What is the one big question facing the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback position this offseason?
Of course, most conversations around the quarterback position center around Anthony Richardson in terms of his growth, development, and what’s needed moving forward. But that’s more of an in-season or even training camp question.
What about the offseason–free agency and the draft–specifically is the question at hand for the Colts’ quarterbacks?
Well, after GM Chris Ballard’s comments after the season, it’s pretty obvious: how do the Colts go about creating that needed competition for Richardson?
Ballard mentioned that with Richardson’s inconsistent play and the need to show that he can be available for all 17 games, adding competition for him was on the to-do list this offseason.
“We knew when we took him it was going to be a roller coaster,” Ballard said of Richardson. “The number one thing we have to figure out and have to work through is he’s got to stay healthy. That, to me, is the biggest question.
“We have to have competition at the position because competition makes you better and because he’s not proven he can stay healthy for 17 games.”
This becomes a tough needle to thread because when it comes to what the Colts may looking for, there just might not be many options.
When we look at the best available free agent options, like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson or Sam Darnold, all three of those players will command some decent size contracts and that competition that Ballard wants to foster won’t exist. If anyone of the these players were Colts, Richardson automatically becomes the backup.
The draft may not be a viable option either. With Richardson still on his rookie deal and a number of other needs to address, is Ballard–who has to win this year–going to invest an early round pick into a quarterback? And if he waits till later in the draft, there’s no guarantee that there will be the competition he desires.
In terms of free agent quarterback options who played over 50% of their teams snaps last season that weren’t mentioned above, Daniel Jones is the only one who meets that criteria.
The next tier of options are quarterbacks who were primary starters for their teams within the last two seasons. This group includes Justin Fields (Chicago 2023) and Mac Jones (New England 2023).
Then there are the now perennial backups in Jameis Winston, Mason Rudolph, Drew Lock, and Jacob Brissett, among others, and the level of competition that will come from here is a bit unknown.
So that’s the challenge for Ballard this offseason. He wants competition for Richardson–and that’s a good thing–but finding that to the extent where it pushes Richardson rather than him either being the backup from the jump or the competition never getting off the ground is a needle Ballard will have to thread, while also being mindful of the salary cap and what he spends.