Where Fanatics And Realists Differ On Carson Wentz

A realistic analysis of Carson Wentz.

The Philadelphia Eagles are going to draft Carson Wentz on Thursday evening with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft. At least that’s currently the plan. Barring a change in approach by the Los Angeles Rams, the Eagles will be selecting a non-FBS quarterback in the first round for just the fifth time since the 1979 NFL Draft. That specifically draws the ire of a fan-base that has had it with Kevin Kolb, Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez, and (no offense) Sam Bradford. We, the fans, media, and team itself, need a franchise quarterback.

Unfortunately, the majority of the fan base and national media seems to be piling on the criticisms of Carson Wentz. Perhaps the biggest criticism of Wentz has been the inability to face elite competition. The North Dakota State Bison were a very successful collegiate football team. Does their success really necessitate criticism towards Carson Wentz and his ability to project as an NFL quarterback? There have been five non-FBS quarterbacks selected in the first around since the 1979 NFL Draft. Joe Flacco, Steve McNair, Ken O’Brien, and Phil Simms. Carson Wentz will be the sixth, and could be the fourth to lead his team to the Super Bowl.

Wentz would surpass McNair as the highest drafted non-FBS quarterback, and expectations are already assumed out-of-reach. The trade has certainly proved to be the catalyst for negativity. Look, we gave up a good amount of capital to attain the rights to draft second. But, let’s really dissect the fortune we gave up to the Cleveland Browns.

Is that really that much? Many will say the Eagles gave up two first round picks, a second, third, and fourth round pick to move up to the second pick. That’s really not inaccurate, it just circumvents the entire truth. The Eagles and Browns swapped first round picks. That’s a net Eagles win. The Eagles then send a third and fourth round pick from this year’s draft to the Browns. OK, that could hurt depth. The Eagles get the fourth round pick back next year. So all we’ve lost thus far is a third round pick, while moving up six spots in the first round this year. Throw in a 2017 first, and then a 2018 second round pick. That’s not a huge sacrifice to get a signal-caller for the next ten years.

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Competition is always going to rear it’s head when it pertains to small school players in any sport. From Rashad Jennings to Tony Romo, non-FBS players have had a role in the NFL for several years. Despite how Wentz showed his skills at the Senior Bowl, impressed at the NFL Combine, and performed at the North Dakota State Pro Day, the likely second overall pick is facing criticism at every corner.

Well, now that Mr. Prisco has cleared that up for us, let me clear something up for him. Less than two weeks ago, his mock draft had the Eagles trading up to “steal” Wentz with the sixth pick in the draft. In his hypothetical scenario, the Eagles gave up the very third round pick they did in the Browns trade. So the net difference of a 2017 first and a 2018 second makes Carson Wentz a less desirable quarterback? Or is Mr. Prisco implying that Wentz is a top-six quarterback, but not a top-two quarterback?

Carson Wentz arguably has the highest ceiling of any quarterback coming out in this year’s draft. While Jared Goff is likely more “pro-ready”, Wentz has more upside. It’s not like Wentz came out of nowhere either. Mel Kiper had Wentz as his third ranked senior quarterback in June of last year.

Next: The Eagles Could Be Trend Setters In The Draft

As the rest of the week passes, we must all come to grips with the fact that Carson Wentz is a work in progress. But he, and the Philadelphia Eagles, have the opportunity to allow him time to grow in the NFL. This is not a situation where the Eagles are the traditional team selecting number two overall. Wentz does not need to be the savior immediately. Disregard statistics about teams trading up or prior failures early in the draft. What’s important now is that the Eagles seemingly, for the first time in a long time, have their guy in the draft. So let’s make sure not to treat him the same way we treated the last guy Philadelphia selected at number two overall.