The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to change quarterback Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 conditional second-round pick that could become a first-round pick, NFL sources told ESPN.
The Eagles will receive the No. 85 overall selection in this year’s draft, and the conditional second round may become a first-round selection depending on Wentz’s playing time, according to sources.
Wentz needs to play at least 75% of the Colts ’offensive plays for the 2022 conditional selection to be passed to a first-round pick, according to sources.
The selection could also become a first round if Wentz plays at least 70% of the plays and the Colts reach the playoffs. But the worst that can be the 2022 selection is a second round, which means the Eagles are confident of getting two value selections for Wentz.
The Eagles and Colts have spent much of the past two weeks trying to end the exchange, which can’t be officially processed until the NFL’s new year begins on March 17th.
The Eagles will receive an unlimited income of $ 33.8 million, the largest any team has ever received for a player, while the Colts will take on the balance of the $ 128 million Wentz extension, including the $ 10 guaranteed bonus million payer on March 19th.
Each team closes the deal with what it wanted on all fronts: Wentz will meet with Colts head coach Frank Reich, his former offensive coordinator in Philadelphia, and help fill the gap left by the retirement of Philip Rivers, while the Eagles are likely to turn to Jalen Hurts, although they also intend to compete for him. The Eagles ’starting spot isn’t expected to go to Hurts automatically.
Switching to Wentz marks the end of an unexpected chapter and year with the Eagles. Wentz went from being a former JMV candidate to supporting Hurts, a rookie selected in the second round in 2020, while his relationship with former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson disintegrated.
Wentz wanted to leave Philadelphia, though the Eagles hired former Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni as their new head coach.
Thursday’s successful transfer also continues an already tumultuous low season for the quarterbacks.
Less than three weeks after the Rams switched to Jared Goff, who was the first overall pick in the 2016 draft, to the Lions by fellow quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Eagles have now changed the second overall pick to the same draft to the Foals.
The Eagles signed Wentz with a four-year extension and $ 128 million in June 2019, indicating his belief that he was the long-term answer as quarterback.
But the relationship worsened during a difficult 2020 season during which Wentz ranked 34th in the NFL in percentage of complete passes (57.4%) and first in interceptions (15) and catches (50) despite being sent on the bench in favor of Hurts in the last four Philadelphia games.
Wentz, 28, appeared to be on a path to fame in Philadelphia after throwing 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 2017 while performing a tough load for the MVP before breaking multiple knee ligaments in December. He developed a stress fracture in his back the following season, but managed to throw 48 touchdowns at 14 interceptions over the next two years.
But the gap grew between Wentz and Pederson; A source told ESPN’s Tim McManus that Pederson stripped Wentz of much of his control over the offensive as injuries and defeats piled up in 2020, and Wentz’s faith in Pederson’s system. was lost.
Pederson was fired last month after a 4-11-1 season after he and owner Jeffrey Lurie failed to agree on a common vision for the future. But hiring Sirianni did not change Wentz’s view of wanting to move from Philadelphia, a sign that there were trust issues that stretched beyond Pederson.
The Eagles traded twice in the draft to select Wentz from the state of North Dakota, and Wentz validated that decision from the start. He holds the franchise record for one season in full passes (388), percentage of complete passes (69.6), yards for air (4,039) and TD for passes (33).
Wentz is also one of six quarterbacks in NFL history to record more than 20 touchdowns and 10 or fewer interceptions in three consecutive seasons, joining Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. He was named a first-team All Pro and made his only appearance in the Pro Bowl in 2017.
ESPN’s Tim McManus contributed to this report.