Would Raiders Trade for Carson Wentz? Jon Gruden, GM ‘All In’ on Eagles QB

jon gruden

Getty Jon Gruden & Derek Carr of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Let’s be clear: the Raiders don’t have a quarterback problem. Derek Carr is a “great quarterback,” per Jon Gruden.

Carr ranks among the league leaders this season in several key categories, such as completion percentage (74.0), quarterback rating (116.4), touchdowns (6), passing yards (784). Plus, he’s having a really good time proving his many doubters wrong. But the Raiders play in Las Vegas, a city that loves glitz, drama, and high risk — and quarterback controversy is always going to be a topic of conversation.

So it’s no surprise to hear tiny whispers about Carson Wentz being on the Raiders’ wish list. These are barely audible small breaths uttered on social media but worth examining nonetheless. Remember, Raiders GM Mike Mayock (Philly native) had Wentz listed as his top quarterback on the big board in 2016 when he was working as an ESPN draft analyst.

“He got in line, waited for his turn and won two national championships,” Mayock said in 2016, via USA Today. “The more I have been around the kid, his coach, the more I like him. I am all in on Carson Wentz.”

His head coach also has a long history of praising and admiring Wentz, including the two of them sitting down for a lengthy edition of “Gruden’s QB Camp” when Gruden worked as an analyst for ESPN. He called him the most “NFL-ready” quarterback in the 2016 draft and later compared him to Brett Favre.

“The other thing I love about Wentz is his preparation is off the charts,” Gruden said, via Philly Voice. “This guy works at it hard. He studies, he’s really into it, and when he goes out and practices, it’s like a game. He is really into football, man.”

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Raiders Took Chance on Nelson Agholor

The Raiders aren’t foreign to jumping into the Eagles’ scrap heap. Las Vegas signed slot receiver Nelson Agholor this offseason to a cheap one-year deal after he fell out of favor in Philly. He hasn’t been wowing his new team but does have a few highlight-reel plays, including an ankle-breaking 23-yard reception.

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Agholor has played on 77 total offensive snaps in 2020 and saw a season-high 50 snaps last week. He has four catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. Mayock spoke glowingly of the former USC standout during training camp, hinting that the 27-year-old had a chip on his shoulder.

“Nelson Agholor is on a mission,” said Mayock, via USA Today. “I think of the Philadelphia Eagles preseason game. I had a pretty good grade on him coming out of USC, I think I know what Nelly is and I think we’re seeing the best version of Nelly in this camp.”


Would Eagles Trade Wentz to Las Vegas?

The short answer is no. Carr would have to suffer a career-threatening injury or regress to the point of no return since he is locked up in Vegas through 2022. Any trade scenario would also assume that Wentz can’t fix his accuracy and mobility problems, leading to the start of the Jalen Hurts era in Philly.

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But, assuming all of the above happened, what would the Raiders be willing to give up for Wentz? He’s still only three years removed from an MVP campaign and Super Bowl championship. Vegas owns six draft picks in 2021: first round (20th overall), second round (52nd), third round (84th), fifth round (149th), sixth round (198th), seventh round (243th).

While a first-round pick seems out of reach, GM Howie Roseman could dangle Wentz in exchange for Denzelle Good, the Raiders’ promising young guard/tackle and a second-rounder. Right tackle Trent Brown is another intriguing trade candidate to monitor. He’s out with a calf injury but there’s been a lot of speculation about his future in Vegas.

Hypothetically speaking, of course. The hope is that Wentz perks up and reverts to the franchise quarterback everyone envisioned when he signed that $128 million extension.

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