The Indianapolis Colts found who they are hoping will turn into their franchise quarterback during the 2023 NFL Draft. With the No. 4 overall pick, they selected Florida quarterback, Anthony Richardson.
Richardson is oozing with talent and landed in the perfect spot to have that realized. Head coach Shane Steichen worked wonders with Jalen Hurts during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Colts are hoping he can do the same with Richardson.
While the offense seems to be in good hands, the same cannot be said about the defense. That side of the ball has some good players but lacks a bonafide building block as the offense possesses. Could that change at some point this offseason?
Over at CBS Sports, Benjamin Albright put together a list of logical landing spots for Chase Young of the Washington Commanders. The No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft had the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, which has clouded his future with the franchise that drafted him.
Young is now set to become a free agent in 2024 and is a prime candidate to be traded should a team present the Commanders with a strong offer. One of the teams that Albright suggested as a landing spot was the Colts.
“Between DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart and Kwity Paye, they’re not hurting for talent in the trenches. But their leading pass rusher from a year ago, Yannick Ngakoue, will be gone, leaving a slew of reserves to pick up the slack. Under new coach Shane Steichen, they seem to be taking a longer-term approach, at least according to their QB activity, and Young is early enough in his career that he could still be more of a down-the-road project.”
During his rookie season, Young showed the star potential that he has. He won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and had elite grades as a pass rusher and run defender. But, a knee injury in Year 2 has since derailed his career.
2023 is an important season for Young, whether it is with the Commanders or another team, such as the Colts. He needs to prove that he is healthy to land the kind of long-term contract that he is assuredly seeking on his second deal.
While some teams may view the Colts as a rebuilding squad, they aren’t far off from at least pushing for a playoff spot. Acquiring someone of Young’s caliber would help in both regards. He’s still young enough to be considered a long-term piece but also has flashed the talent of being able to help a team win games right away.
