3 reasons why the Eagles should keep Carson Wentz

Carson Wentz has been an awful quarterback this season, but that doesn’t mean the Eagles should be in a hurry to trade him.

Doug Pederson’s decision to bench Carson Wentz in favor of Jalen Hurts is the right move for the Eagles in 2020. Offloading Wentz this offseason might really harm Philadelphia’s hopes of building a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2021 and beyond.

It’s natural to see the internet explode with potential Wentz trade scenarios after he was unceremoniously demoted to second on the depth chart. Quality teams, like the Indianapolis Colts, will clearly call Philadelphia this offseason to inquire about the out of favor signal-caller. The Eagles front office must be very careful not to fall into the trap of becoming prisoners of the moment.

For the record, embattled head coach Doug Pederson is absolutely right to go with Hurts over Wentz for the remainder of the 2020 campaign. Wentz has been nothing short of terrible. The insertion of Hurts into the lineup has a real chance to spark the Eagles’ offense down the stretch. There are still plenty of reasons to keep Wentz around for the long haul.

This piece starts with an obvious assessment of his potential trade value.

3. Wentz’s value is at an all-time low

Wentz will attract a lot of interest if he does hit the open market. Quarterbacks with his combination of talent and pedigree don’t become available every day.

The challenge is that everyone in the league has been able to watch Wentz’s high-profile struggles this season. If Philadelphia does make Wentz available via trade, the only offers they will receive will be designed to buy a distressed asset for a bargain.

Even if the Eagles don’t believe in Wentz long-term, they’d be smart to wait until he has a chance to bounce back in 2021 before seriously entertaining a trade. Dealing him this offseason won’t bring them much more than a middle round draft pick and some salary cap relief.

That return just isn’t enough for a quarterback who has won as many games as Wentz has during his relatively young career. He’s shown an ability to carry a mediocre offensive roster as recently as last season. Trading him when memories of costly interceptions are burned in opposing executives’ minds is a recipe for disaster and disappointment.

2. He still has support in the locker room

The locker room dynamics of letting Wentz leave might prove disastrous for Philadelphia. Defensive stalwart Fletcher Cox regards the quarterback as his “best friend.” Center Jason Kelce was also quick to stand up for Wentz in the aftermath of his demotion.

Neither Eagles star is criticizing the team for going with Hurts, but that could change if it becomes apparent that a permanent changing of the guard is occurring in Philadelphia. The team’s front office shouldn’t let the opinion of any single player dictate their personnel moves, but it should be a factor in the organization’s thinking.

If Wentz had a reputation of being a bad guy or a malcontent then it would make it a lot more advantageous for the Eagles to move in. The simple reality that he’s a good guy who is popular in the locker room should be a strong point in favor of giving him a chance to reclaim his job in 2021.

1. Wentz still has elite talent

Despite all of Wentz’s struggles this season, it’s still easy to see that he possesses the athletic ability to play the quarterback position at a high level in the NFL. The Eagles should not give up on such a prodigious talent after a single season of profound struggle.

With all due respect to Jalen Hurts, his ceiling doesn’t compare with what Wentz can do. It wasn’t so long ago that Wentz was a solid NFL MVP candidate. Stauch Hurts supporters would have a hard time projecting that kind of stardom for the rookie quarterback.

Instead of throwing Wentz out with yesterday’s trash, Pederson and his coaching staff should be spending every waking minute trying to diagnose his current issues and prescribing solutions to get him back to his best. If Philadelphia expects to legitimately contend for a Super Bowl title in the next season or two then it will come with Wentz at the helm of the offense.

But what will the Eagles do?

Front office restraint is the right course of action here, but the Eagles and Wentz do seem to be headed towards divorce. If Hurts can spark the offense down the stretch then it’s very likely that Wentz will be donning a new uniform in 2021.

In fact, it’s fair to say that Hurts’ play to finish the season will likely dictate what Philadelphia decides to do with Wentz. If the rookie struggles, then it could invite another quarterback change before the year is even complete.

The more likely outcome is that Hurts is going to show quality signs that he can become a starter in the mold of a modern, NFL offense. His mobility and touch on deep throws make him a big-play specialist of sorts. Even if Hurts doesn’t play consistent football during his time as a starter, his highlight plays will convince the organization that he’s a potential superstar.

As such, the projection here is that the Eagles will make a crucial mistake by trading a potential franchise quarterback in favor of a relatively unproven rookie. Philadelphia fans should hope their favorite team’s front office finds a way to extract a high draft pick from the team that acquires Wentz. It looks as if his time in Philadephia has come to a premature finish.