The Indianapolis Colts are one of the teams that could be in the market for a new quarterback this offseason. It has been a position of need since Andrew Luck surprisingly retired before the 2019 season.
Since then, they have had a different starter under center every season. Jacoby Brissett was the main guy in 2019, followed by Philip Rivers in 2020. Last season, the Colts acquired Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles and hoped he would be their starter for years to come.
Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out exactly as planned. Wentz came up short when the team needed him most throughout the season. His performance in Week 18 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, in a game, that if the Colts won they would have qualified for the playoffs, could have been the last straw.
Wentz was abysmal, as the Colts were blown out 26-11. There is a chance that Wentz is still brought back, but had the team received more balanced quarterback play throughout the season, they likely would have been a playoff team.
There won’t be a lack of options this offseason if the Colts want to get back on the quarterback carousel. Having a different starter for the fourth season in a row isn’t ideal, especially since the rest of the roster is certainly playoff-caliber.
According to NFL insider Mike Sando, one dark horse candidate to take over as the Colts’ starter this year is Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers. Garoppolo will assuredly be on the move this offseason as the 49ers are ready to give the starting job to Trey Lance, and Sando believes the Colts could get in the mix.
“I think Indy is a real sleeper team,” Sando said on KNBR Tuesday morning. “I think the Carson Wentz thing didn’t work out for them and I think they could move him, and maybe still get something for him. Garoppolo could make some sense, going to a team that’s already pretty good, that at its best has a good offensive line and might be able to support him with a pretty good defense. Remember he’s going to be part of this too and the [49ers] are going to try to take care of him. That’s the type of team.
“That kind of came to my mind just looking around at these teams that are in a position to win. If they are going to send him to a team that has a chance that really limits it, because most the teams that have a chance have a quarterback that’s at least as good as Garoppolo, or not so much worse that you are going to trade out your guy.”
Indianapolis would be a great landing spot for Garoppolo. They would provide him with a lot of the same securities that helped him succeed in San Francisco. The Colts have a strong offensive line, arguably the best running back in the NFL currently in Jonathan Taylor and an emerging star at wide receiver in Michael Pittman Jr.
With a few upgrades at the skill positions, such as bringing in a new tight end, the Colts’ offense could be in business. While Garoppolo isn’t considered an elite player, he would be a sizable upgrade on what Wentz was providing last season.
