The Colts agreed Wednesday to trade Wentz and their 2022 second-round pick to the Commanders in exchange for Washington's 2022 second-round picks as well as third-round picks in 2022 and 2023, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Per Schefter, Washington will pay the full $28 million owed to Wentz in 2022, while the 2023 third-round selection will become a second-round pick if the quarterback plays at least 70 percent of Washington's offensive snaps during the upcoming season. The trade won't become official until after the start of the new league year March 16, but barring any hangups in Wentz's physical, the 29-year-old becomes the latest high-profile signal-caller to change teams in the early stages of the offseason. Wentz should immediately supplant Taylor Heinicke as Washington's No. 1 quarterback in 2022, following a one-year stint in Indianapolis in which he completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 3,563 yards and a 27:7 TD:INT while starting the entire 17-game slate.
Carson Wentz Status with franchise TBD
As NFL free agency approaches, GM Chris Ballard acknowledged Tuesday that Wentz's future with the Colts has yet to be determined, Mike Wells of ESPN reports. "I don't have a direct answer for you," Ballard noted with regard to the QB's status with the franchise. "Jim [Irsay], Frank [Reich] and I will sit down over the next 10 days and figure out where it's going. Ultimately, we'll do what's best for the team in the short term and in the long term."
Analysis: The Colts acquired Wentz from the Eagles last February, but the report notes that the veteran signal-caller's in-game decisions were a cause for concern among members of the organization at various points during the 2021 campaign. As a result, the team has yet to commit to Wentz ahead of the 2022 season, which sets up a scenario in which it's possible that the franchise may may be looking for a new starting QB for the third time in as many offseasons. Per the report, Wentz -- whose contract runs through 2024 -- is slated to earn $15 million whether he's on Indy's roster or not next season, however the team can save about $13 million if he's released by March 18.
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