Washington Commanders Must Bench Carson Wentz to Save 2023 NFL Draft Pick

This offseason, the Washington Commanders hitched their saddle to former No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick, Carson Wentz. A conditional draft pick hangs in the balance as the team falls to a 1-4 start.

Carson Wentz was acquired soon after the Washington Commanders swung and missed on a blockbuster trade for then-Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Washington traded a third-round pick in 2022 and a conditional third-rounder that will become a second-round selection if Carson Wentz plays 70% of the snaps for the Commanders.

While the investment doesn’t look as drastic as the one that Russell Wilson ultimately got moved for, Wentz has done little to inspire confidence in the organization or fan base. If anything, he’s proven that he’s not a viable long-term option behind center.

The former North Dakota State Bison has continued to display the gunslinger tendencies that have resulted in the former No. 2 overall pick donning a third different jersey in as many seasons. If the NFL season ended today, the Commanders would pick at No. 4 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

It would be stunning if they weren’t in the hunt for a top quarterback in the class. That pick being so high is where the issue comes in with Carson Wentz.

As I said, if the season ended at this very moment, Washington owns the fourth-worst record in the NFL. This means their second-round pick would land in the mid-30s, effectively making it a late first-round selection. That pick would go to the Indianapolis Colts if Wentz plays 70% of the snaps.

If he is benched and fifth-round rookie Sam Howell is given the reins, two things will result from the change. First, the Commanders would send a third-round pick to Indy, one in the late 60s, rather than a high-end second-rounder.

In addition to that, head coach Ron Rivera would get an extended look at Howell as the team’s quarterback. Howell was once in the discussions to be QB1 in the 2022 NFL Draft, but after a lack of development in 2021, he plummeted to the middle of day three.

Still, there is untapped potential that will only be reached if he seems in-game action. Howell’s deep ball and deceptive athleticism would not be much different from what Wentz gives you in terms of production and overall ability.

Best case scenario, the former UNC Tar Heels takes over the top of the depth chart and never looks back. Worst case scenario, he plays even worse than Wentz and secures you the right to select an elite prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft.

One thing is for certain: continuing to start Carson Wentz and allowing the Colts to acquire an early second-round pick is malpractice. The organization cannot get ahead by continuing to search for answers in the wrong places.

The Commanders have an underrated roster in the NFC, but they’ve attempted to patch up the most important position in sports, rather than taking the swing on a rookie through the NFL Draft. Alex Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, and Carson Wentz are not the winning formula.

I’d expect the franchise to retain head coach Ron Rivera following the 2022 season, but it is worth mentioning the possibility that they do not. To entice a top head coaching target, Washington would be wise to do everything in their power to ensure that the best draft picks possible are at its disposal.

Regardless of who the head coach is next season in the Nation’s Capital, it would be an insult to the fan base to trot Carson Wentz back out there in 2023. His days as the starting quarterback for the Commanders are numbered, and if they are wise, they’ll make the switch before Wentz reaches the 70% of snaps plateau.

Even with a strained tendon in his bicep, Carson Wentz is expected to start for the Commanders Thursday evening vs. the Chicago Bears. Washington was presented with the opportunity to sit Wentz and relented. We’ll see if this continues in week 7.