Indianapolis Colts have shipped quarterback Carson Wentz to Washington Commanders after a solitary season with their team.
He becomes the second high-profile quarterback to be moved to a new team in as many days after Russell Wilsons’ trade to the Broncos.
The Colts will receive the Commanders’ third-round picks in 2022 and 2023 with 2023 third-rounder becoming a second-round selection if Wentz plays 70% of Washington’s snaps. The teams also swapped second-round picks in 2022, with the Colts moving up from No. 47 overall to No. 42.
Washington will pay the full $28 million due to Wentz for the 2022 season, which includes a $5 million roster bonus coming next week.
The Commanders offered three first-round picks to the Seattle Seahawks for Russell Wilson but Seattle opted to send him to the Denver Broncos in the AFC. Washington has started 32 quarterbacks since it last won the Super Bowl following the 1991 season, including eight in the past three years.
Taylor Heinicke went 7-8 as Washington’s starter last season, throwing for 3,419 yards with 20 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions. Washington owns the NFL’s worst total QBR since the 2018 season and its 71 touchdown passes in that span also rank 32nd. That’s a big reason the team has gone 24-41 in that stretch.
Carson Wentz spent one season as the Colts’ quarterback after Indianapolis gave the Philadelphia Eagles first- and third-round picks for him in February 2021. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 draft threw 27 touchdown passes and tied his career-low in interceptions with seven last season.
His long-term status with the Colts came into question late in the season, however, as he struggled in the team’s final two games when the team had to win only one to make the playoffs. Wentz struggled in those two contests tossing just two touchdowns and turning the ball over twice. Indianapolis missed the playoffs after losing back-to-back games to the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars to conclude the 2021 season.
