One week after the Carson Wentz trade became official, ESPN’s Mel Kiper weighed in on how the Philadelphia Eagles handled the situation.
Colts officially acquired QB Carson Wentz in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the Colts’ third-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft and a conditional second-round choice in the 2022 NFL Draft.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2021
The Colts gave up two draft picks for the 28-year-old second overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Neither was a first-round pick; one was a third-round pick in this year’s draft, and the other is a conditional second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
#Colts QB, No. 2, Carson Wentz 🔥🔥
(📸: @Colts) pic.twitter.com/j0JzCDZm0j— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) March 17, 2021
Mel Kiper’s Take
Kiper said the Eagles were foolish to trade Wentz.
“A ridiculously stupid move is the way to sum it up. Even dumber than that was the Bears not giving up the 20th overall pick and (a third-rounder) and trying to get Carson Wentz. … Carson Wentz is a young man, who is a proven MVP guy, who did things in three years that very few NFL quarterbacks have done.”
He also attributed Wentz’s 2020 slump to the massive amount of injuries the Eagles had.
“The injuries were catastrophic. (Not all teams) have catastrophic injuries to offensive linemen before the season even begins — receivers, tight ends, running back — and we’re gonna blame the quarterback and send him packing for virtually nothing? This was, again, one of the most ridiculously stupid moves probably in the history of the NFL.”
.@MelKiperESPN has made it abundantly clear that he is not a fan of Philly trading Carson Wentz 😳
"Blame the QB and then send him packing for virtually nothing? … This was one of the most ridiculously stupid moves in the history of the NFL!" pic.twitter.com/8kIatWuRB3
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 23, 2021
The Eagles Got “Virtually Nothing”
Kiper is not wrong.
The Eagles shipped Wentz out of town and have barely anything to show for it.
At least the Goff-Stafford trade resulted in first-round draft picks being exchanged.
The Eagles Sign Joe Flacco
It seems like the Eagles were done with Wentz.
They are ready to usher in the Jalen Hurts era.
Nick Sirianni on Jalen Hurts: “Being able to watch his tape and see how many plays he made in just 4 games has me excited.” #Eagles
— Tyler Steege (@TSteegeNFL) March 17, 2021
Hurts is a young player.
He does not even have to compete for the starting position.
His backup was just signed.
Eagles signing QB Joe Flacco. pic.twitter.com/VJlfzddvs3
— NFL (@NFL) March 23, 2021
That is 36-year-old veteran Joe Flacco.
Flacco is likely to be a good mentor for Hurts.
Perhaps the relationship will be similar to Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s with Tua Tagalovia in Miami last season.
The difference is that Ryan Fitzpatrick has proven that he can come off the bench at any time and win games.
Let’s give Joe Flacco his props; he is a Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP.
But he does not have the ability to come off the bench and lead like Fitzpatrick or that other famous Eagle that led them to the Super Bowl victory. in 2018.
His name is Nick Foles, and the Bears don’t know what to do with him right now.
Seems like the Eagles and Bears should have worked a deal, but both organizations have collectively lost their wits when it comes to dealing with quarterbacks.
Kiper Could Be Wrong
Jalen Hurts could turn out to be a fantastic quarterback for the Eagles.
The Wentz trade could then be viewed as a genius move.
If Carson Wentz gets a second wind and lights it up in Indianapolis like he did early in his career in Philly, you can expect those voracious Eagles fans to voice their displeasure with the trade.
Time will tell.
NEXT: Was Anthony Harris A Steal For The Eagles?