The NFL's landscape shockingly changed with the Russell Wilson trade to the Denver Broncos on Tuesday. However, that wasn't the only blockbuster deal to occur this offseason. The QB-needy Washington Commanders, who were linked to nearly every available signal-caller this offseason, joined the trade madness by acquiring Indianapolis Colts' QB Carson Wentz.
Indianapolis received a 2022 third-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick that could become a second if Wentz plays 70 percent of the snaps, and a 2022 second-round pick. In return, the Commanders received Wentz and a 2022 second-round pick.
At first glance, this seems like a trade that neither team can say they definitively won. After all, Wentz doesn't represent a huge upgrade for the Commanders, while the Colts' trade for the signal-caller last offseason can now be viewed as a massive failure. In a way, both teams are admitting some form of defeat with this trade. That said, it's time to release our grades for the Commanders-Colts Carson Wentz trade.
Commanders-Colts Carson Wentz Trade Grades
Commanders: C
The Commanders successfully upgraded the quarterback position and even added a second-round pick to this year's collection in what is regarded as a strong draft class. What's not to like?
First of all, Washington, who had their sights set on the likes of Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, failed to reel in the big fish. While their failure to acquire Wilson wasn't for lack of trying, the fact that they had to part ways with three draft picks to get Wentz seems like an overpay for a QB who has compiled a 44-40-1 career record and has failed to rediscover his form from his excellent 2017 season.
To their credit, the Commanders successfully managed to get a second-round pick out of the Colts, who were clearly desperate to get rid of Wentz. However, Washington gets a middling grade simply for the fact that they paid a steep price to acquire a QB who might not be that much of an upgrade over the incumbent Taylor Heinicke, the free agent options that were out there, or even San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo.
Colts: B-
The Colts deserve a ton of credit for receiving what they got for Wentz. Three draft picks, with the potential for two of them to be second-round picks, for Wentz is impressive. Given the Colts' rhetoric this offseason, there was speculation that no team would truly be interested in the former Philadelphia Eagles QB, so the fact that the franchise got the Commanders to bite on a trade deserves some credit.
However, the Colts lose points here simply for the fact that this is the second time they were involved in a trade of Wentz in just the span of one NFL calendar year. After dealing Wentz just a year after they got him, they are now stuck with a roster seemingly ready to win but have no clear option at quarterback, a form of football purgatory.
Indianapolis can now swing another trade for a quarterback — an unwise move — draft one for the future or sign a free agent. None of those options guarantee that the Colts will be any better in 2022 than they were last year, which is a big step back for an organization that made it very clear that the 2021 season was a failure.
The pressure is now on for the Colts to find a QB.
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