Should the Colts trade down the draft to pick a quarterback?

The Indianapolis Colts are reportedly opting to trade down in the draft to secure their next franchise quarterback. This decision has surprised many NFL fans, as the team was expected to either maintain their position or trade up to select one of the top quarterback prospects available in the draft.

According to Gregg Doyel, a columnist for IndyStar sports, the Indianapolis Colts general manager, Chris Ballard, may be trading down the draft with the goal of acquiring more picks in the upcoming draft and future years. Despite this move, the team is still expected to select a quarterback next month in the first draft round.

Doyel believes the Colts may have their eyes on Hendon Hooker, the quarterback from the University of Tennessee, as their choice in the upcoming draft. This was also a shocking revelation to many who had previously speculated about the team picking either Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, or Will Levis as their next long-term signal caller.

Unfamiliar path for the Colts to pick a franchise quarterback

The Indianapolis Colts have been fortunate to have two of the best quarterbacks in the league lead their offense since the turn of the century, both of whom were selected as first overall picks in the draft. A repeat of this was expected from the team by trading up to No. 1 in the draft to select the best available option.

The team has struggled to find a suitable replacement for these quarterbacks and has been searching for their next franchise quarterback for the last couple of seasons. This is a challenge faced by many NFL teams when they lose a top quarterback, as finding a player with the same level of skill and leadership qualities can be a daunting task.

The Colts selected Peyton Manning as the first pick in the draft in 1998. The former Tennessee Volunteers player went on to serve as their offensive leader for 13 seasons, leading them to a Super Bowl victory. During his 208 games with the team, Manning amassed a total of 54,828 passing yards, 399 touchdowns, and 198 interceptions.

After Manning's departure, the franchise selected Andrew Luck as the first overall pick in the 2012 draft, making him Manning's successor. Luck played in 86 games for the team, throwing for a total of 23,671 passing yards, 171 touchdowns, and 83 interceptions. It is reasonable to anticipate that the Colts will continue their tradition of selecting a high-caliber quarterback.

Can Gardner Minshew hold down the fort?

If Hendon Hooker is surprisingly chosen in the draft next month by the Colts, he may not be the starting quarterback right away due to his recovery from an ACL injury. Thus, the question arises as to whether Gardner Minshew, who just joined the team from the Philadelphia Eagles, can step in and fulfill the role in the meantime.

Capital One Orange Bowl - Clemson v Tennessee

Head coach Shane Steichen has a fondness for Gardner Minshew, as the two have previously collaborated during the past two years at the Philadelphia Eagles. Nevertheless, Minshew's performance statistics have not been particularly notable since he was selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Given that the quarterback has only thrown for 6,632 yards in his four seasons in the league, he doesn’t appear the right option on paper to lead an offense that is in need of revitalization. It doesn’t look like the Colts will finally be able to resolve their long-standing quarterback problem by adopting this strange strategy.

Shane Steichen is known for his ability to enhance the performance of quarterbacks, as evidenced by his work with Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts. He could definitely work his magic with Hendon Hooker. Nevertheless, it is important to note that trading down could be a risky decision for the franchise, regardless of Steichen's abilities.