philba101

You might be right about the Colts winning only 6 games no matter what player they take at #4, but if Ballard takes a pass rusher or CB at #4 and misses, he might get fired (or run out of town by the fans) before the season ends, especially if he doesn't add any quality competition for Minshew at QB.

I get what you are saying. I guess reason #1 would be that without a top rookie QB, the Colts would likely be continuing on this ridiculous QB carousel. That needs to end this year one way or another in my opinion. I think this franchise has a hard time moving forward until that gets settled. #2-I think selling just Hall, Bennett, Minshew, or others as a camp battle to the fans and Irsay would be tenuous at best. If the Colts absolutely don't like anybody available at #4 then I would prefer that they trade this pick for multiple 2024 #1's, especially if the plan is to ride 2023 with the aforementioned QB options.

I agree, I laughed out loud at the flipping the table remark. It just seems like the time for the Colts to do it. Ballard better have one heckuva alternative pitch to make to the fans and Irsay if he passes on drafting a QB again.

Yes, at #4, but not at #3.

I agree, Steichen will likely be the deciding factor if the Colts draft a QB at #4.

I am really starting to wonder if Ballard likes any of these guys? If he doesn't pick a QB at #4 he better have a good contingency plan in place to sell whatever he does to the fanbase.

I am guessing they don't have a preference between those two which is why they will be taking whoever is left at #4, that is assuming they take a QB. I am curious to know who they like between Stroud and Young and whether they like either of those guys better than Levis and Richardson.

You could be right but I honestly don't think the Colts are paying the price to move up no matter what QB's are available at #3. Ballard is just not going to do it.

This likely means the Colts have inquired but not offered. Just like for the #1 pick, they were interested but weren't going to pay the price. Lets face it, if the Cardinals trade this pick it will ultimately be to someone other than the Colts. Why, because an actual offer beats casual interest any day. In my opinion, Ballard is just not going to do it regardless of who is available at #3. If he does, I will be the first to admit that I am wrong.

I would say yes, that is where we have landed after last year's debacle of a season. I don't expect Ballard to change that course by moving up, so sadly, that is where we are. Hopefully our new coach can work some magic with whoever we get.

Hey, Carson is also available......just saying

I have no arguments that Richardson is the least experienced of the four and possibly might not fit the timeframe for what the Colts want to do (not sure where Ballard and Steichen stand on this)? A franchise like the Texans though (for example), might say by the end of three years, which of these four QB's might have the highest ceiling? Maybe they determine that to be Richardson because of his freakish athletic profile. In that case, they may take a shot at Richardson at #2. Additionally, teams with QB's currently in place like the Seahawks, Titans, and Raiders may want to get Richardson so that they can sit and develop him for a couple years as well. So, each franchise will have to decide what approach they want to take. What is curious to me is why Levis is said to be falling down some teams draft boards. He certainly has not done anything with his public workouts to cause concern, maybe some teams are seeing stuff in their private meetings that they do not like? Maybe it is all a smokescreen so they can get Levis to fall to them lower in the draft. There are a lot of factors at play here.

I am sure the first year will be challenging if not bad for whatever rookie QB we get, most rookie QB's don't light up the league year one. Some people use the same line of thinking to advocate for someone like Lamar, saying all the college QB's will need several years to develop, whereas Lamar has proven he can play in this league and can do so immediately.

You could be right. If he blows this draft, Irsay may not be interested in any more excuses. That being said, if he gets Steichen a young QB to develop, I think Irsay will be patient with the process.

I found Stroud to be very serious as well. Even in interviews where TV personalities are trying to have fun, Stroud is on his game. He was my favorite of the four QB's after reviewing their tape. He is not flashy, he doesn't get rattled easily, he is one cool customer. I think I wrote "silent assassin" in my notes. I think Stroud will be gone before the Colts pick at #4, but I would be curious to see if the Colts would take Stroud over Levis or Richardson if given the option.

I have heard the same about Young as well. Apparently Reich was "blown away" about how impressive Young was when they got him in the classroom. Football knowledge, reading coverages, diagramming plays, etc. These skills come from serious commitment to one's craft.

That would almost be ideal for the Colts as they could get a stud player early yet still take a crack at getting a QB they want in the mid-to-late first round. I wonder if anyone (like the teams you mentioned) have offered Ballard a package to move up to #4?

I agree with everything here except I would probably prefer to trade the pick if we are not going to take a QB. That would give us some additional draft capital to fill more needs.

Interesting article about how Steichen has adapted his offense to match the different styles of QB's (Rivers, Herbert, and Hurts). It even highlights how he was willing to change mid-season to help the growth of his young QB (Hurts). I remember the Eagles making that change the second half of the season in 2021 where they ran the ball extensively including designed runs for Hurts. Interesting note also about how Steichen loved having a pass-catching back (Ekeler) to aid his young QB (Herbert) in LA. I wonder if he envisions Taylor or another back doing the same in Indy? https://www.colts.com/news/nfl-draft-quarterback-picks-shane-steichen-offense-scheme-2023-season-rookie

What Steichen is looking for in his next QB: Steichen wants a quarterback who has an “obsessive,” quality, via Zak Keefer. To play quarterback for the Colts, Steichen needs someone who is committed to improving and committed to winning on the football field. “The guys that love playing that position and love the grind and love the process,” Steichen said, “have a chance to be successful.” https://clutchpoints.com/colts-news-shane-steichen-obsessive-qb-2023-nfl-draft Which QB in this draft fits this description best?

They don't, I was just having fun with the fact that these reports all say they could definitely take a different person.

Since we were talking about it. Has anyone seen any predictions on what the Colts could possibly get if they traded the 4th overall pick? (Besides Lamar Jackson that is)

If we are not going to take a QB at #4, I would prefer to trade that pick for a future #1 and other picks. This mock above means that we are rolling with Minshew and maybe a later-round QB. I wonder if anyone has offered Ballard a package to move to #4? How about this one from Bucky Brooks. He has the Colts taking Tyree Wilson at #4 and Levis sliding out of the 1st round. I think the Colts would almost definitely take Levis at #35? https://www.nfl.com/news/bucky-brooks-2023-nfl-mock-draft-3-0-colts-pass-on-quarterback-will-levis-falls-

I agree, NFL.com had a stat the other day saying never in the history of the NFL draft have four QB's gone in the top 9 picks. However, that is a what a lot of these analysts are predicting. I am guessing one of these four guys might fall out of the top 10.

They did a mock the other night on the NFL Network's Path to the Draft Show where Richardson was taken at #1 by Carolina, Young went #2 to the Texans, and Stroud fell to the Colts at #4.