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Philadelphia Eagles Should Seriously Consider Drafting Carson Wentz

By Ryan Quigley

Jan 9, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws a pass in the third quarter against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the FCS Championship college football game at Toyota Stadium. North Dakota State won the championship 37-10. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Frisco, TX, USA; North Dakota State Bison quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws a pass in the third quarter against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in the FCS Championship college football game at Toyota Stadium. North Dakota State won the championship 37-10. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carson Wentz is regarded as one of the better quarterback prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft and the Philadelphia Eagles should think very seriously about drafting him.

The Philadelphia Eagles are without a franchise quarterback (sorry, Sam Bradford fans). Bradford will likely move on from the Eagles and the probability of going into the 2016 season with Mark Sanchez as the starting quarterback is neither an inspiring or logical move.

That’s why the Eagles should at least consider drafting Carson Wentz at some point in the 2016 NFL Draft.

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Overview

Wentz is a 23-year-old quarterback out of North Dakota State. Yes, that’s a small school, which can be a red flag in some cases, but Wentz has shown more than enough ability to be a solid quarterback at the professional level.

In 2014, his first year as North Dakota State’s starting quarterback, Wentz threw for 3,111 yards and 25 touchdowns as well as 642 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. He was only able to play in seven games in 2015, but that did not stop him from helping North Dakota State win its fifth straight Division I FCS national championship. Wentz is a big, athletic quarterback who stands tall in the pocket, has a solid arm and has the ability to a make any throw necessary in the NFL, thanks to his experience at North Dakota State’s pro-style system.

Analysis

First thing’s first, Wentz is very large. The 6’5″, 235-pound quarterback has the prototypical size to be an effective NFL quarterback, which makes him an attractive option for any team in need of a new signal-caller (like the Eagles).

But despite his size, Wentz is a surprisingly athletic quarterback. He is not afraid to roll out of the pocket and use his feet to buy time or make an attempt to run for a first down. In the open field, Wentz has good speed and has the strength and agility to run through tackles or avoid them completely. His level of competition may be to thank for his superiority on the ground, but, regardless, Wentz is a threat outside of the pocket and his mobility plays a major role in his game. Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson has experimented with the read-option with Alex Smith in Kansas City before, so this could be an attribute that sets Wentz apart from other prospects.

Throwing the ball, Wentz needs some improvement, but has the tools to be successful in the pros. Wentz has good zip on his ball and is not afraid to make throws downfield, but does have a tendency to put a little too much air under his deep throws, which could be a major problem in the NFL if it isn’t worked on, but the most part, Wentz makes responsible decisions and does not force many throws if they aren’t there.

Pro Comparison

Wentz reminds me of a younger Ben Roethlisberger. He and Big Ben are roughly the same size and both have the strength and mobility to shed off tacklers and move outside the pocket to make plays. Roethlisberger had a better arm coming out of college, but what Wentz lacks in throwing ability, he makes up for with athleticism. Wentz would be a good fit in Doug Pederson’s offense and pairing a rookie quarterback with a rookie head coach could form an immediate chemistry between both parties, which is a critical bond at the professional level.

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