Philadelphia Eagles fans are hoping Carson Wentz is their franchise quarterback. 

For the first three weeks it seemed obvious to many that they had found their man. While he still seems like a solid NFL starter, his play has slipped from the hot start, forcing people to question their earlier evaluation of him.

Through 12 games this season, the second overall pick has amassed 2,901 passing yards with 13 total touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

His coaches and teammates believe he is wise beyond his years, and they are probably right, Eagles fans sometimes just expect more.

Wentz has three 300-yard games this season and three of the five highest passing yardage totals ever among Eagles rookies. He is the only one with three 300-yard performances.

Wentz is just 23-years old, which not only makes him a great building block for the Eagles’ future, but one of the best young players in the NFL. According to Mel Kiper Jr. and Mike Sando in an Insider piece, he is the 25th-best player in the league who is under the age of 25.

NFL evaluators did not think Wentz had the consistent production to belong on this list above players such as Jordan Howard, among others, but there are mitigating circumstances. The Eagles' line has suffered without right tackle Lane Johnson. There is no true No. 1 running back on the team. Injuries have slowed top receiver Jordan Matthews. Nelson Agholor isn't even part of the regular rotation. And the schedule has been unrelenting.

While Wentz is the only Eagle to land on the list, 24-year-old Jordan Hicks, came in as an honorable mention.

The linebacker who last season tore his pectoral muscle last season, got off to a slow start, but has been very good since about Week 6 for the Eagles defense.

When healthy, Hicks has shown flashes of greatness. He has 65 total tackles along with one sack, one interception, eight passes defensed and one forced fumble.

Last season, he might have been in the conversation to be the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year with 50 total tackles, one sack, two interceptions, one forced fumble, with three fumbles recovered and three passes defensed in eight games before his injury/

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