Despite injuries, Carson Wentz needs to become one of NFL's highest-paid QBs

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title => "Despite injuries, Carson Wentz needs to become one of NFL's highest-paid QBs"
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article_body => "I\u2019ve seen enough.<\/p>\nYes, Carson Wentz tore up his knee last year. Yes, he\u2019s now dealing with back soreness and may miss the last few games of the season. Yes, he missed an open receiver here and there. Yes, he was inconsistent this year, especially early in games. Yeah, he got sacked and fumbled.  <\/p>\nHe\u2019s not perfect.<\/p>\nBut he\u2019s the Eagles\u2019 best hope for the future, and as soon as the season ends and the Eagles are allowed under terms of the CBA, they should make Wentz one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in NFL history.<\/p>\nThis is a no-brainer.<\/p>\nNFL rules allow teams to re-do a player\u2019s rookie contract after his third season, and we\u2019re just weeks away from that.<\/p>\nThe Eagles don\u2019t have to sign Wentz yet. He won\u2019t become a free agent until 2021.<\/p>\nBut as the salary cap keeps rising, so do salaries. The longer they wait, the more they risk having to pay him millions and millions of dollars more.<\/p>\nSo you want him under contract ASAP.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s an element of risk involved for everybody with these things <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/durability-concern-carson-wentz-contract-talks-loom\" target=\"_blank\">(see story)<\/strong><\/em><\/a>. The risk for the Eagles: What if Wentz is never as good as he was in 2017? The risk for Wentz: What if he signs now and outplays his deal?<\/p>\nWhat makes the most sense for both of them is if the Eagles and Wentz agree on a deal this spring.<\/p>\nI don\u2019t care about his knee. I don\u2019t care about his back. These are temporary things.<\/p>\nHis talent. His ability. His skill. These are not temporary. They\u2019re not going away.<\/p>\nCarson Wentz has shown enough in his first 40 NFL games for me to strongly believe he\u2019s going to be an elite quarterback for the next decade.<\/p>\nYou have to take the long view on these things.<\/p>\nWentz is going to be winning football games and I think Super Bowls for this franchise long after his knee injury and this back injury are forgotten.<\/p>\nI want him to spend his entire career here, and the best way to make sure that happens is to pay him fair market value.<\/p>\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/roob-knows\/episodes\/8243c8f9-10cc-458b-b94f-7a823f98b3e2\/embed\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 200px; border: 0 none;\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> \nFor him, that\u2019s somewhere between $26 and $30 million per year.<\/p>\nThe 10 highest-paid QBs based on annual salary according to Spotrac are currently:<\/p>\n$33.5 million \u2026 Aaron Rodgers $30 million \u2026 Matt Ryan $28 million \u2026 Kirk Cousins $27.5 million \u2026 Jimmy Garoppolo $27 million \u2026 Matt Stafford $25 million \u2026 Derek Carr $25 million \u2026 Drew Brees $24.6 million \u2026 Andrew Luck $23.5 million \u2026 Alex Smith $22.1 million \u2026 Andrew Luck<\/p>\nWhen you look at that list and ponder where Wentz fits in, the answer is clear.<\/p>\nTop 5.<\/p>\nHe\u2019s that good. More importantly, he's 25, and he'll continue to be that good for years.<\/p>\nAnd remember you\u2019re getting paid for what you\u2019re projected to do the next five years. And other than Pat Mahomes, I can\u2019t think of a quarterback I\u2019d rather build around than Wentz.<\/p>\nI get that he\u2019s been hurt and he hasn\u2019t won a Super Bowl. But look at that list. It\u2019s full of quarterbacks who\u2019ve been hurt and haven\u2019t won a Super Bowl. They got paid because of their potential. And very few quarterbacks on the planet have more potential than Wentz.<\/p>\nThink about his first three years. Even if he doesn\u2019t play another snap this year.<\/p>\nDespite everything that\u2019s happened, Wentz will be the first QB in NFL history to throw for 10,000 yards in his first three seasons with at least 70 touchdowns and fewer than 30 interceptions.<\/p>\nAnd he\u2019s only going to get smarter, he\u2019s only going to get healthier, he\u2019s only going to get better.<\/p>\nFor me, the number is right around $27\u00bd million per year over five years.<\/p>\nHe\u2019s earned it. He deserves it.<\/p>\nYou can harp all you want on how he held onto the ball too long here or missed a wide-open Nelson Agholor there.<\/p>\nI\u2019m telling you there\u2019s something special in Carson Wentz. Better days are ahead, and he\u2019s going to prove in time that he\u2019s worth every penny of the massive contract he\u2019s about to get. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/myteams-nbc-sports?utm_tags=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a> to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">More on the Eagles<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/durability-concern-carson-wentz-contract-talks-loom\">Durability a concern with Carson Wentz as contract talks loom<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/report-carson-wentz-not-expected-play-vs-rams-may-miss-rest-season\">According to report, Wentz may miss rest of season <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/eagles-place-corey-clement-josh-sweat-injured-reserve-add-boston-scott-daeshon-hall-roster\">Eagles place two more on IR, add two to roster<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/out-minnesota-should-eagles-bring-back-john-defilippo\">Now out in Minnesota, should Eagles bring back John DeFilippo?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/if-youve-given-carson-wentz-youre-out-your-freaking-mind\">If you've given up on Carson Wentz, you're out of your freaking mind<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Eagles

I’ve seen enough.

Yes, Carson Wentz tore up his knee last year. Yes, he’s now dealing with back soreness and may miss the last few games of the season. Yes, he missed an open receiver here and there. Yes, he was inconsistent this year, especially early in games. Yeah, he got sacked and fumbled.

He’s not perfect.

But he’s the Eagles’ best hope for the future, and as soon as the season ends and the Eagles are allowed under terms of the CBA, they should make Wentz one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in NFL history.

This is a no-brainer.

NFL rules allow teams to re-do a player’s rookie contract after his third season, and we’re just weeks away from that.

The Eagles don’t have to sign Wentz yet. He won’t become a free agent until 2021.

But as the salary cap keeps rising, so do salaries. The longer they wait, the more they risk having to pay him millions and millions of dollars more.

So you want him under contract ASAP.

There’s an element of risk involved for everybody with these things (see story). The risk for the Eagles: What if Wentz is never as good as he was in 2017? The risk for Wentz: What if he signs now and outplays his deal?

What makes the most sense for both of them is if the Eagles and Wentz agree on a deal this spring.

I don’t care about his knee. I don’t care about his back. These are temporary things.

His talent. His ability. His skill. These are not temporary. They’re not going away.

Carson Wentz has shown enough in his first 40 NFL games for me to strongly believe he’s going to be an elite quarterback for the next decade.

You have to take the long view on these things.

Wentz is going to be winning football games and I think Super Bowls for this franchise long after his knee injury and this back injury are forgotten.

I want him to spend his entire career here, and the best way to make sure that happens is to pay him fair market value.

For him, that’s somewhere between $26 and $30 million per year.

The 10 highest-paid QBs based on annual salary according to Spotrac are currently:

$33.5 million … Aaron Rodgers
$30 million … Matt Ryan
$28 million … Kirk Cousins
$27.5 million … Jimmy Garoppolo
$27 million … Matt Stafford
$25 million … Derek Carr
$25 million … Drew Brees
$24.6 million … Andrew Luck
$23.5 million … Alex Smith
$22.1 million … Andrew Luck

When you look at that list and ponder where Wentz fits in, the answer is clear.

Top 5.

He’s that good. More importantly, he's 25, and he'll continue to be that good for years.

And remember you’re getting paid for what you’re projected to do the next five years. And other than Pat Mahomes, I can’t think of a quarterback I’d rather build around than Wentz.

I get that he’s been hurt and he hasn’t won a Super Bowl. But look at that list. It’s full of quarterbacks who’ve been hurt and haven’t won a Super Bowl. They got paid because of their potential. And very few quarterbacks on the planet have more potential than Wentz.

Think about his first three years. Even if he doesn’t play another snap this year.

Despite everything that’s happened, Wentz will be the first QB in NFL history to throw for 10,000 yards in his first three seasons with at least 70 touchdowns and fewer than 30 interceptions.

And he’s only going to get smarter, he’s only going to get healthier, he’s only going to get better.

For me, the number is right around $27½ million per year over five years.

He’s earned it. He deserves it.

You can harp all you want on how he held onto the ball too long here or missed a wide-open Nelson Agholor there.

I’m telling you there’s something special in Carson Wentz. Better days are ahead, and he’s going to prove in time that he’s worth every penny of the massive contract he’s about to get.

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