Colts Quarterback Crossroads: NFL Draft or MVP Vet?
Decision Point for Chris Ballard’s Future
Since the surprise retirement of Andrew Luck, the Indianapolis Colts have had no luck at all.
Now is the time for Chris Ballard and the Colts.
After a series of retread quarterbacks, this offseason was supposed to be the turning of the page toward the future of a young franchise quarterback. Sitting with the 4th selection in the NFL draft in 2023, the Colts were primed to take one of the top-tier quarterbacks in this class. Then the Carolina Panthers were able to jump up to number one in a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears, and all of that has gone out the window.
"Anytime a special player is available, which he is, you've got to do the work,"
The current situation leaves Chris Ballard without an easy way to secure a franchise quarterback. There are only two top-tier prospects at that position in this year's draft. (My quarterback rankings will be out and official next week). Every quarterback prospect outside of Bryce young and CJ Stroud has inherent risk built into their evaluation that has to give Chris Ballard pause.
There are two elite arm-strength QBs. There was one exceptional athlete at the position and two strong and steady options, but they are all a tier below the top two. That leaves Chris Ballard only one new path after this week's turmoil.
Acquire Lamar Jackson. Full stop.
This offseason has now come down to an A-B option between taking a significant risk on a prospect quarterback and paying a massive sum for a former MVP looking for a new home. As the protest circuit spins round and round, it's becoming clear that the Colts best opportunity to draft a quarterback will come in the form of either Will Levis of Kentucky or Anthony Richardson of Florida. Both are high-risk dart-throws when compared to the experience and performance of Lamar Jackson.
Jackson will be expensive to acquire and even more expensive to get under contract. The Ravens don't want to give in on the guaranteed contract Jackson is supposedly demanding. I don't think the Colts should either, but Chris Ballard has a better chance to get a compromise contract done with Jackson than the Baltimore front office has at this point.
Even with that said, Chris Ballard needs to go for it. First, there is the fit. Jackson will be best served with a run-heavy play-action-oriented offense that takes advantage of what the Colts have in-house in Jonathan Taylor, Quinton Nelson and an offense that needs an injection of athleticism at the quarterback spot.
The Colts owner Jim Irsay is a factor as well. Irsay is known to be erratic, which is part of the equation for the general manager in determining how long his tenure may or may not be. In referring to Lamar Jackson, Irsay seemed confident that the size of the contract will not be the issue.
"It really has nothing to do with actual dollars," he said. "I mean, paying a contract like that is not a problem. I mean, it's not a problem for me.”
All these circumstances have led to a unique situation to acquire a former NFL MVP and give the Colts franchise that jump-started needs. But time is of the essence. Multiple other teams are rumored to be interested and making overtures.
One potential landing spot appears to already be off the table. It seems that the Atlanta Falcons and their head coach Arthur Smith is not looking to bring Jackson to Atlants. They plan to start their 2022 draft pick Desmond Ritter from Cincinnati. that is a major bullet dodged for the Colts organization. Now is the time for Chris Ballard to face the future with the bold decision to acquire Lamar Jackson.
Go get him Mr Ballard.