In this instance of the Eagles news roundup, we share links to stories about whether Doug Pederson and Carson Wentz will both return in 2021, what could be next for the Eagles, potential trade fits for Carson Wentz, what this most recent win did to the Eagles’ potential draft position, and more.
To the links!
Doug Pederson or Carson Wentz? Only one is likely to return to the Eagles in 2021. (Jeff McLane, Inquirer)
If so, the Eagles’ front office has essentially the book on five years of Pederson-Wentz. The marriage has had its ups, but as many downs, and one of the key questions owner Jeffrey Lurie will be asking himself in January is whether it’s worth salvaging.
Based on Wentz’s regression this season, it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which both return. Lurie then must assess whether Pederson is chiefly the cause of the quarterback’s slide, or Wentz is his own worst enemy.
What now for the Eagles? Making sense of Jalen Hurts’ start and Carson Wentz’s future trade fits (Bill Barnwell, ESPN)
While Eagles coach Doug Pederson said the move to Hurts was not permanent and he refused to confirm after the game whether the second-round pick would start in Week 15 against the Cardinals, benching Hurts after the win over New Orleans would be an inexplicable decision. The Philadelphia offense was better with Hurts on the field, at least in this first start.
What changed? How did the team pull off the upset? And if Hurts continues to play well, what does the future hold for the organization and its deposed starting quarterback? Could we really have seen Wentz’s last game in an Eagles uniform?
The day after: Jalen Hurts sparks Eagles vs. Saints, delivering much-needed hope (Bo Wulf, The Athletic)
All of which brings up more questions than answers the performance solved. Why is it the Pederson-Wentz combo has been so stuck in the mud all season? Where have the mesh concepts and the pre-called rollouts and the easy completions been all year? Does Wentz have a larger say in the offense than is let on and has the team been running the offense he wants? Is it Pederson’s fault for overcomplicating things when Wentz is the quarterback? Is there another behind-the-scenes explanation, given the assembly of offensive coaches on staff, that made the game-planning process different than in prior weeks? Should the Eagles have been force-feeding Alshon Jeffery all along? OK, forget about the last one.
Eagles rally support around Carson Wentz as quarterback of the future, other GMs feel a trade is looming (Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports)
But that does not mean the Eagles have given up on Wentz as a part of their future, sources said, and they remain committed to helping him get back to form whether it be this season or next. Wentz has maintained his positive attitude and great work ethic despite the demotion, I’m told, and will be a sounding board for Hurts as Foles once was for him.
Regardless, other general managers in the market for a new quarterback in 2021 have already started to do some work on Wentz and he will be studied by other teams as a potential option. The Eagles have a reputation for being an aggressive team on the trade front and very creative as well, and even with a $10M roster bonus looming for Wentz in March, a trade is still feasible.
Updated 2021 NFL Draft order: Cowboys, Eagles hurt positions with wins (Billy Heyen, Sporting News)
New York, Jacksonville and Cincinnati all lost, so they continued to hold down the top three spots. More intrigue came out of the NFC East, where the Cowboys and Eagles both found ways to win, hurting each of their respective draft positions. The division winner is still up in the air, and the three teams that don’t make the playoffs are probably looking at top-10 picks.
The NFL still likes Wentz, so his future, while cloudy in Philadelphia, is brighter than you think. (Peter King, ProFootballTalk)
One GM whose team will be in the market for a quarterback this offseason told me last week he will seriously study Wentz when the season ends. He said: “What’s happened with him concerns me. But I’ve seen him play well too many times to think there’s some fatal flaw there. I don’t think the Eagles will move him. I wouldn’t if I were them.” It’s tampering for a GM to say, “I’m interested.” But I can sense there will be some interest if the Eagles decide to trade him, questionable contract and all.
* * *
Mike Maher is the editor and publisher of The Birds Blitz. Follow him on Twitter @mikeMaher and @TheBirdsBlitz and check out his archive for all of his latest stories about the Eagles and the NFL.
