The Carson Wentz trade drama remains ongoing. Expectations are a resolution will happen sometime this week. Most likely the next couple of days. Most national sources believe it’s down to two teams at the moment in the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts with a few others watching from the fringe. Just knowing GM Ryan Pace is involved in another quarterback pursuit has many Bears fans sweating.
Self-control hasn’t exactly been Pace’s strong suit when it comes to that position. Paying Mike Glennon, a career backup, $45 million. Handing over an additional three picks to move up for Mitch Trubisky. Sending Jacksonville a 4th rounder for Nick Foles and his huge guaranteed money. Add to that his well-documented love of Wentz in the 2016 draft? People are terrified he may actually meet Philly’s asking price of two 1st round picks.
This despite clear evidence Wentz is nowhere close to being worth that.
Thankfully there is some hope in that regard. Signs continue to grow that the Eagles aren’t going to get what they want. Neither the Bears nor Colts are willing to come anywhere close to that number. NFL insider Adam Caplan said on Inside The Birds that while the Bears are definitely interested in Wentz, Pace isn’t getting carried away with his pursuit.
“As I understand it, the Bears are not interested in giving up two first round picks. They gave up two first round picks [in 2018] to get Khalil Mack and then some. They don’t want to do that. I kind of laughed at the people who wanted to compare the [Matthew] Stafford trade. Folks, Matthew Stafford is a proven NFL quarterback who’s never been benched. Carson Wentz may be a very talented quarterback, but he was benched. The Bears want the guy, that’s based on multiple sources. They want the guy, but I can’t see [Bears GM] Ryan Pace caving in here.”
This is a good thing. It means Pace isn’t letting his desperation feed too much into these discussions. Yes, he needs a quarterback. That much is obvious. Yet it won’t do the team much good to acquire said quarterback and have nothing left in the coffers to build the rest of the roster with. He has to smart about this and not be afraid to play a little hardball.
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Carson Wentz trade will come down to who blinks first
It’s obvious the Eagles are doing everything in their power to ramp up the market for Wentz. Rumors are flying everywhere. Few are better in the league at this than Howie Roseman. He’s made several blockbuster deals in the past and knows how to go about operating them. The thing is? So has Pace. The Trubisky and Khalil Mack trades are good examples. Also, don’t forget he’s worked with Roseman before. The two are friends.
Chicago and Philadelphia have traded with each other three times since 2018. Most recently the move by Pace up into the 5th round of last April’s draft to select Darnell Mooney. He has a pretty good idea of who he’s up against. No doubt why he’s reportedly been sticking to his guns throughout the process. He can’t afford to let Roseman make him blink.
Everything will come down to value.
Will the Bears give up a 1st round pick? That seems likely. However, what matters is what they get back. There is a strong chance it won’t just be Wentz. Perhaps a later pick in the middle rounds and even another player. A young one on a cheap contract the Bears happen to like. Chicago knows they can’t afford to empty the coffers in this deal. A Carson Wentz trade is not the kind that needs a home run swing.
