For Patrick Mahomes' first few seasons in the NFL, there was a steady presence behind him in the form of Chad Henne. From 2018 to 2022, Henne sat behind Mahomes as Mahomes' veteran mentor and backup quarterback for Kansas City Chiefs. But after Henne's retirement, there's been a bit of a revolving door.
This past season, Carson Wentz was the man behind Mahomes as a former starter and even MVP candidate hoping to turn around his fortunes with a season alongside Mahomes and Andy Reid. Now he might be one-and-done with the latest free agent rumors that has another team interested in Wentz.
The Chiefs have a revolving door behind Patrick Mahomes in recent years.
ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler has word that the Cleveland Browns are sniffing around veteran QB additions, with Wentz among them. Kirk Cousins and Daniel Jones are also listed among the candidates and the Browns are reportedly expected to add a veteran signing along with a draft choice to remake the offense.
Wentz signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs last April a few weeks into the start of free agency. The contract was worth up to $3.325 million with some playing time incentives attached. Wentz appeared in three games for the Chiefs and started one—Week 18 against the Denver Broncos. In that game, Wentz and the Chiefs offense (and defense) looked overwhelmed as the quarterback completed 10 of 17 passes for 98 yards. He was also sacked four times.
Wentz owns a career record of 47-46-1 in the NFL with 153 career touchdown passes against 67 interceptions. The last two seasons have only brought him two starts to exhibit what he can still do in late-season stints with the Rams and Chiefs, so the Browns (or any other interested party) is going to have to do their homework on what Wentz can still bring to the field as a potential starter.
As for the Chiefs, the team turned to Blaine Gabbert before Carson Wentz and now it appears a new QB2 could be on the sidelines in Kansas City heading into 2025. It's unclear if the Chiefs will insist on keeping a veteran behind Mahomes going forward, but history says that will be the case. Perhaps Went will be back, but there's little reason for them to bid against desperate franchises.
