Washington has a new Commander.
Quarterback Carson Wentz is on the move again, reportedly acquired by Washington in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts for two third-round picks, according to multiple reports Wednesday.
The Commanders are set to take on all financial obligations to Wentz, who is due $28 million this season and has three total years left on his contract.
Without Wentz on the books, the Colts could have more than $80 million in salary cap space to start the 2022 league year.
Washington reportedly made an offer to the Seattle Seahawks for Russell Wilson. Wilson instead will relocate to Denver in a deal with the Broncos that can’t become official until March 16.
The same applies to the Colts sending Wentz to the Commanders at the start of the league year, marking a third team in three seasons for the former No. 2 overall pick who began his career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now a division foe of the Eagles, Wentz gives the Commanders a stable starter after a revolving door that has included Alex Smith, first-round pick Dwayne Haskins, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Taylor Heinicke.
Wentz went 9-8 with the Colts, including a loss in the regular-season finale at Jacksonville that took Indianapolis out of the playoffs. He passed for 3,563 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard was non-committal about Wentz sticking around for 2022, even after they had a meeting during the NFL Scouting Combine.
“Ultimately, you’ve got to have a guy that you believe in and can win with,” Ballard said.
Wentz, 29, was the second pick in the 2016 draft and performed at near MVP levels as a second-team All-Pro pick in 2017. But a knee injury kept him out of the playoffs that season and Wentz watched as Nick Foles guided the Eagles to a Super Bowl LII championship.
NFL Network reported the Colts could turn their attention to Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers. The Colts have had five different Week 1 starters each of the past five seasons, and are assured a sixth in 2022.
Wentz has played in 85 games with 20,374 career passing yards and 140 touchdown passes.
–Field Level Media
