Things tend to rise and fall fast in the NFL. Last week just days before the Super Bowl, everybody was convinced that Carson Wentz was about to be traded. The 28-year old former Pro Bowler had a rough 2020 season. He developed a rift with the head coach, threw almost as many interceptions (15) and touchdowns (16). He got benched in favor of a 2nd round rookie. Now he wants out of Philadelphia.

Most chalk it up to distrust of the organization to support him. Something that became increasingly apparent after the Super Bowl victory in early 2018 and then the drafting of Jalen Hurts. Wentz has no desire to be in a competition or be a backup. If he isn’t the starter, he’d rather play elsewhere. That is where things stand. The Eagles have a disgruntled player on a fat contract coming off his worst season. One would think he’d be traded already but it hasn’t happened.

So what gives?

Several insiders claim Eagles GM Howie Roseman has set an impossible price tag for the QB. Something akin to two 1st round picks. Interested teams understandably laughed at the idea, but it appears Philadelphia isn’t backing off their demand. However, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune believes it might be the other way around. Teams interested in Wentz have come in with exceedingly low offers. Ones that Philadelphia can’t bring themselves to accept.

“I suppose it’s possible, but I tend to think if the Eagles had a first-round pick on the table for Wentz, a deal already would be done…

…Maybe I’m dead wrong, but there’s a ton of smoke — and I’m not talking about on social media but in talking with folks who work for various teams — and if the Eagles had a first-rounder offered for him already, I don’t see why they wouldn’t pull the trigger.”

This would suggest no team including the Bears or Indianapolis Colts have been willing to put a 1st round pick on the table. Some claim Chicago has but none of the sources have solid credibility. Thus far the major insiders have merely said the Bears are interested. No reports of an offer actually being made.

Restraint by Bears in Carson Wentz pursuit is highly warranted

As stated above, they have plenty of reasons to not surrender a 1st round pick for him. Yes, the quarterback is still on the younger side and has played really good football in the past. His 2017 and 2019 seasons were particularly impressive. Yet the NFL is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league. All people can remember is how atrocious he looked last season.

Now in fairness, not all of it was his fault. His offensive line and wide receivers were absolutely devastated by injuries. Carson Wentz was sacked 50 times in just 12 games. He was clearly trying to keep a sinking ship afloat and it led to a lot of the problems like the erratic accuracy and poor decision-making. Still, he isn’t free of blame either. The falling out of head coach Doug Pederson and accusations of being a poor locker room guy can’t be ignored. To say nothing of the $40 million the Bears would be on the hook for if acquired.

This is a high-risk-high-reward move.

If Wentz returns to his former self, Chicago would be set up for years to come at quarterback. However, if he flops then the entire regime gets fired next year and their replacements will be saddled with a broken quarterback on a bad contract. This is why Pace is right to resist any urge of giving up a 1st round pick. One can’t pay for a player they remember for two or three years ago. That isn’t who they’d be getting in all likelihood.