One way or another, the Indianapolis Colts are going to come away with a new starting quarterback before the offseason is over. They signed Gardner Minshew in free agency, but it would be a disappointment if he was the only addition that Indianapolis makes this offseason at the position.
Despite having the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Colts still have some work to do when it comes to landing a quarterback. Normally they would be in a good spot, but with quarterbacks projected to go first and second, they may be left out in the cold.
The Arizona Cardinals, who pick third, hold the Colts’ fate. If they stick in that spot, the Colts will get their choice of the third quarterback off the board. If they trade it to another quarterback-needy team, Indianapolis is left with whoever of the Big 4 quarterbacks in this class is left.
If they want to ensure that they have at least some say in the outcome, the Colts can make a trade with the Cardinals to move up one spot. Another option would be setting their sights on Lamar Jackson.
Jackson had the non-exclusive franchise tag placed on him this offseason by the Baltimore Ravens and his market has been ice-cold to this point. The Colts were a suggested suitor for him and the fit would make sense.
Jackson would bring much-needed stability to the position in Indianapolis, which they haven’t had since Andrew Luck was under center. They have opted for quick fixes and stopgaps since, which hasn’t yielded the best results.
Landing Jackson and inserting him into the lineup would elevate Indianapolis in a big way. What could a trade between the Colts and Ravens look like? A suggested deal is the Nos. 4 and 35 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft and first and second-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft heading from the Colts to the Ravens.
Why would the Colts add in two second-round picks when the non-exclusive franchise tag only requires two first-round picks to be traded? Baltimore would have the right to match any offer sheet that Jackson signs.
Knowing that the Colts would be incentivized to ensure a deal gets done. Offering two second-round picks as added compensation would almost certainly assure the Ravens make the deal and don’t match an offer sheet.
Baltimore is doing what it can to hopefully retain Jackson, but receiving that kind of draft capital would be tough to ignore. They would have the ammunition to make a move up in the 2024 NFL Draft for a franchise quarterback should things not go well to find a long-term replacement for Jackson.
