Indianapolis Colts trade QB Carson Wentz to Washington Commanders

Carson Wentz is heading back to the NFC East.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Indianapolis Colts are trading quarterback Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders.

The Colts will receive a 2022 third-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 third-round pick that can become a second-rounder if Wentz plays 70% of snaps in 2022. The Commanders get their new QB1 and a 2022 second-round pick.

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Washington will take on all of Wentz's remaining contract, which includes $15 million in fully guaranteed salary for 2022 with the remaining $7 million set to become fully guaranteed on March 18.

All told, Washington will inherit Wentz and a three-year, $81.7 million contract.

The Colts traded a 2021 third- and 2022 first-round pick in exchange for the former No. 2 overall pick last offseason and have flipped him to Washington just one year later.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard avoided giving any sort of vote of confidence on Wentz during his press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine on March 1. One week later, Wentz is no longer on the roster.

Carson Wentz: PFF grade and rank since 2016 (postseason included)

Season	Team	Snaps	PFF Grade	Rank
2021	IND	1,089	70.9	22nd of 38
2020	PHI	810	65.0	32nd of 38
2019	PHI	1,157	76.5	14th of 39
2018	PHI	724	79.4	14th of 39
2017	PHI	880	84.9	6th of 41
2016	PHI	1,125	69.9	22nd of 37

While clearing Wentz's full contract off the books and recouping two third-round picks is great, Indianapolis is now without a starting quarterback and without a first-round pick in this year's draft.

Potential trade options that won't require a first-round pick include San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew. Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky — a hot name around the league in recent weeks — stands out as a potential option for the team in free agency.

The Colts now have the most cap space in the NFL, sitting right around $70 million, and this is after doling out big-time extensions to linebacker Darius Leonard and right tackle Braden Smith just before the 2021 season.