I remember the 2016 NFL Draft like it took place last week. The two quarterbacks at the top of everybody’s draft board were Jared Goff and Carson Wentz. Jared ended up being selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams. The Philadelphia Eagles traded up with the Cleveland Browns for the second pick in the draft that year. With that move, they were able to draft Wentz out of North Dakota State. The Eagles were hoping that he would be their franchise quarterback for years to come. Things didn’t pan out. Carson struggled with injuries. Since the season ended, his name has been on the trade block. It finally happened. The Eagles have agreed to send Carson to the Indianapolis Colts.
Carson has everything you want in a quarterback. He’s 6’5 and weighs 237 pounds. That’s the build of some defensive players, but he’s playing quarterback. Carson is strong, athletic, and has never been afraid of contact. When I watch him play, he has the body control to shy away from pressure. I’ve seen him dip underneath to extend plays within the pocket. All those qualities I listed are what allows him to deliver the ball while being pressured. Also what I listed about him is how I always described Ben Roethlisberger when he was first coming into the league. The elusiveness is what stands out to me. He can move the pocket either left or right and fire a dart down the field. His ability to extend plays is what makes him dangerous. Carson plays the game with confidence when all is going for him.
On the radio yesterday, I predicted he would end up a member of the Colts for two reasons. One, I feel it’s the better fit for him. The Colts have a great offensive line, a nice running game, solid receiving options, and an opportunistic defense. The other was the head coach. Before Frank Reich became the Colts head coach, he was the Eagles offensive coordinator. In 2017, Carson had the best season of his young career prior to tearing his ACL. Everyone said he’s not the same guy, but I look at how he had a horrible offensive line in Philadelphia this past season.
