Recently released Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz could come out of NFL exile to join one of the most dominant franchises in the league — as a backup, naturally.
In 2018, now-disgraced quarterback Carson Wentz won his first Super Bowl as a backup for Philadelphia Eagles’ Nick Foles. In 2023, Wentz could slide into a similar role, this time playing second fiddle to Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes.
“[Insert expletive here]” should be Chiefs fans’ reactions upon hearing that Wentz is looking for a new job this offseason. NFL’s Ian Rapoport reported on Saturday that Wentz is determined to continue playing and is open to “various roles that can help a team,” sowing the seeds of Wentz potentially becoming a team’s backup quarterback this upcoming season.
Wentz was released by the Washington Commanders earlier this week in what some believed was the final blow to the 30-year-old’s declining career. The former Eagles darling fell far from the pedestal, eking out a terrible final season in Philly before getting traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2021 and then to the Commanders in 2022.
Heading into 2023, the hot potato quarterback may have a much more abundant market playing as a backup and could hop on the wagon of a Super Bowl contender like the Chiefs.
NFL exile Carson Wentz could crawl his way onto a Super Bowl contender in 2023
Currently, the odds in Vegas list Kansas City as the favorites to land Wentz at +300. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Las Vegas Raiders are the second- and third-likeliest team to bring on Wentz, and in those cases, Wentz may get a chance to redeem himself as a stopgap veteran starter.
The Bucs and Raiders would be playing with fire by taking on Wentz, and they can’t complain very much if they get burned.
Carson Wentz joining the Chiefs stands out as the most intriguing move as Wentz could cement his legacy as one of the most infamous backup quarterbacks to possibly win multiple Super Bowls.
Kansas City backup quarterback Chad Henne announced his retirement after Super Bowl LVII, and Henne will forever be known as the guy who sat behind two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.
Henne started just one game in five seasons for Kansas City, though he was called upon a handful of times in 2022 to fill in for Mahomes in blowouts and when Mahomes injured his ankle in the playoffs. The impact of his departure should not be lost on the Chiefs — despite the obvious rift in talent between Henne and Mahomes, the duo formed a stable quarterback room to help Kansas City win their second Super Bowl in three years.
Wentz, who went 2-5 as Washington’s starter and threw 11 touchdowns against nine interceptions, brings chaos and disappointment wherever he goes and does not, at face value, appear to be a good culture fit in Kansas City.
Philly started off feeling optimistic about their 2016 No. 2 overall pick, and Wentz ended up fumbling the bag. The same thing happened in Indy and Washington. Note the pattern?
Wentz has shown his true character as a deeply unreliable quarterback and tenuous leader these past few years, and following his consecutive failed starting stints, all he may be sniffing for is a decent contract.
Even pick-prone quarterbacks need to make a living, and just like journeyman backup Chase Daniels, Wentz could get paid handsomely for the rest of his NFL career without ever touching a football again.
Given Wentz’s track record, that would be in any potential suitor’s interest.
