Carson Wentz already resides in Indianapolis, and now he’s officially a member of the Colts.
The trade from the Philadelphia Eagles sending Wentz to the Colts and reuniting him with former offensive coordinator Frank Reich — head coach of the Colts — was completed Wednesday at the start of the NFL league year.
Wentz, who revealed earlier in the day he’ll wear No. 2 (coincidentally, the same number as his supposed heir apparent in Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts), was the second overall pick in the 2016 draft behind Jared Goff. Goff was traded to the Detroit Lions in a deal that also became official Wednesday.
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The Eagles receive a third-round pick in 2021 and an additional draft pick in return. The Colts announced Wednesday it was a “conditional second-round pick” in 2022, while the Eagles declared they received a “conditional first-round pick” next year. Based on Wentz’s performance and the Colts’ record, the pick could be a first- or second-rounder.
When Wentz is introduced via Zoom conference Thursday, he will reportedly not take questions from Philadelphia media.
Wednesday is also the start of Wentz’s new four-year, $128 million contract extension with almost $70 million guaranteed. The Eagles absorb an NFL-record $33 million cap hit by trading Wentz before his extension kicks in.
Reich was Wentz’s offensive coordinator during the 2017 season in which Wentz guided Philadelphia to an 11-2 record while throwing for 33 touchdown passes before sustaining a season-ending injury in December. Nick Foles piloted Philadelphia through the postseason and Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots.
The Eagles cut ties with Wentz after he was benched during the 2020 season and replaced by Hurts, who went 1-3 as a starter. The Eagles later fired head coach Doug Pederson, but new coach Nick Sirianni arrives from Indianapolis with plans to trial Hurts as the No. 1 quarterback.
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In Indianapolis, Wentz is the latest starter in a rapidly spinning QB carousel that has included Andrew Luck (retired), Jacoby Brissett (Dolphins) and Philip Rivers (retired). Rivers played one season with the Colts, leading the team to the playoffs in 2020 before ending his career.
The Colts also will reportedly re-sign running back Marlon Mack, with NFL Network reporting that the 25-year-old will return on a one-year, $2 million deal. Coming off his first career 1,000-yard season in 2019, Mack suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in the Colts’ Week 1 loss at Jacksonville.
–Field Level Media