General Manager Chris Ballard made it clear that competition will come in 2025. The Colts have several needs, but their biggest need is shoring up their quarterback situation. Right now, Anthony Richardson is still the front-runner for the starting job. However, coming off a tough 2024 campaign, the Colts will need a new approach at quarterback. With that said, it probably won’t come in the draft. Indy has the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and by all accounts, they could pick up Quinn Ewers, Jalen Milroe, or even Jaxson Dart with their first pick. However, that would not be the best thing to do for their quarterback situation.
Why the Colts Won’t Find Quarterback Competition in the 2025 NFL Draft
The Colts are Picking Too Late
The main reason why the Colts should not invest in a first-round quarterback or even consider a quarterback in this draft is because of where they are picking. As mentioned, the Colts hold the 14th overall pick in the draft, and any NFL-ready quarterbacks, like Shedeur Sanders, will be off the board by pick 10. Therefore, unless the Colts are planning to trade up to get Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward, drafting a quarterback is out of the question. While these guys have promising NFL careers, their ceiling is just as high, if not lower than Anthony Richardson’s. They are also less experienced than Richardson (in the NFL) and have many questions and concerns about their ability to translate well to the NFL.
Needless to say, the risk just isn’t worth it. Anthony Richardson has one of the biggest upsides that the league has seen in the last decade. He just needs to put the pieces together and have the right personnel around him. Therefore, the goal for the Colts is to put Richardson in the best situation to succeed. Bringing in a rookie quarterback will not accomplish that.
Competition is Difficult Amongst Inexperience
There is a time and a place for inexperience. However, in the NFL, it is rare for inexperience to breed success. The Colts are experiencing that firsthand with their young quarterback whom they drafted in 2023. Anthony Richardson will be 23 years old going into the 2025 season, with only 15 starts in two years. Before that, he only had 13 starts in college. Needless to say, Richardson is oozing with inexperience.
With that in mind, it would not make sense for the Colts to pick a quarterback high in the draft. Even quarterbacks like Ewers, Milroe, or Dart, who have experience in college, do not have any in the NFL. For the Colts to achieve the growth they hope to achieve, getting an experienced quarterback to compete with Richardson will be key. Free agency will have plenty of options for solid backups or even viable starters. Therefore, the fact remains that the draft is not the place to look for quarterback competition.
The Colts Need Talent Elsewhere in the Draft
As mentioned, the Colts have several needs going into this draft, but quarterback is not one of them. Rather, the Colts need to take advantage of the top-tier tight ends coming out of college. Their biggest need is a strong tight end. This position has been lacking for almost a decade and the draft would be the place to fill the void. Many experts have the Colts selecting a tight end or defensive back in the first round, which makes sense. Indianapolis desperately needs a reliable tight end and defensive back, so this selection would make sense.
A quarterback, however, would not make sense for the Colts, especially high in the draft. Although it is unpopular to say, Indy is not in desperate need of a quarterback. They have one in Anthony Richardson. He just needs to grow and develop a little bit more, and he can do that via the Colts bringing in a veteran in free agency.
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