Here’s Why Every Rookie Quarterback Should Want to Go to the Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are in the market for a new quarterback. After the shocking retirement of Andrew Luck before last season, the Jacoby Brissett era did not quite work out. This offseason, the Colts are rumored as a potential landing spot for Phillips Rivers but could also draft a quarterback. With how loaded the team is, every quarterback in the draft should want to go to the Colts.
Jacoby Brissett did not work out for the Colts in 2019
The retirement of Luck was shocking, to say the least. Many expected the Colts to be Super Bowl contenders as they had one of the best quarterbacks in the league and a loaded roster. However, his announcement right before the regular season put them in a bind and forced the Colts to go with Jacoby Brissett.
The Colts showed their belief in Brissett when they signed him to a two-year contract extension, but his play on the field was not what they hoped for. That is especially the case after they were spoiled by Peyton Manning and Luck over the years.
They did, however, start the season strong. Indianapolis had a 5-2 record towards the middle of the season, and Brissett played well. Against the Houston Texans, Brissett threw for 326 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. Additionally, against the Atlanta Falcons, he threw for 310 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. After getting hurt against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 9, though, Brissett’s play quickly declined.
Brissett returned from injury in week 11 and played the rest of the season, but his play was atrocious. He only threw for over 200 yards twice the rest of the year, and only threw four more total touchdowns in those seven games.
After starting 5-2, the Colts finished the season 2-7, going 7-9 overall. That will not cut it for an organization that has its eyes on the Super Bowl.
Colts are loaded everywhere else
They were 7-9, but this was, and still is, the best Colts roster in a long time. Defensively, they have three good linebackers in Anthony Walker, Darius Leonard, and Bobby Okereke. They also have a good veteran pass rusher in Justin Houston, and some good pieces in the secondary in Pierre Desir, Kenny Moore, Khari Willis, and Malik Hooker.
Offensively, they also have some nice pieces. In the backfield, Marlon Mack ran for over 1,000 yards in only 14 games. Then at receiver, even though they both dealt with injuries in 2019, they have a Pro Bowl pass-catcher in T.Y. Hilton and a young speedster in Parris Campbell. Jack Doyle is also a solid tight end.
Whoever the Colts have at quarterback next season, though, will certainly be protected. The Colts had the third-best offensive line in all of football last year, according to Pro Football Focus. Guard Quenton Nelson is also one of the best linemen in the entire league and he is only 23-years-old.
Any quarterback should want to play with this roster as it currently is, but the Colts will most likely get even better. With the second-most cap space this offseason, they could be even more loaded by the time the season starts. That’s pretty scary.
Every rookie quarterback should want to go to Indy
In CBS Sports’ latest mock draft, they have the Colts trading up to the eighth overall pick so they can select former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. Many people think the Colts will sign Phillips Rivers too, his former teammate Melvin Gordon even said he thinks Rivers will ultimately land with Indy.
With Rivers being 38 years old, he is not a long-term option for the Colts, which could be a fantastic thing for a young quarterback. Two of the best quarterbacks in the league are Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. Rodgers sat under Brett Favre before becoming the Green Bay Packers’ starter, and Mahomes sat under Alex Smith before becoming the starter for the Kansas City Chiefs.
If the Colts draft a young quarterback and sign Rivers, the young guy would have the chance to learn from a very accomplished veteran in Rivers. Then, once Rivers retires or just moves on from the Colts, they would then become the starting quarterback of a very talented team.
The quarterback situation in Indy is still definitely up in the air. However, with the Colts having an already loaded roster, and an abundance of cap space to improve that roster, every quarterback should want to play for them. Additionally, if the team does, in fact, sign Rivers and draft a young guy who can learn from him, then every quarterback in the 2020 draft should want to go to Indy.
