Vikings Sign $133 Million QB After Trading Sam Howell to Eagles
The Minnesota Vikings have moved on from Sam Howell, and it didn’t take them long to replace him.
Minnesota traded the fourth-year signal-caller to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, August 24. The decision came two days after the Vikings sat Howell for the entirety of the third and final preseason game of the summer, and just one day after hosting veteran quarterback Carson Wentz to an official visit.
Kevin Seifert of ESPN reported Sunday morning that the team inked Wentz to serve as a veteran backup behind second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who will make his first regular-season NFL start against the Chicago Bears in Week 1.
“In exchange for Howell, the Vikings received a 2026 fifth-round pick from the Eagles. The teams also swapped 2027 picks, with the Eagles receiving a sixth-round pick and the Vikings receiving one in the seventh round,” Seifert wrote. “The additional pick gives the Vikings more resources to pursue a veteran receiver to fill another hole in their depth. They have inquired about Carolina Panthers veteran Adam Thielen, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but the Panthers have been reluctant to part ways with him.”
Carson Wentz Has Transitioned to Backup QB Role Over Past 2 NFL Seasons
GettyFormer Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is now a member of the Minnesota Vikings.
Wentz is a former No. 2 overall pick of the Eagles and has started 94 of the 98 games in which he has played in the league since joining it in 2016 (47-46-1).
Wentz finished third in the league in MVP voting in the 2017 campaign, during which Philadelphia went on to win a Super Bowl. However, he suffered an injury late in the regular-season that sidelined him for the entire playoff run, so it was backup quarterback Nick Foles who led the team to the title.
Things have been rockier for Wentz since then. He played three more years for the Eagles before ending up with the Indianapolis Colts. He had a one-year stint as a starter there before starting the next season for the Washington Commanders.
Wentz has been a backup the past two seasons, first for the Los Angeles Rams and then for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024. He is likely to remain a backup for the remainder of his career, as he will play the upcoming campaign at 33 years old. Wentz has earned just shy of $133 million during his NFL tenure to this point.
Carson Wentz Has Far More Success, Experience Than Any QB on Vikings’ Roster
GettyFormer Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Carson Wentz.
While Wentz is far from a perfect quarterback, aging and having battled turnover problems for much of his career, he is a far more experienced backup signal-caller than any other on the Vikings’ roster.
Howell had one season of starting experience under his belt, but went 4-13 with Washington in 2024.
Brett Rypien is 2-2 as a starter in the league with just 10 appearances, while Max Brosmer — who has produced a solid preseason — is an undrafted rookie.
Wentz has produced 22,410 yards, 153 TDs and 67 INTs over the course of his career.
