Why The Hell Is Carson Wentz A Starting QB in 2025: A Case Study of Overlooked Talent

By
Lamar Simmons
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2
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Why The Hell Is Carson Wentz A Starting QB in 2025: A Case Study of Overlooked Talent

Introduction: Not a Roast, But a Rethink

Carson Wentz has long been a polarizing figure in the NFL. Critics will always have talking points: “Injuries,” “inconsistency,” “you didn’t win the big one on your own.” But love him or question him, the human behind the helmet deserves more than just being dropped when there’s a fresher face.

What draws me to this question: Minnesota has had several opportunities—via draft, free agency, backups, rookies—to find a quarterback who might outshine Wentz in a starter role. And yet, here we are, in late 2025, where he’s thrust back into the spotlight. How did we get here? Was the pipeline dry? Was politics part of the puzzle? Was there a failure to appreciate what Wentz still brings?

Let’s investigate.

The Data: How Wentz Stacks Up (and How Others Have Fared)

Here are some of Carson Wentz’s career numbers, and some benchmarks of what Minnesota has had at QB (and what other options did).

Carson Wentz: The Resume

  • Carson has started 94 of the 98 games he’s played in his nine-year (as of 2025) career. Vikings
  • His career completion percentage is about 62.7%. Vikings+2NFL.com+2
  • He has thrown 22,410 passing yards and 153 touchdowns. StatMuse+1
  • His TD-to-INT ratio: 153 TDs vs 67 INTs (≈2.28 to 1). Wikipedia+1
  • His passer rating over his career (as of end of 2024) is around 89.3. Wikipedia

These aren’t elite MVP numbers, but they represent a strong body of work, especially given injuries, changing teams, changing systems, etc.

What the Vikings Recently Had (Alternatives & Benchmarks)

To see how Wentz compares, let’s consider what Minnesota has had in the past few years, especially 2024, and whether any of them clearly outperformed what Wentz could bring.

  • Sam Darnold (2024 season, starting QB for Minnesota):
  • Kirk Cousins (prior years with Vikings, and beyond):
    • Career with Minnesota: multiple years of fairly consistent performance. Completion percentage in the high 60s (≈ 65-70% in many seasons). ESPN.com+4Wikipedia+4Wikipedia+4
    • TD-INT ratios and passer ratings that repeatedly put him above league average when healthy and properly supported.

The key is: Darnold in 2024 clearly put up better single-season stats than Wentz’s career averages in many metrics (completion percentage, passer rating, yardage, etc.). Kirk Cousins similarly had periods of high performance. Wentz, in contrast, since his prime has been more of a journeyman — flashes, but inconsistent opportunity.

But Here’s the Thing: Why Wentz Is Still In the Mix

Given the stats, one might think Minnesota (or any team) could pick a more promising QB from the college ranks or a younger pro. And in fact they have tried:

  • Drafted J.J. McCarthy in 2024, a first rounder, expected to grow. But McCarthy was injured, had ups and downs. Reuters+3FOX Sports+3Wikipedia+3
  • They brought in Sam Howell. But Howell’s performance and consistency have not clearly exceeded Wentz’s track record. In 2025, Howell was moved/traded, Wentz signed. ESPN.com+2CBSSports.com+2

So, while Darnold’s 2024 season was arguably the best recent benchmark, the question is whether there was a sustainable path forward with him (contract, long-term commitment) versus what Wentz brings: experience, readiness, somewhat lower risk in certain respects.

So Why Is Wentz Starting in 2025?

Putting together all of that, here are plausible reasons why the Vikings, in 2025, are turning to Carson Wentz (or at least seeing him as a credible option):

  1. Injury / Absence of Other Options
  2. Veteran Reliability in Backup or Interim Roles
    • Wentz has started many games, played under pressure, moved from team to team. He’s battle-tested. That may help in short term where minimizing turnovers, keeping things stable, is more important than developing raw upside.
  3. No Obvious Better Alternative
    • The college pipeline always promises potential, but not guaranteed. McCarthy, promising but young and hurt. Other free agents might be available, but none with both the resume and the low cost / low risk that Wentz offers.
  4. Contract / Salary Cap / Roster Politics
    • Sometimes simpler / cheaper to roll with a veteran backup than to force a rookie under center before ready. Also, the optics matter: faith in future QB (McCarthy) but need someone reliable in the meantime.

What the Outlook Looks Like for the Vikings Over the Next Few Weeks

Carson Wentz is set to take the helm for a stretch, facing some tough road ahead. Based on what we know:

  • The Bengals (or rather their backup, since Joe Burrow is injured) will be a test. Even backups can bring good defense or unpredictable offense. Wentz will need to avoid turnovers, stay efficient, move the chains. Reuters
  • Then there are likely more games against teams with strong defenses or pass rushes. Offensive line health, receiver health, running game will all matter more than ever—any weakness will be punished.

If Wentz plays smart, game manager-style football: clean reads, low risk, using what works (short passes, play action, etc.) – he can probably keep Minnesota in games, maybe even snag a few wins.

If mistakes pile up (turnovers, sacks, indecision), the margin for error will be thin. For long term, this run is making a case: either to build more around Wentz, or to show definitively that the future (McCarthy, someone else) needs to be accelerated.

Parallels to Business: Overlooked Talent, Internal Politics, and Opportunity

To tie this back to something we all know: workplaces, companies, careers:

  • Companies often have a “preferred” candidate (rookie QB / high draft pick), someone they believe in for the future. Those folks get opportunities, patience, sometimes special treatment.
  • Meanwhile, there are “veterans” who have been around, have proven themselves in parts, and are reliable—but maybe past their peak. They might get overlooked or under-invested in because they don’t have the upside of youth, or the flash.
  • Internal politics plays a role: management wants to be seen as building for future; there are fan/foundational expectations; salary cap / budget constraints; sometimes ego (“we drafted him, we owe him starts”), etc.
  • But this means sometimes companies (teams) pass over slightly better options in favor of brighter narratives, potential, future upside—even if the veteran, stable person might deliver more immediate return.

Wentz is like that dependable senior manager: not perfect, has had struggles, but lots of experience, reliability, and still some capacity to perform if supported.

Why He Deserves Love

Because whatever else, Carson does not give up. He shows up. He’s dealt with injuries, team changes, uncertainty—and still plays. That deserves respect.

Also, fans often discount the value of stabilizers—the guy who doesn’t necessarily break every record, but prevents the ship from tipping over. In chaos, that’s as valuable as brilliance.

Conclusion: What the Vikings Need to Decide

  • Do they want to commit short term to Wentz? If so, maximize his strengths: quick reads, minimizing turnovers, reliant run game, giving protection up front.
  • Use this stretch to evaluate whether McCarthy (once healthy) or another younger QB can be made ready, but not force the issue if it’s premature.
  • The offense must be tailored: having weapons, limiting risk, leaning on what works.
  • From a business analog: recognize when you have neglected reliable talent because of allure of potential, and make decisions that balance immediate performance with future growth.

So: Why is Carson Wentz a starter in 2025 (or set to be one)? Because the Vikings haven’t found another QB who consistently offers better mix of experience, reliability, low risk, and availability—especially given injuries and transitions. And while his numbers aren’t quite as high as Darnold’s or the peak of Cousins’, there’s more stability in what he brings than some alternatives, at least in the current moment.

Let’s watch: these next few games will tell whether this decision was right. And if Wentz plays smart, maybe he not only deserves the start, but some real adoration. Skol, and may the overlooked talent get its dues.

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