Why Kirk Cousins Can Fetch More than Carson Wentz on the Trade Market
Dustin Baker
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The day after Russell Wilson was shockingly traded to the Denver Broncos, Carson Wentz was shopped to the Washington Commanders, looking to re-kickstart the career of the once-promising quarterback.
Wentz played for the Indianapolis Colts in 2021, collapsing with the season on the line as the franchise just needed to beat the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars to enter the postseason.
No luck.
As a result, the Colts had “seen enough,” offloading the quarterback to the Commanders, a team trying to solve QB1 since letting Kirk Cousins walk in free agency four years ago. From 2018 to 2021, after Cousins left Washington, the Commanders rank 32nd in the NFL — dead last — in touchdown passes. The team’s quarterback play has been anemic.
Well, the Vikings might be moving on from Cousins, as Minnesota has only qualified for the postseason once on Cousins’ watch — an indictment on the expensive quarterback. Right now, Minnesota indicates it wants Cousins back, but the two sides are evidently stuck in limbo on the money details of the reunion.
If the Vikings trade Cousins, he should fetch more draft capital than what the Colts received for Wentz.
Washington paid this for Wentz: his salary, a 2nd-Round pick, a 3rd-Round pick, and a conditional 3rd-Round pick.
Indianapolis traded this to Washington: Wentz, a 2nd-Round pick and a 7th-Round pick.
While the apex of Wentz’s career — the 2017 and 2018 seasons — was fantastic, he hasn’t been the same since the start of 2020. Frankly, he isn’t very good, and his consistency is lousy. On the other hand, Cousins doesn’t have a pristine reputation, but he refuses to put forth bad seasons like Wentz.
Based on sheer numbers, Cousins’ price tag on the open trade market should be larger than Wentz’s. The only reason to lean Wentz-heavy on the topic is memories of 2017 and 2018. That’s it.
These are the numbers:
And according to a formula that merges Pro Football Focus grade, ESPN’s QBR, and passer rating, Wentz was the NFL’s 18th-best quarterback in 2021. Per the same formula, Cousins ranked seventh.
These are worlds apart.
When thinking about Wentz, it’s tempting to reminisce about what once was. For some reason, he is not the same player from 2017 or 2018. He flat-out isn’t.
Per statistics — like all of the metrics available anywhere — Cousins is steadier and more productive than Wentz.
And that’s why Cousins’ trade price shouldn’t be considered “the same” as Wentz’s.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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