The Carson Wentz smoke is getting so thick it’s choking at this point. Most prominent sources agree the discussions are down to the Chicago Bears or Indianapolis Colts. While most agree Indy makes more sense due to their cap space, it appears the Bears have been the more aggressive team. GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy understand the pressure they’re under to win in 2021. Taking a gamble on Wentz might be their best hope.
What’s not clear is what exactly the Bears might be offering. Adam Schefter reported the Eagles wanted a “Matthew Stafford-like” deal. That would mean multiple high picks. However, others believe Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman will likely settle for a 1st round pick. Would the Bears be willing to meet that demand? Natalie Egenolf of NBC Sports Philadelphia seems to think so.
She claims to have details on what the structure of the deal would look like.
Essentially the Bears would get Wentz and a restructured contract in exchange for the 20th overall pick in the draft, Nick Foles, and Tarik Cohen. New Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni runs an offense that values pass-catching running backs highly. So Cohen would make sense. Foles is also a major folk hero in Philadelphia and would make for a perfect backup behind Jalen Hurts.
Would either player be considered irreplaceable? No. If this proves true, the Bears aren’t losing too much on that front. The only big hit they’d really be taking is the loss of their 1st round pick. It’ll be interesting to see if they get some sort of pick back in return. If this ends up being the actual deal? It shouldn’t be called too outrageous.
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Source is telling me Bears deal for Wentz is close. Foles is speculated to be included with another offensive player and a first rounder. Buckle up.
— Natalie Egenolf (@NatalieEgenolf) February 7, 2021
Name I’m hearing is Tarik Cohen, a first rounder and yes world, Nick Foles. https://t.co/dEsK5N8oV8
— Natalie Egenolf (@NatalieEgenolf) February 7, 2021
Carson Wentz is a gamble but not a terrible one
Let’s be clear. There won’t be a lot of Bears fans who like this trade. The idea of giving up a 1st round pick for a player that had 16 TD passes and 15 interceptions this past season brings on a gag reflex. That being said, one season does not paint the full picture. Prior to 2020, Wentz was playing really good football. He had arguably his best year in 2019, going over 4,000 yards with 27 TDs and just seven interceptions.
People love to put the blame on him for everything. Make no mistake, Wentz deserves plenty. His decision-making was awful and his accuracy was all over the place. However, one must keep in mind he was sacked 50 times and was throwing to mostly backup wide receivers all season. Injuries rocked the Eagles’ offense from the moment the season started.
Maybe he’ll have better luck in Chicago.
Carson Wentz is also followed by accusations of being a questionable teammate and difficult to coach. It’s hard to tell how much of that is true and how much of it might be a smear campaign. The bottom line is the Bears have plenty of people in the building who know a lot about him. Pace evaluated him extensively before the 2016 draft. John DeFilippo coached him for two years in Philadelphia. Clearly, the team feels they might be able to get him straightened out.
If they succeed? People won’t care about what they gave up to get him.