NFL Betting Update: Where to now for Carson Wentz?

The former second overall pick in the NFL Draft could be on the move for the second time in as many years.

Carson Wentz was once one of the NFL’s top rising stars. In 2017, he was the undisputed MVP of the league up until his ACL injury against the Los Angeles Rams. Of course, that same year the Philadelphia Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl behind his backup, Nick Foles.

Wentz’s career has been one of the strangest in recent memory. After an indifferent rookie season, he took the jump from average to great and it looked like the Eagles had found their guy for the next decade. After his ACL surgery, Wentz’s decline was rapid, mostly due to miscellaneous injuries. Since his rookie season, Wentz has dealt with broken ribs, a torn ACL, LCL and meniscus, multiple concussions, and a fractured back. All of these have taken a toll on Wentz’s body, as he is no longer a freak athlete that makes spectacular plays; rather, he has turned into a game manager. Wentz was eventually benched in favor of Jalen Hurts after struggling for most of the 2020 season with the Eagles.

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After the season, Wentz asked to be traded and there was only one option that really made sense. The Indianapolis Colts were by far the best fit for him last offseason; they had been struggling to find stability at the quarterback position since the departure of Andrew Luck and are coached by Frank Reich, who was Wentz’s offensive coordinator in 2017 with the Eagles. It also helped that they happened to be Wentz’s preferred destination.

Wentz would eventually get his wish and be traded to the Colts for a first-round pick, but his first season in Indianapolis was underwhelming. He was league average at best, and the Colts spent more time trying to hide their $20 million quarterback rather than highlighting him. Running-back Jonathan Taylor, who received MVP votes this past season, led the Colts to a win away from the playoffs.

All the Colts had to do in order to get into the playoffs was beat the 2-14 Jaguars, who were fresh off one of the most publicized coaching debacles in history. But Indy lost that matchup 26-11 and Wentz finished 17/24 with 184 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. While Wentz wasn’t the entire reason the Colts lost that game and lost out on the playoffs, he didn’t help his cause.

Last week, it was reported by Chris Mortensen that Wentz is likely to either be traded or cut by the beginning of the league year (March 18). So the question should be asked: Where will Carson Wentz play next season?

Carson Wentz 2022 betting odds

Indianapolis Colts

+130 @ Bovada

The betting sites think Wentz will stay put despite Mortensen’s report. Reich and Wentz have one of the strongest coach-quarterback relationships in the league, but it’s not likely that saves Wentz. The Colts owner Jim Irsay and general manager Chris Ballard were reluctant to commit to Wentz at their end-of-season press conference.

Wentz did nothing special with the Colts to warrant paying him next season at his current salary, but the fact remains that as average as he was this season, he is still their best option. The Colts are built to contend right now, and starting over for the third-straight year at the most important position on the field is a tough sell to a fanbase that is ready to see results.

While it’s not likely we’ll see Wentz in Indianapolis next season, it does still make sense for all the same reasons as last offseason.

Pittsburgh Steelers

+300 @ Bovada

The Steelers could be a very good fit for Wentz and his camp. The situation is very similar to Indianapolis, as the Steelers are a ‘win now’ team that doesn’t necessarily need a Pro Bowl quarterback in order to succeed. They have talent on both sides of the ball, and Mike Tomlin is a great coach that could get the best out of the soon to be 30-year-old Wentz.

It’s kind of ironic that Wentz’s biggest comparison coming out of North Dakota State was Ben Roethlisberger, who retired after last season. The Steelers have been very good for a long time under Roethlisberger and, especially recently, the veteran signal-caller had nothing to do with that. Roethlisberger was a shadow of his former self for his last three seasons, but somehow the Steelers always found themselves either in the playoffs or on the brink.

Adding Wentz to the fold next season would be a low-risk, high-reward move for the Steelers. At the very least, you give Wentz a trial run and move on from him next offseason when the cap hit is low and draft a quarterback instead. It shouldn’t take too much to pry him away from the Colts, so this move could work out if the fit is right.

Washington Commanders

+400 @ Bovada

Speaking of ironic, Wentz playing for a team that he has always played well against would be quite the story for two parties in limbo. In eight games against Washington, Wentz has passed for 17 touchdowns to six interceptions, over 2,000 yards, and a passer rating of 99.3. One of these games was to put the Eagles in the playoffs over Washington in 2019.

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said the team will be hunting for quarterbacks this offseason, as they seem to be ready to move on from the Taylor Heinicke experiment. Like the Steelers, the Commanders are ready to win now behind a stout defensive line and some solid offensive weapons; they don’t need a Russell Wilson or Aaron Rodgers to make the playoffs. In an NFC East that hasn’t had a repeating champion in 18 years, the Commanders need someone who can deliver the ball and play a notch above Heinicke, and that is something that Wentz can surely do.

The career of Wentz will be one for the history books, but it should be noted that he is only entering his seventh NFL season. While it is unlikely that Wentz will ever regain his 2017 form, there is still a decent quarterback in there. He could be a good fit for some of the teams above, but only time will tell.