Carson Wentz should not already be this good
Carson Wentz makes no sense.
A rookie from North Dakota State out-dueling Ben Roethlisberger in a 34–3 win over the Steelers? Leading the Eagles to a 3–0 record in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year? His extremely unintimidating smile?
Wentz—along with a frisky defense and some offensive sparkplugs—has Philadelphia playing some really exciting football this fall. Wentz was supposed to be the Eagles' third-string quarterback to start the season. Instead, a butterfly flapped its wings, Teddy Bridgewater blew out his knee, and one Sam Bradford trade later Wentz was thrust into a starting role months after the Eagles heavily gambled on a QB who was originally seen as a mid first-round pick.
Through three weeks, Wentz is completing nearly 65% of his passes, and has thrown five touchdowns against zero interceptions. Is this just an early career hot streak? Will Wentz go more the way of Robert Griffin or Cam Newton? It's obviously too early to answer those questions, but it’s shocking how Wentz has already brought a level of competence to Philly likely envied by many general managers around the league.
If anything, Wentz is the latest example of how picking a great quarterback is truly a shot in the dark. Jared Goff—the consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2016 draft—isn’t close to seeing the field. Meanwhile, the only other quarterbacks with a 3–0 record this season are seventh-round pick Trevor Siemian and Wentz’s fellow FCS alum Joe Flacco. (The other undefeated teams—the Patriots and Vikings—have used multiple QBs.)
The Eagles obviously—and rightfully—look like geniuses for trading every last draft pick known to man to draft Wentz. But I have my doubts even the Eagles thought he would be this good, this soon.
