While Carson Wentz‘s rapid rise from Division I-FCS prospect to 2017 MVP frontrunner preceded setbacks, the Eagles showed their belief in their starting quarterback by allowing Nick Foles to defect to the Jaguars.
An open-and-shut fifth-year option decision on Wentz is due by May 3. That would allow the Eagles to have him under contract through 2020. But Howie Roseman may not want to put an extension off much longer, confirming Monday he would like to extend the quarterback (Twitter link via Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com).
Wentz has missed eight games over the past two seasons, his season-ending knee injury ending a 2017 MVP push and back trouble sidelining him last season. Both campaigns then featured Foles elevating the Eagles’ offense, winning Super Bowl LII MVP honors in one season and lifting Philly to a road playoff victory in another.
The Eagles rearranged their payroll considerably to move under the cap this month and used some of the space to bring DeSean Jackson back and add Malik Jackson. They still have more than $25MM in cap space.
The timing for a Wentz extension is interesting, given his injuries the past two seasons and $8.5MM cap number in 2019. But the Eagles have continually showed faith in their 26-year-old quarterback, whose back malady is not expected to linger long-term. (Though, back injuries certainly represent a cause for concern through a long-term lens.) He is expected to be ready for Philadelphia’s offseason program.
After a few years of relative stagnancy, the quarterback market has transformed over the past year. With the Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers extensions moving the AAV bar north of $30MM, the Packers signing their two-time MVP to a $33MM-per-year accord, a Wentz deal would be in line to step into that ballpark. The Eagles waiting until 2020 would stand to up Wentz’s price further, assuming he stays healthy, considering the Chiefs will then be in position to give Patrick Mahomes a possible market-shattering extension.
Wentz, by a considerable margin, established a new completion percentage standard last season (69.6 percent). His touchdown pass percentage dropped from 7.5 to 5.2 compared to his dominant 2017 showing, with the 11-game starter finishing with 21 TD tosses compared to 33 in 13 2017 games. The Eagles went 5-6 under Wentz last season, before Foles offered more late-season magic to steer the team to the playoffs.
Roseman, though, has long stood by his 2016 draft choice, and extension talks figure to transpire this offseason.
Incredibly stupid if they extend him now. He’s as injury prone as they come.
Full of incentives; they would’ve extended him already if they were permitted. They’re already clearing cap space for when the time comes.
incredibly stupid would be letting Foles walk and then not committing to Wentz
They have plenty of time to commit to Wentz, even the dumbest fan can realize how stupid of a move extending Wentz would be this offseason as good as he is he hasn’t finished the season the last 2 seasons. Extending him now would be irresponsible spending
They are commited to him. Just a little early for an extension with next season and the 5th year option left. Same with the Rams and Goff
Hard to understand why a GM wouldn’t take advantage of that 2 year window. With CBA negotiations on the horizon and rumors of a possible work stoppage, I would not be in a rush to extend those guys.
This guy has yet to prove he can stay healthy for a full season are they really going to sign him to an extension early?
He played all 16 games his rookie year, so that’s false.
Neither of his injuries are chronic.
Pay him $30M now (and spread the cap hit better), or pay him closer to $40M after another year.
Easy choice. Bailing on Wentz means hitting the reset button and mailing in the next 2+ years because there’s no Super Bowl-level replacement lying around.
Exactly! He tried to play through a shredded knee and then did play through a fractured back. Those are not minor dings a hypochondriac gets through, the guy has been a warrior that was cursed with two bad injuries. Howie has been a genius with the salary cap, I’m sure the contract will be incentive laden and be team friendly compared to what the market will eventually dictate if he hits the open market.
Except the Super Bowl winning NF, who was already one the team. Philly should have stuck w/ Nick, traded Wentz and reaped the prospect haul that would have netted them.
With his injury history id feel much more comfortable using the 5th year option and then applying 3 franchise tags if you have to. That’s 4 more years for him to prove that he’s not injury prone.