Now that Carson Wentz is gone, what should the Eagles do at QB? | Jeff McLane
The Eagles are in complete rebuild mode and with a chance to reset the quarterback position.
What now?
The Eagles closed the book on the Carson Wentz era Thursday, ending a bizarre chapter that now has left the franchise without an obvious starting quarterback and likely a thought-out plan to acquire one — at least not yet.
Jalen Hurts is the lone one on their roster, and while he started the final four games of last season, trading Wentz to the Colts doesn’t automatically pave the way for the second-year quarterback in 2021.
The Eagles will add at least two more quarterbacks, and while it is unlikely they sign or trade for a veteran as the bona fide No. 1, they could expend a draft pick — likely at No. 6 overall — to be that guy.
If they don’t use their first-round pick on a quarterback, they are likely to roll the dice with Hurts. If he plays well enough, they could deem him their long-term answer. If he doesn’t, the Eagles should be armed with enough picks to address the need in the 2022 draft.
There are other possibilities. But the Eagles’ salary-cap restrictions after eating $33.8 million in dead money with the Wentz trade, along with other contract issues, makes a trade for a quarterback like Deshaun Watson, for instance, implausible.
The Eagles are in complete rebuild mode and with a chance to reset the quarterback position. And while a clean slate may offer the opportunity to correct mistakes made with Wentz, or other decisions, they are now faced with the daunting task of finding a quality starter when there are so few.
“We’re going to invest in quarterbacks,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said five years ago after he traded up for Wentz. “When you go back and study — and I know I’ve said this a lot this offseason — but the reality is I had a lot of time to do that. And we as an organization had a lot of time to go back and study what are the keys to winning? What are the keys to being championship-caliber over a long period of time?
“And I don’t think I’m saying anything that no one in this room doesn’t believe in. It’s quarterbacks.”
Roseman’s epiphany wasn’t exactly innovative, but he spent a boatload — both in money and draft picks — on quarterbacks that offseason. He signed Sam Bradford to a two-year, $36 million contract, and then Chase Daniel to a three-year, $21 million contract, and lastly, traded three players and five picks to move up to the No. 2 pick for Wentz.
The Eagles lucked out, to some extent, in that Teddy Bridgewater’s injury just before the season allowed them to deal Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings for a first-rounder and move up the timetable on Wentz starting.
» READ MORE: Carson Wentz’s Eagles career started with great promise, ended in dismay | Timeline
Five years later, there are some similarities in circumstances. The Eagles have a new coach in Nick Sirianni. They have an open spot at quarterback. And Roseman is leading the search for one of the most elusive pieces in all of sports.
But there are notable differences. The Eagles’ personnel department, led by vice president of player personnel Andy Weidl, has been evaluating quarterback prospects for months. But Roseman is likely further behind in his assessment of the situation.
The delay is twofold: Doug Pederson was fired a week after the season ended and Roseman didn’t really begin the process of moving Wentz until right before the Super Bowl. That doesn’t mean he can’t play catch-up, but there is a time difference.
The makeup of the Eagles’ new coaching staff is also dissimilar, as well. Pederson and Frank Reich were former NFL quarterbacks who had experience working with various quarterbacks as coaches. John DeFilippo had an extensive resume with quarterbacks, too.
Sirianni has experience with quarterbacks, but his background has been centered more around wide receivers. Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and pass-game coordinator Kevin Patullo have logged time with quarterbacks as well, but it has been limited, relatively speaking.
Quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson may have the longest history with quarterbacks, even at 34, but he has yet to coach in the NFL.
The lack of experience from the group may have no bearing on their ability to evaluate or develop quarterbacks, but after Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie hyped the combined knowledge of Pederson, et al, five years ago, it’s fair to question Sirianni and company’s qualifications.
Of course, the same could be said of Roseman, who didn’t exactly strike out with Wentz, but ultimately took it on the chin after investing so much in the 28-year-old quarterback.
The jury is still out on Hurts, who played better than Wentz in limited action last season. For a second-round pick who the Eagles originally envisioned as a backup with starter potential, given the right tools and environment, he fared well given the late-season circumstances.
Hurts seemingly has all the off-the-field intangibles, and possibly the makeup to handle the Philadelphia pressure-cooker and a likely challenge for the No. 1 spot. Many Eagles players appeared to gravitate toward the rookie in short time.
He gave the team a much-needed spark on the field, and while many of his yards came on the ground, he had some impressive moments through the air. But issues that had some teams view him as a third-day prospect — a penchant to scramble too early and downfield accuracy issues — were prevalent throughout his stint.
Johnson played high school football for Hurts’ father, and tried to recruit him to Mississippi State, so there is a familiarity there. But just as the Eagles didn’t hire Sirianni to “fix” Wentz, they didn’t bring in Johnson because of one player.
Hurts will face some competition, whether the job is open or a veteran is acquired to push him as a backup. The Eagles have some plausible options in free agency, like Ryan Fitzpatrick, or by trade if the Raiders’ Marcus Mariota is available.
The Eagles will certainly do extensive homework on the top quarterback prospects in the draft. Only once before in the previous 21 years have they had a top-six pick without trading up — in 2013 when they took tackle Lane Johnson fourth overall — and it would only make sense to use that pick on a quarterback if they have identified someone they covet.
Trevor Lawrence is likely the top pick, and thus unattainable, but Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance — another North Dakota State product — could be available at No. 6, or if the Eagles wanted to move up.
Even if they don’t draft a quarterback early, they could take a swing by moving back or in later rounds. The possibilities are endless, but the list of quality NFL starters is not, and there is obvious doubt that the Eagles can discover that blade among a field of grass.
Roseman has much more on his plate than finding his next quarterback. He built a Super Bowl winner after two strong offseasons, but the next three were disastrous, and many of the foundational pieces that were holdovers from the Andy Reid regime are moving on either this year or next.
But the quickest way back to respectability, the playoffs, and competing for titles is to have a top-tier quarterback. And whatever the current assessment of Wentz is, he was the closest the Eagles had in some time, and now they only have unanswered questions.
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