Grading every Eagles first-round draft choice during Doug Pederson’s era
player. 54. . . . Carson Wentz - 2016. 11
Carson Wentz showed a lot of flashes, but in the end, there was more flash than substance.
On April 20th, 2016, Philadelphia struck a deal that they hoped would change the franchise forever, and it did. They dealt that year’s eighth overall selection, a third-round pick, a fourth-round pick, a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2018 second-round pick to the Cleveland Browns to move up to the second overall spot in the draft.
They used that choice to select Carson Wentz out of North Dakota State and make him the second player that was taken in the 2016 NFL Draft. He became the first Eagles rookie quarterback to start an entire season throwing for 3,782 passing yards that year.
Many Birds fans harbor a sour feeling toward Wentz now, but without his MVP-level performance during the 2017 season, this team wouldn’t have qualified for a Super Bowl.
Before his Week 14 injury in a game versus the Los Angeles Rams, Carson collected 3,296 passing yards with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. 33 TDs is still a franchise record.
In 2019, Wentz made history again, becoming the first quarterback to throw for over 4,000 yards without any of his wide receivers collecting more than 500 yards. Despite a sub-par supporting cast at the wide receiver position, Carson led Philly to a third-straight playoff appearance.
In 2020, he was sacked 50 times and only lasted 12 games before Doug Pederson benched him in favor of Jalen Hurts.
Wentz was traded during the offseason to the Indianapolis Colts for a third-round pick and a 2022 conditional first-rounder. He ended his Eagles career having produced the fourth most passing yards in the franchise’s history 16,811). Unfortunately, however, he never won a playoff game, so his story will often be seen as one of unreached potential.