Carson Wentz Traded to the Washington Commanders – How it Affects Their NFC East Odds

On Tuesday, shockwaves went through the NFL after the Seattle Seahawks traded Super Bowl winning quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. One day later, we saw a big quarterback move as the Washington Commanders acquired Carson Wentz.

Washington was looking for a big-name quarterback but lost out on the Wilson sweepstakes. They hoped to acquire a big-name like Deshaun Watson, but they went with a safer option in Wentz.

The move has brought many mixed reviews for the Commanders. Let’s start by discussing the details of the trade.

The Washington Commanders have been looking for a new quarterback. They came up short of Russell Wilson but pivoted to Carson Wentz. The Wentz trade gives Washington yet another quarterback in their search for a long-term option.

On the other side, the Indianapolis Colts were looking to move on from Wentz one offseason after acquiring him from the Philadelphia Eagles. It’ll be interesting to see which direction they move in.

Deshaun Watson becomes the top trade option, but someone like Jimmy Garoppolo makes more sense for Indianapolis. Will they land the longtime San Francisco 49ers quarterback?

Typically, when you trade your starting quarterback, your Super Bowl odds move in the wrong direction. That’s what happened with the Seattle Seahawks when they traded Russell Wilson. However, I haven’t seen any movement for the Indianapolis Colts.

Following Super Bowl 56, the top NFL betting sites had the Colts at (+3000) to win Super Bowl 57. After the Wentz trade, they have the same odds. I can’t confirm the division or conference odds, but it likely hasn’t changed much, if at all.

I’d say two things go into that. For starters, they have the best running back in the game in Jonathan Taylor. Then, there’s the rumor that Jimmy Garoppolo could be heading to Indianapolis.

In terms of production, there isn’t a significant difference between Wentz and Garoppolo. Wentz has better numbers, but Garoppolo has led his team to two NFC Championship Games.

The Carson Wentz trade did help the Washington Commanders Super Bowl odds. They moved from (+5000) to (+4000). Now that could change during the season, but right now, most people aren’t viewing them as a serious contender. Instead, it’s interesting to see how the move impacts their NFC East odds.

Washington moves into a tie with the Philadelphia Eagles at (+400) odds to win the NFC East. Both teams are a ways behind the Dallas Cowboys, who sit at (-135).

I think the best way to examine this is to compare Wentz’s stats with Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke.

Wentz has the better numbers, but it only translated to two more wins. Overall, I’d say the Indianapolis Colts had a better team than the Commanders. That’s why some are wondering if the move is truly an upgrade.

The Commanders are better equipped to battle the Cowboys and Eagles in the NFC East, but they’ll need some pieces to be serious contenders. It’ll be tougher to make those moves as Washington will take Wentz’s $28 million contract for the 2022 season.

It’ll be interesting to see how Wentz fits in Washington. He has the talent to perform at a high level, but questions about his leadership led to his downfall in Philadelphia and Indianapolis. Will he put that behind him in Washington?

Will this end their quarterback search for Washington, or will we see them back on the quarterback market next offseason?