The Indianapolis Colts were able to find a new quarterback to Carson Wentz and still hold their first round in the 2021. NFL draft. But could they still take a step to negotiate?
While it seems unlikely, ESPN believes it could still be a possibility and went so far as to suggest that they should do so in an article listing a “bold move” for all 32 teams.
For the Colts, he was playing to move up to the top-10 to find a franchised quarterback.
Make a play for a draft pick in the top ten
There are very few teams that have the space limit needed to switch to an established starting quarterback and pay big bucks for it. The Colts, who are expected to have the second-largest space in the NFL behind only the Jaguars, were one of them. They would also become marginal wildcard teams until they became serious candidates with a legitimate franchise quarterback.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to imagine Carson Wentz being that quarterback in the franchise. We’re not saying Wentz will once again be the worst quarterback in the league, but his problems with accuracy and the last readings from last year weren’t caused exclusively by his secondary cast.
The Colts have yet to look hard to climb the draft. Obviously, they won’t get Trevor Lawrence, but Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, or Trey Lance might be worth making several first-round picks for a franchise that’s so close to being a legitimate contender for the title. Wentz should be a starting point for fixing the quarterback position, not the end point.
What the Colts did last season was an excellent victory for team building, winning 11 games even with a somewhat limited Philip Rivers. It would be a shame to see it wasted.
Moving to the top-10 is still a wonderful idea in theory, but it’s no longer so practical. The Colts gave up their third-round pick in 2021 and a conditional second-round pick that would likely become a first-round pick in 2022. Those options could have been great ammunition for Indy if they wanted to go up.
Choosing from number 21 doesn’t make it easy for a quarterback to rise. That needs at least two first-round picks, and with how many teams need a quarterback in that range, the Colts could easily outscore them.
It’s not entirely off the charts for the Colts to get on the draft, but more should be presented to the cabinet “very unlikely” at this point in the offseason.