The Kansas City Chiefs have enjoyed elite quarterback play in recent years, largely thanks to star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has already established himself as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history. However, the team may soon face a loss in key depth behind him, as veteran quarterback Carson Wentz currently serves as Mahomes’ backup but is on a one-year contract and will become a free agent after the season.
NFL analyst Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report predicts that the Chiefs will lose Wentz this offseason as he seeks a different opportunity. Instead of re-signing with Kansas City, Knox expects Wentz to join the Minnesota Vikings, serving as the backup to young quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He noted, “Carson Wentz may seem like an odd candidate to fill that role, but there are a couple of reasons why he would make sense. For one, he spent the 2022 season with Sean McVay and the Rams. Kevin O’Connell is a McVay disciple, so Wentz would likely enter the building with some system familiarity,” in an article for Sports Illustrated earlier this season.
Knox added, “Secondly, the soon-to-be 32-year-old shouldn’t be a threat to McCarthy. He’s firmly in the backup stage of his career and can focus on teaching the young signal-caller—and he should have plenty to teach.” Wentz was selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent four full seasons as a starter before being benched in favor of Jalen Hurts midway through the 2020 season. The following offseason, he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, starting all 17 games in 2021, before moving on to the Washington Commanders for the 2022 season, making seven starts, and eventually joining the Los Angeles Rams as Matthew Stafford’s backup in 2023. Now, it appears he’s once again expected to be on the move this offseason.
