So much for two first-round picks.
The Eagles agreed to trade disgruntled quarterback Carson Wentz to the Colts on Thursday, fetching a modest return: a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 conditional second-rounder, which could turn into a first. This comes after weeks of reporting that the Eagles were after much more – and had better offers on the table.
ESPN reported in early February that the Eagles were looking for a “Matthew Stafford package” for Wentz, referring to the trade that sent the former Lions star to the Rams. In exchange, Los Angeles sent Detroit two first-round picks, a third-round pick and quarterback Jared Goff.
Instead, Philadelphia will only get a first-round pick – in 2022, not 2021 – if Wentz plays 75 percent of the snaps for the Colts this season, or 70 percent if Indianapolis makes the playoffs, according to NFL Network. The 2021 third-rounder will be in the back half of the round.
Maybe the Eagles were driving up their own price or negotiating through the media, but the reports that the team received “aggressive” offers appear to be little more than smoke.
The Bears, who were considered front-runners for Wentz’s services (and were at one point rumored to have offered a first-rounder and more), backed out of negotiations, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM. Perhaps it was because Wentz preferred Indianapolis, where he reunites with Colts head coach and former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich, but if Chicago wanted him as badly as some reports suggested, they surely could have beaten Indianapolis’ offer.
It sure seems like the Eagles were just trying to create buzz, hoping the Bears – or another team – would bite and give them a better offer. But nobody called Howie Roseman’s bluff, and Philadelphia had to settle.