The Colts finally swung big by trading for Carson Wentz

The Indianapolis Colts are hoping for resurgence with Carson Wentz on the roster. 

Give it up for Chris Ballard. He entered the starting contest and didn’t blink.

The Indianapolis Colts agreed to terms Thursday morning to trade for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. The Eagles will receive a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional second-round pick for the former No. 2 overall pick.

That conditional pick could be bumped up to a first should Wentz play75 percent of snaps in 2022, or 70 percent of snaps and Indianapolis makes the playoffs.

Philadelphia owner Jeff Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman did their part to make the 28-year-old Wentz happy in Philadelphia. They knew they couldn’t add Frank Reich back from 2017 as the replacement for Doug Pederson. Instead, they added his right-hand man in Nick Sirianni as their next head coach.

It wasn’t enough. The damage was done. Wentz wanted a fresh start and the Eagles knew there was no recovery. And sure, while they won’t walk away with a first-round pick in 2021, the Wentz watch has ended.

Now the Eagles will need to decide what they do on the clock with the No. 6 pick. As for the Colts, they’re swinging for the fences that Wentz returns to Pro Bowl form.

Frank Reich and Carson Wentz could be the x-factor in the AFC

Wentz now enters the start of his four-year, $128 million extension signed back in 2019. The reasoning for the extension? His work with Reich. Back in 2017, it looked like the former North Dakota State product was the next MVP.

Prior to tearing his ACL, Wentz threw for 3,296 yards and a career-best 33 touchdowns. It’s what led Reich to be named the head coach in Indianapolis.

Is this where it all starts clicking?

Ballard, the Indianapolis general manager, revamped the Colts’ defense with standout free-agent signings and winning big in the draft. Retooling the offensive line, Indianapolis made it back to the postseason with Philip Rivers in the second season of the post-Andrew Luck era. For now, most of the current stars will be on the rookie deals.

That all will change by this time next year.

Reich made Wentz a star in two years. He’ll have three months to recreate the magic once again.

The AFC South is the Colts’ for the taking, and with their first-round pick still in place, the Colts can turn their attention to other needs to make them a complete roster.

Best of all, the Eagles will take a $33.8 million cap hit just to have Wentz playing in Lucas Oil Stadium. Call that a win for Ballard.

If Wentz can return to 2017 form, the Colts should be a contender. Credit to Indianapolis for going all-in instead of playing it safe.