SF 49ers must say ‘no’ to any Carson Wentz trade

While the SF 49ers have seemingly been linked to all offseason quarterback movement, the Eagles’ Carson Wentz should be an easy answer: no.

No, there’s no reason the SF 49ers should be linked to any discussion about a possible blockbuster offseason trade for embattled Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz.

Wentz, for one reason or another, has become the latest in a long line of quarterbacks linked to the Niners after various reports and speculation has come to the surface about potentially switching teams. San Francisco could, in theory, move on from its starting quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, this offseason in an attempt to get more out of the position for head coach Kyle Shanahan.

And with Jimmy G set to command $26.6 million in 2021, it makes some sense from the financial standpoint, too.

While any Wentz-to-SF 49ers rumors have largely flown under the radar, a Friday tweet from ABC7’s Dustin Dorsey suggested Wentz could be on the move, and Dorsey merely speculated the Niners could be in play:

He added there wasn’t any inside information whether or not that move would involve San Francisco, though.

But that’s not the point.

Instead, the point is the SF 49ers should have zero interest in Wentz whatsoever.

Carson Wentz makes zero sense for SF 49ers in multiple regards

Wentz, 28 years old and a one-time No. 2 overall pick by Philly way back in the 2016 NFL Draft, went through the regression of regressions last season, finishing with a career-low 72.8 passer rating with league-highs in interceptions thrown (15) and sacks taken (50). The efforts he put forth during his lone Pro Bowl season in 2017 seem like a distant memory now.

Eventually, the struggles led to former Eagles head coach Doug Pederson benching him in favor of the 2020 rookie, quarterback Jalen Hurts, and now it seems Philly is in the market for a complete shakeup after firing Pederson this offseason.

Including moving Wentz, too, apparently.

The problem, though, is the Niners would have to absorb over $25 million in Wentz’s 2020 contract even after the Eagles would take on over $9 million in dead cap for his prorated bonus this season, per Over the Cap. When considering a would-be Garoppolo release/trade frees up $24.1 million in cap space, the differential isn’t too much.

Yet that sort of move would only make sense if Wentz was much younger and not coming off multiple years where injuries hindered his efforts. On top of that, assuming San Francisco thinks its Super Bowl window is open now, why would general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan entertain the idea of dishing out that kind of money for a reclamation project?

That’s essentially what Wentz is right now.

Taking on Wentz’s sizable contract hit while understanding the struggles he’s endured over the past year-plus is a gamble Shanahan, Lynch and the SF 49ers can’t afford to make. If anything, the team would be awfully better with Garoppolo at the helm instead. Jimmy G at least knows the system and is nowhere close to that tier of worry Wentz helped create last year.

So, if the Eagles are dialing Lynch’s phone, all the GM should do is politely decline. Or just hang up.