Carson Wentz’s future with the Philadelphia Eagles might be the No. 1 question of the 2021 NFL offseason. Just a year and a half after the organization inked the quarterback to one of the most lucrative contracts in league history, there is speculation that both sides might try to move on from the other.

Wentz was benched on Dec. 6, and Jalen Hurts outperformed him in four starts as Philadelphia’s quarterback. On the final day of the regular season, ESPN reported that the relationship between Wentz and head coach Doug Pederson is fractured beyond repair. According to a report in The Associated Press, Wentz needs time to think before he asks for a trade.

It would make sense if the Eagles want to trade Wentz and move forward with Hurts as the starter. The team said they aren't exploring a trade at the moment.

With a 72.8 passer rating and 15 interceptions in just 12 games, Wentz was arguably the worst starting quarterback in the 2020 season.

Actually executing a trade will prove to be difficult, no matter how badly Wentz or the Eagles might want to move on.

Wentz’s contract runs through the 2024 season and includes $107 million guaranteed. Releasing Wentz is not an option because it would leave Philadelphia with $66 million of dead money on their salary cap for the 2021 season. If the Eagles do manage to find a trade partner for Wentz, they would be left with a $34 million cap hit.

For a team that just went 4-11-1 and finished in last place in a historically bad division, taking a $34 million cap hit could be devastating in trying to rebuild the roster.

It remains to be seen if any NFL team would be willing to part with a player or draft picks in order to acquire Wentz. The Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots are viewed as teams that might potentially be interested in trying to revive Wentz’s career.

Each of Wentz’s previous three seasons before 2020 ended because of an injury.

Wentz was an MVP candidate in 2017 before he tore his ACL and missed the final month of the season. The former No.2 overall draft pick led the Eagles to the 2019 NFC East title.

In the most likely scenario, Wentz will return to the Eagles next season. Whether he ever starts another game for Philadelphian depends on how both he and Hurts perform.

Carson Wentz Philadelphia Eagles
Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles avoids the pressure from Jaylon Ferguson #45 of the Baltimore Ravens at Lincoln Financial Field on October 18, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
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