Carson Wentz is the best option for the Broncos to upgrade at QB

Given the asking price, the much-maligned Eagles quarterback makes the most sense if Denver wants to move on from Drew Lock

BY JAMES MERILATT

Feb 16, 2021, 9:14 AM

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The Broncos have been linked to the big-name quarterbacks who are on the market this offseason. Denver is squarely in the “QB needy” category.

According to reports, they made an offer for Matthew Stafford. George Paton was willing to send the No. 9 overall pick in 2021 and Drew Lock to the Lions for the veteran signal caller. That wasn’t near enough, however, as Detroit scored two first-round picks, a third-round selection and a quarterback who has led his team to the Super Bowl (Jared Goff) in exchange for Stafford.

If that was too rich for Paton’s blood, the asking price for Deshaun Watson will surely be too steep. The NFL rumor mill has the Texans wanting as much as four first-round picks for their 25-year-old quarterback. That’s stripping a team of a lot of draft capital for one player.

During the past four seasons, the Broncos are a combined 23-41. It’s the worst stretch the franchise has enduring since the AFL/NFL merger. Clearly, Denver is in the midst of a rebuild.

Thus, draft picks are at a premium. Paton needs to upgrade the roster, which goes without saying.

That’s why giving away four big-time players, whether it’s too the Lions for Stafford or the Texans for Watson, is troublesome. It’s a stretch to think adding either QB to the current cast would instantly transform the Broncos into a contender.

Instead, Denver needs to find a way to add a quarterback without giving away the farm. If Paton is convinced that Lock isn’t the answer, the new general manager has to upgrade at the most-important position in sports without stripping the franchise of future picks and current talent.

There are two ways he can accomplish that goal. The first is to draft a quarterback. That will cost the franchise one pick, which is well below the asking price for Stafford and Watson.

That’s easier said than done, however. The top-three quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft will most likely be gone by the time the Broncos are on the board at No. 9. Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields and Zach Wilson could be the top-three picks of the draft.

Moving up to select one would be costly. That’s a big gamble to land an unproven player.

The other option is to roll the dice on a player who has fallen out of favor with his current team. Paton needs to find a situation where a perfect storm has colluded to decrease the value of a very good player.

The general manager needs to look no further than Philadelphia. The Eagles appear ready to move on from Carson Wentz, a quarterback they selected No. 2 overall in 2016.

On the surface, this makes sense. After all, Wentz is coming off a tumultuous season. In 2020, he went 3-8-1 in 12 starts, tossing just 16 touchdowns and throwing a league-leading 15 interceptions.

That’s not what the Eagles had in mind when they signed the QB to a four-year, $128-million contract. By season’s end, Wentz had been benched, as rookie Jalen Hurts was given the reins in Philly.

Paton needs to decide if 2020 was an aberration or the new norm. He needs to bet on the former.

In the three seasons prior, Wentz was terrific. From 2017-19, the quarterback went 25-15, threw for more than 10,000 yards, connected on 81 touchdowns and threw just 21 interceptions. Those are big-time numbers.

In 2017, Wentz earned a Pro Bowl berth. He was having an MVP-caliber season, posting an 11-2 record before being injured. The performance set the stage for the Eagles run to a Super Bowl title.

Adding a player with those credentials would be an upgrade over Lock. That’s tough to argue. And the asking price is significantly less than what the Lions and Texans have demanded.

Prior to Super Bowl LV, there was a report than the Bears had struck a deal with the Eagles for Wentz. The rumored trade included a first-round pick, Nick Foles and Tarik Cohen. That’s the equivalent of the Broncos sending a future first-round pick, Lock and Phillip Lindsay to Philadelphia.

That’s a no-brainer, an easy gamble to make. It’s an unproven rookie, a backup quarterback and a role player on offense. Losing those players wouldn’t put the franchise behind the eight-ball. All are replaceable.

If that’s truly the asking price, Paton needs to be on the phone. He needs to make that deal.

Wentz is the classic example of a player who simply needs a change of scenery. Things got ugly in Philly this season, evidenced by Doug Pederson being broomed at year’s end. Once it goes back in a market like that, where the fans and media are relentless, it’s tough to turn it around.

Part of that is on Wentz. There’s no doubt. But it’s also on the coaching staff and the front office. Other than tight end Zach Ertz, the quarterback hasn’t had a lot to work with the past few seasons. A lot of talented receivers and backs have left, without many replacements coming in. There were weeks where the Eagles skill position players looked like an AAF depth chart.

In Denver, Wentz would be joining an offense loaded with young talent. He’d be throwing passes to Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Noah Fant, K.J. Hamler and others. He’d have Melvin Gordon in the backfield. And he’d be protected by on an offensive line that includes three premium draft picks and two high-priced free agents.

That’s clearly a better situation than what the quarterback has endured since the Eagles won the Super Bowl. The 28-year-old QB would look at Denver as an embarrassment of riches. That makes the Mile High City a great destination for Wentz.

And given the asking price, the quarterback is the best option for the Broncos.