Carson Wentz's reunion with Frank Reich is the QB's only hope

18.02.2021 20:54

Will Frank Reich help Carson Wentz bring it back to 2017?

Frank Reich and the Indianapolis Colts have an opportunity to play the role of savior. By trading for quarterback Carson Wentz, the Colts have opted in to rejuvenating Wentz’s career.

Reich, after all, was the Eagles’ offensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017. Under Reich, Wentz had a promising rookie season in 2016 and an elite season in 2017 with a 60.2 completion percentage, 3,296 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Perhaps we’re about to find out if that’s correlation or causation.

When Reich left for the Colts in 2018, Wentz’s career began to decline. He had a solid season in 2018, but suffered an injury and couldn’t play the whole year. His season in 2019 looked good on paper, but advanced statistics showed underlying problems (and mediocrity). By 2020, the truth was out: Wentz was largely held up by his system and supporting cast. Neither was doing him any favors last season. In Indy, Wentz should have help from Reich and a group of solid offensive players, with the exception of a gaping hole (or two) at tackle. (The Colts have plenty of cap space, second most in the NFL, and draft assets, including the 21st overall pick, to better their supporting cast in 2021.)

Maybe it’ll work. (Maybe not.) Certainly, it’s one of the best situations Wentz could ask for. But Reich isn’t the only savior figure in this trade. The Colts are also rescuing the Eagles.

Philly clearly wanted to move on from Wentz, but were slated to pay the quarterback $128 million over the next four years. Philly will absorb $33.8 million in cap space by dealing Wentz — that’s the biggest dead cap hit in NFL history. But, apparently, if it means getting Wentz off the Eagles’ hands, they’ll take that sunk cost to avoid paying the other $98 million.

But if Reich is saving Wentz and the Colts are saving the Eagles, why in the world did Indy have to give up a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 second-round (which could escalate to a first-rounder, if Wentz plays 75+% of snaps and the Colts make the playoffs) in order to acquire the castoff quarterback?

Ultimately, the Colts think Wentz is that good — or, at least, he can be when he’s playing under Reich. Even after a season when Wentz showed more weaknesses than ever, the Colts think Reich can elevate the 28-year-old quarterback, because that’s exactly what the coach did in 2017. Perhaps they can simply run it back. That’s what Indy is betting.