Getty Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz
The deal is done, just like that. The Eagles and Carson Wentz agreed to a four-year contract extension Thursday evening that will keep the franchise quarterback in Philadelphia through 2024. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the deal was valued at $128 million over four years, including $107 million in guarantees.
That puts the total price and length of the contract at $154 million over six years. It is far and away the biggest contract in franchise history, eclipsing both Donovan McNabb’s 12-year, $115 million deal and Fletcher Cox’s 6-year, $103 million contract.
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The $107 million in guarantees is the largest doled out in NFL history. Wentz will earn $22.8 million in 2020, according to Spotrac. The Eagles will hold a press conference to officially announce the news Monday at the NovaCare Complex. In the meantime, Wentz addressed Eagles fans in a personal video, via Twitter.
Grateful for this opportunity and excited for the future! 🙌🏻 #FlyEaglesFly #AO1
“Can’t even explain to you how excited I am right now to be a part of this great city for this many more years. It means the world to me,” Wentz states in the above video. “From the moment I got drafted here, I knew this place was special. I knew they had the most passionate fans in the world in all of sports, and I knew we had the opportunity to build something truly special. To be cemented here for this much longer means the world to me.”
His teammates immediately took to social media to congratulate their friend and on-field general, signaling a clear indication that there might be an upcoming dinner at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse on the horizon. Wentz will most likely be picking up that tab.
Yessir my brother!!! Earned not given!No one better to lead this organization and city! #FlyEaglesFly
Congrats to the bro @cj_wentz WORTH EVERY PENNY
The Eagles selected Wentz with the second overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft after making a blockbuster deal with the Cleveland Browns to move up and get their guy. The quarterback has thrown for 10,152 yards and 70 touchdowns since arriving in Philadelphia while posting a 63.7% completion percentage in 40 career games.
Wentz was on the cusp of an MVP season in 2017 until an ACL tear shortened his season, allowing backup Nick Foles to lead the Eagles to their first-ever Super Bowl. Even so, he still ranks third in passing touchdowns per game (2.3) and trails only Patrick Mahomes and Andrew Luck in that department.
Wentz was looking for a contract in the range of $30 million per year, according to previous reports. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has been an outspoken supporter of the 26-year-old kid from North Dakota. In March, at the owners’ meetings, he made no qualms about his desire to lock Wentz up to a long-term contract, despite the quarterback’s injury history.
“Carson, as I said before, is — when you write it up, it’s exactly what you hope,” Lurie told reporters. “I think we all love very intense, type-A, driven quarterbacks. And very talented. He’s a terrific leader. From Day 1 on that team, every position, every player I’ve talked to — and we’ve talked to — are sort of just very impressed with this young man. Very impressive young man. And that’s Carson.”
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Eagles GM Howie Roseman echoed those sentiments during an interview in May.
The Eagles are off until June 11 when mandatory minicamp begins at the NovaCare Complex. The next contract to get done between now and then will be for Malcolm Jenkins if the team decides he’s worth a pay raise.
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