Carson Wentz is back in the NFC East to serve asWashington’s first QB under the Commanders name. Let’s explore the salary implications of this major trade with the Colts.
Three years ago, the Philadelphia Eagles handed Carson Wentz a four-year, $128 million contract extension. He had the keys to the kingdom. He was one of the highest-paid players in football. Now, he’s just joined his third NFL team.
After one season with the Indianapolis Colts, meet the first-ever starting quarterback for the newly rebranded Washington Commanders. In a head-turning trade, Wentz is back in the NFC East — and Washington is paying a ton of his salary cap liability for 2022 in addition to sending two third-round draft picks back to Indy.
So, what are the salary implications for both teams, as well as for the QB himself? Let’s dive into the details of Wednesday’s Carson Wentz trade.
Click here to read Boardroom’s overview of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.
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Carson Wentz Contract Details & Salary
All dollar figures via Spotrac.
Length: 4 years
Total value: $128,000,000
Average annual value: $32,000,000
Guaranteed money: $107,970,683
Free agency: 2025 (potential out after 2022)
2022 salary: $28,294,119
2022 salary cap hit: $28,294,119
2022 dead cap: $15,000,000
2023 salary (non-guaranteed): $26,176,470
2024 salary (non-guaranteed): $27,235,294
Carson Wentz Trade Salary Cap Impact
Washington Commanders
2022 salary cap space: $-1,705,073
Active contracts: $213,282,316
Dead money: $702,996
Total salary cap usage: $213,985,312
Indianapolis Colts
2022 salary cap space: $67,911,055
Active contracts: $141,142,560
Dead money: $1,568,711
Total salary cap usage: $142,711,271
Just like that, the Colts now possess the most cap space in the NFL as of this writing.
Sure, they still need a starting quarterback, competing with the Tennessee Titans in the AFC East is no picnic, and one of the picks they sent to the Eagles to acquire Wentz in the first place became Devonta Smith, but there’s nothing quite like flexibility, and not having to pick up a single dollar of Wentz’s remaining guarantees is a real respite.
Colts-Commanders Carson Wentz Trade Details
Washington Commanders get:
- QB Carson Wentz
Indianapolis Colts get:
- 2022 third-round pick
- 2023 third-round pick (becomes a second-rounder if Wentz plays 70% of snaps this season)
- 2022 second-round pick swap (Colts move up to No. 42 overall, Commanders move down to No. 47)
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