After some rumblings last week, it seems the smoke from a possible Lamar Jackson to the Indianapolis Colts fire is starting to billow even more out of Indiana.
The Indianapolis Colts have one obvious primary objective heading into the offseason. Find a signal caller to be their next franchise quarterback. Understandably, the most sensible way for the Colts to do that would be in this year’s NFL Draft.
Related: Unexpected AFC team reportedly could join Lamar Jackson free agent sweepstakes
The April event has four QBs with first-round projections and Indianapolis has the fourth pick overall. Furthermore, the team has invested in veteran QBs like Phillip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and most recently Matt Ryan in recent seasons. Having a veteran from outside the organization under center for the fourth straight season seems like something the team has no interest in for 2023.
Yet, after failing to trade up to the first pick in the draft, and being in a position where they are sure to miss out on top prospects Bryce Young and CJ Stroud, the organization could be thinking about alternative options outside the annual event.
Indianapolis Colts record (2022): 4-12, third place in AFC South
Last week, ESPN NFL reporter Stephen Holder claimed that the Indianapolis Colts have not ruled out the idea of having discussions with free agent superstar Lamar Jackson on a contract. However, no actual attempts to do so were made to the player that was slapped with a non-exclusive franchise tag by the Baltimore Ravens earlier this month.
Well, it seems that there are even some around the league that expects the Indianapolis Colts to jump into the Lamar Jackson market after the 2023 NFL Draft, as ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler explained on a Monday edition of “Sportscenter.”
“A lot of teams are watching Indianapolis at No. 4 overall. Should they feel like they can’t get the quarterback that they want at that spot, would they entertain taking their new head coach, Shane Steichen — who had a lot of success with a mobile quarterback in Philadelphia with Jalen Hurts — [and] try to make that move.”
– Jeremy Fowler
The market for Jackson has been non-existent thus far with the one-time league MVP reportedly wanting a record-breaking fully guaranteed deal. Also, if the Indianapolis Colts were to pursue and sign him, they would have to compensate the Ravens with two future first-round picks.
While Jackson is a veteran QB, he is still only 26 and it could be argued that the two-time Pro Bowler may not have even hit his prime yet.