to consistently reel off big plays. In a Reich offense that features more high-percentage throws, Wentz could cut down on the turnovers and start dominating once more.
2. The Colts offer better skill position talent that the Eagles
The Colts running game and WR corps blows the Eagles’ away.
Wentz wasn’t very good last year, but he wasn’t throwing the ball to Harold Carmichael and Mike Quick. His receiving corps featured both underperforming veterans like DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery and some not-so-great youngsters in 2020 first-round pick Jalen Reagor and 2019 second-rounder JJ Arcega-Whiteside, who was picked before DK Metcalf.
The Colts, meanwhile, have a balanced attack on offense, led by Jonathan Taylor dominating on the ground and the likes of Michael Pittman Jr. and Zach Pascal on the outside. If TY Hilton re-signs and Paris Campbell becomes what Indianapolis hoped he could be, Wentz could have the best receiving corps he’s had in years.
As good as Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert are, Philly’s offense couldn’t function against defenses with the talent at linebacker and safety to take those two away. With a plethora of speedy targets and Reich at the control panel, Wentz could step right into a familiar scheme and start throwing darts in blue and white with a reliable rushing game behind him.
1. Wentz will be protected by an elite offensive line
Wentz, like most QBs, struggles most when he doesn’t get protection.
It’s incredibly hard to play quarterback when you spend half of the game on the turf and the other half evading defensive linemen. Wentz was behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league last year, as injuries to Lane Johnson and Andre Dillard forced Philly to use various configurations of rookies and practice-squad players.
He’ll have the furthest thing from a poor offensive line in Indianapolis, as Quenton Nelson and Ryan Kelly might still be the best tandem of interior blockers in the league. If the Colts select a player like Virginia Tech’s Christian Darrisaw to replace Anthony Castonzo, Indy’s O-line could once again be among the best in football.
Even going back to his prime with the Eagles, Wentz struggled under pressure. The best way for Reich to mitigate that wart is to surround him with a wall of blockers and/or get him outside the pocket. With one of the best combinations of talent on the field and on the sideline, Wentz could show everyone that 2020 was an exception rather than a norm with regards to his skill as a quarterback.
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