Analyzing and reacting to the Eagles’ contract extension for Carson Wentz

The much-anticipated Carson Wentz extension is here! As reported, it’s worth a total of $128 million with $107.9 million guaranteed over a four year span. This locks Wentz up until 2024.

There will be plenty of manufactured debates about if it was a gamble or a bargain or both, but the reality is everybody knew this was coming and nobody has a crystal ball. On The Kist & Solak Show #98, we react to the extension and chew on how things could work out over the life of the contract.

Here is what I had to say about the future in an admittedly loose transcript of the show:

“The whole “if healthy” qualifier is warranted but it’s gonna play out one of three ways. As I’ve often said, I’m not a doctor. I have no idea which way it goes and I won’t assume that he’s going to be healthy just as much as I won’t assume that he won’t be healthy.

Talking about the three ways it can play out, this is an example I’ve used before but it’s worth mentioning again, and a quick qualifier.. I am strictly talking about health, I am not talking about talent, at all, I want to make that very clear.

Scenario 1: He’s Matt Stafford. In the first two years of his career, played 13 games total, meaning he was available for 13 out of 32. That’s 41%. For what it’s worth, Carson has been available for 75%, that’s counting playoff games, yes it is notable that he didn’t finish 2 of 3 season. Stafford didn’t finish either two of his first seasons and since then..

16 games played in 2011, 16 games played in 2012, 16 games played in 2013, 16 games played in 2014 , 16 games played in 2015.. Here’s where it gets tricky.. 16 games played in 2016, 16 games played in 2017, 16 games played in 2018.

That’s 128 consecutive starts, 8 consecutive full seasons after having his first two cut short. That’s the best case scenario and an example of one or two seasons not mattering when it comes to long-term health.

Scenario 2: He’s Sam Bradford. In his first 3 years Bradford missed 6 games, 88% played, had his 2nd season cut short. Not terrible at all and it’s better than Wentz on all counts. Since then, 7 games played, 0 games played, 14, 15, 2, and 3, highly erratic and his knee is essentially dust at this point. That’s the worst case barring anything crazy. If that’s the outcome, the dice roll crapped out, no way of spinning that.

Scenario 3: It’s somewhere in the middle and you might be looking from moving on from him down the line but still hoping he can put it together. That’s sort of the purgatory version, and you hope the years he does stay healthy align with the stars and bring another trophy with it because if he can get ONE, it was worth it in my opinion. Yeah it’ll be annoying to have the same debate and comments every year concerning his health. I don’t care because in that scenario, scenario 3, if he wins one, worth it, if not, well, that’s life sometimes.

The point I’m making here is we don’t know. We didn’t know Carson was going to be a player worth giving this type of contract too after three years when the Eagles drafted him. Was that a bad decision? I don’t believe so. Football is one big gamble after another and it’s a gamble off the field when you’re constructing your roster and it’s a gamble on the field when you’re letting them hang and calling Philly Philly in the Super Bowl.

Me, personally, I’m not going to live in fear of Carson getting injured the same as I wouldn’t for any other play, I won’t assume that, I don’t know, and I’m not going to let it get in the way of enjoying it when Carson plays well, and I won’t point to it when it’s not relative when he doesn’t play well.”

You can hear all of that, including a discussion on how Wentz’s contract impacts Dak Prescott and Jared Goff, and much more by listening to The Kist & Solak Show #98! Listen to it on the media player below or click here if the player doesn’t load. New to podcasts? Check out our guide on how to listen to BGN! FLY EAGLES FLY!