As DeMeco Ryans, Frank Reich and Shane Steichen potentially start quarterbacks selected at the top of the 2023 draft, Sean Payton and Jonathan Gannon will look to lead drastic turnarounds with veteran quarterbacks.

Which head coach will orchestrate the quickest turnaround? Who has the best chance to transform a bottom-dweller into a surprise contender? Discover how this year’s head coaching hires stack up, with insight from executives across the NFL.

5. Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals

Not to put an expiration date on his tenure before it even begins, but Gannon has the best chance to be one-and-done.

The Philadelphia Eagles‘ defensive collapse in the second half of the Super Bowl left much to be desired, as did Gannon for skirting accountability when asked by reporters at the NFL combine about what happened in that game. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals might boast the least-talented roster in the league.

Turning around the Cardinals in one season, in a division that houses two contenders, the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, as well as a Los Angeles Rams team that should rebound, would be a difficult task under the best of circumstances. But Gannon’s play-calling flaws were exposed by the Chiefs, and it remains unclear whether he has the temperament to be a successful NFL head coach.

4. Frank Reich, Carolina Panthers

Frank Reich, who was abruptly let go by the Indianapolis Colts last season, now finds himself in Carolina with a golden chance to develop a hand-picked young quarterback, Bryce Young. It marks his first opportunity to mold a potential franchise quarterback since his stint as Carson Wentz‘s offensive coordinator in Philadelphia from 2016 to 2017.

“The NFC South is wide open, so Frank will probably do pretty well,” an AFC personnel executive told Heavy. “Frank is the definition of a pro’s pro. His key will be Bryce Young and his ability to stay on the field. I worry that Bryce is going to get killed — like, smashed.”

Concerns about Young’s 5-foot-10 and 194-pound frame aside, Reich gets to oversee an offense that features dynamic dual-threat running back Miles Sanders along with reliable pass catchers Adam Thielen and tight end Hayden Hurst. Reich’s experience, play-calling prowess and track record for being a quarterback whisperer give him the chance to see immediate success.

3. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts

Steichen was viewed as one of the most coveted head coaching candidates — and for good reason.

Steichen molded Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts into a legitimate MVP candidate while overseeing a balanced offense that featured dynamic deep-threat receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith yet also finished with the NFL’s fifth-ranked rushing offense.

Now in Indianapolis, Steichen has the chance to work with one of the most gifted quarterback prospects in recent years, Anthony Richardson. If Steichen can tap into Richardson’s immense potential — following the path of Hurts and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert — the Colts will be in phenomenal shape for 2023 and beyond.

2. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans

If DeMeco Ryans is anything, he’s a culture driver and one of the brightest defensive minds currently in the sport.

“It’s an easy choice for me,” an AFC scouting director told Heavy. “It’s DeMeco Ryans. They’ve upgraded the talent on that roster significantly, and they finally have a head coach with sustainability.”

An NFC personnel executive echoed those sentiments, citing the Houston Texans‘ easy road in the AFC South as a potential driving force for Ryans to orchestrate a quick turnaround.

Ryans arrives in Houston after leading the 49ers’ top-ranked defense last season. The Texans made bold moves by adding the most highly regarded defensive prospect of this year’s class, Will Anderson, and potential franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud with consecutive picks. While winning the AFC South might be a tall order this season, Houston has assembled a talented and youthful roster that could pose a significant challenge to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023.

1. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos‘ new ownership group made a big splash, luring Sean Payton out of the television studio and coming away with the prize of this year’s hiring cycle.

“Hands down, it’s Sean Payton,” an NFC personnel executive told Heavy when asked his choice for the coach who will make the biggest immediate impact. “Sean’s a proven winner, has a veteran quarterback and [has] a damn good defense.”

Payton, who arrives in the Mile High City with a Super Bowl ring on his finger and the 2006 Coach of the Year award in tow, inherits Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson and a defense built around Pro Bowl cornerback Pat Surtain and All-Pro safety Justin Simmons.

If Payton can engineer a significant turnaround for Wilson after the most disappointing season of his career, the Broncos will have a puncher’s chance in the loaded AFC.

Few things offer more excitement or intrigue during the NFL preseason than a good quarterback battle.

There is no position in sports more tied to the success of a team or the trajectory of a franchise than the quarterback. The 2023 campaign will be no different.

Sure, there are elite cemented starting quarterbacks leading the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, and Buffalo Bills that have their teams positioned to make a legitimate Super Bowl run this fall. But, there are several quarterback situations across the league with far less stability.

Bring on the battles for the starting jobs.

Here’s a look at the four most fascinating quarterback battles to watch this spring and summer, and a prediction for who emerges as the Week 1 starter from each:

San Francisco 49ers

QBs: Trey Lance, Brock Purdy, Sam Darnold

Last season, the 49ers rode a historically dominant defense all the way to the NFC Championship Game, masking a season’s worth of quarterback injuries and inconsistency … until the wheels fell off in Philadelphia.

Brock Purdy was one of the sensational storylines of the 2022 campaign.

Emerging from the carnage of injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance to, last year’s “Mr. Irrelevant” led San Francisco to the doorstep of the Super Bowl.

However, Purdy is recovering from offseason elbow surgery, repairing an injury that knocked him from the NFC Championship Game against the Eagles, so his health and availability could play a role.

Meanwhile, Lance is coming off a fractured ankle that ended his season in Week 2, but after being chosen No. 3 overall in the 2021 NFL draft, he figures to mount a charge for the starting job.

49ers predicted starter: Brock Purdy

There seems to be palpable confidence and belief in Purdy within the 49ers organization, and even before suffering his injury early last season, there was a healthy amount of skepticism about Lance’s readiness and upside. Don’t be surprised if 2023 serves as Purdy’s audition to be San Francisco’s long-term solution at quarterback.

Tennessee Titans

QBs: Ryan Tannehill, Will Levis

Is this the end of the line for Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee? The Titans have drafted a quarterback each of the past two seasons, including trading up to pick No. 33 overall to stop Will Levis’ slide in the second round of this past April’s draft.

Last season, at age 34, Tannehill passed for 2,536 yards with 13 touchdowns to 6 interceptions through 12 games last season for the underachieving Titans.

Meanwhile, Levis was hailed by many as one of the top-four quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, offering significant mobility and athleticism along with plenty of arm strength shown off during his time at Kentucky and Penn State.

Titans predicted starter: Will Levis

Call it a bold prediction, or perhaps just reading the tea leaves, but the Titans situation feels like a flashback to the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback conundrum in 2016.

That spring and summer, rookie Carson Wentz looked pro-ready and completely capable of leading Doug Pederson’s offense, at times outplaying veteran Sam Bradford during training camp, leading Philadelphia to deal Bradford to the Vikings eight days before the season-opener.

Who knows if Tennessee will wind up trading Tannehill, but with a strong summer. But, it would be hard to blame head coach Mike Vrabel if he wants to start fresh with a rookie with upside, rather than make another go-round with Tannehill.

New England Patriots

QBs: Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe

The Patriots have two young quarterback options, but do they have any great quarterback options?

For a spell last season, Mac Jones was benched for Baily Zappe, and the Western Kentucky product captured the hearts of Patriots’ Nation and seemed to inspire confidence from his teammates. In four games, Zappe completed 70.7% of his passes for 781 yards with 5 touchdowns to 3 interceptions. New England was also 2-0 in the games he started.

However, Jones has the pedigree, of being a former first-round pick, and while he struggled mightily at times last season, it’s almost unfair to judge the former Alabama standout while getting such inconsistent coaching from Matt Patricia and Joe Judge in 2022. Bill O’Brien’s arrival as offensive coordinator should provide some stability for Jones, who passed for 2,997 yards with just 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions last season.

Patriots predicted starter: Mac Jones

There will likely be a very legitimate battle for the starting job in Foxboro this summer. Zappe has a very real possibility of stealing this job. But, because of pedigree, and the Patriots betting on O’Brien getting the most out of the former No. 15 overall draft pick, Jones could emerge as the starter. Albeit one on a very short leash.

Indianapolis Colts

QBs: Gardner Minshew, Anthony Richardson

The Colts’ selection of Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft was nearly universally hailed as Indianapolis landing one of the more fascinating and athletic quarterback prospects in a generation.

However, Richardson, who passed for 2,549 yards with 17 touchdowns to 9 interceptions while rushing for 654 yards and 9 scores is raw.

Meanwhile, Gardner Minshew is one of the NFL’s steadier and more competent backups. Boasting a career 8-16 record, Minshew passed for 3 touchdowns with 3 interceptions last season in Philadelphia, when pressed into action after Jalen Hurts suffered a shoulder injury. The Colts likely scooped Minshew up off the free agent market as a bridge quarterback, but that might turn out to be one short bridge.

Colts predicted starter: Anthony Richardson

Look, does Richardson have a lot of growing and maturing to do as a quarterback? Absolutely. But, he’s 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, and as a current NFL general manager recently told Heavy “is a total freak with the work ethic to match.”

The days are over of highly touted, and highly drafted, quarterbacks sitting on the bench and learning behind quarterbacks of Minshew’s status and stature. Make no mistake, Minshew will be an asset to Richardson both on the practice field, in the meeting rooms, and on game days, as another set of veteran eyes as the Florida standout develops as a quarterback. But, if the Colts are smart, they’ll let Richardson develop on the field, as the starter, this season, in a division that is wide open for the taking.

Will Levis unexpectedly fell out of the first round during the 2023 NFL draft. But sometimes, there isn’t much of a difference between being a top five pick and a player who lasts until Day 2.

Thanks to the honesty of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, fans can consider former Kentucky quarterback the latest example of that fact.

Irsay told the media on April 29 that the team always planned to target Anthony Richardson in the 2023 NFL draft. The Colts owner was so confident that the team would land him that he called the Florida signal caller three hours prior to the draft to tell him to be ready to come to Indianapolis.

But if something went awry and Richardson was off the board before the Colts picked at No. 4, Irsay said they likely would have taken Levis.

“We were going to take Levis or trade down,” Irsay told the media. “I think we’d take Will Levis. … We liked him.”

With Richardson, the Colts drafted a quarterback in the top five for the first time since Andrew Luck went No. 1 in 2012.

Colts Ranked QB Anthony Richardson Top Player in 2023 Class?

Assuming Irsay was being totally truthful, he not only revealed that Levis was the team’s contingency plan at No. 4 but also said that Richardson was the team’s top target.

“If we had the first pick in the draft, we’d probably take Anthony,” Irsay said. “That’s how much we liked him.”

The Colts weren’t aggressive like the Carolina Panthers, who traded up to land their top quarterback target. But Irsay and company were apparently confident Richardson would still be available at No. 4.

But whether at No. 1 or 4, Richardson was Indianapolis’ choice.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Richardson to former MVP quarterback Cam Newton while ESPN’s Louis Riddick said on April 27 that the Florida signal caller reminded him of ex-Philadelphia Eagles six-time Pro Bowler Donovan McNabb.

“He has elite, and I’m talking about, elite mobility inside the pocket and outside the pocket,” Riddick said on the ESPN broadcast. “He can throw on the run, he can go ahead and break your arm … he has 4-4 speed.

“Donovan [McNabb] could do the same things when he was at Syracuse. He could do the same things when he was at Philadelphia.”

Houston Texans Helped Colts Land Top QB Preference

The Colts weren’t aggressive in the draft, choosing to stay at No. 4. But the Houston Texans were uber-aggressive and inadvertently helped the Colts, a division rival, land their quarterback preference.

Quarterbacks went off the board at No. 1 and 2, giving the Colts little margin for error to grab Richardson at No. 4. The Arizona Cardinals held the No. 3 pick, but they traded out of the pick as some mock draft experts predicted.

Arizona’s selection, though, went to the Texans, who had just taken quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 2 and weren’t going to grab another signal caller. Instead, they drafted Alabama defensive end Will Anderson at No. 3.

But until the Texans trade up became official, there were some tense moments in the Colts draft room.

“We thought that third pick was going to be traded, and then, when two [quarterbacks] go like that, it certainly concerns you,” Irsay told the media. “I really felt confident. I just had a good feeling that Anthony [Richardson] would be there.”

“When the [Texans-Cardinals] trade happened, obviously, we all smiled in relief.”

Throughout the NFL draft process, analysts and experts started the narrative that quarterback Anthony Richardson may need to sit and learn from the bench to begin his professional career.

But that’s not the approach Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is taking.

In front of the media on April 29, Irsay shared that he thinks quarterbacks learn by playing rather than from the bench.

“You get better by playing,” Irsay said. “Training camp, and preseason games, and being in the quarterback room, that’s all great, but you get better by playing, and it’s something that’s really important, because again, his development has so much to do with the franchise’s future.”

Irsay Adds QB Decision is Shane Steichen’s ‘Call’

The Colts owner had a lot to say about how the team plans to develop Richardson and the team’s thought-process from this year’s NFL draft. That’s always noteworthy with Irsay because of his reputation as a meddler over the past couple years.

But Irsay made it clear that who plays at quarterback to begin the season will be up to head coach Shane Steichen.

“It’s going to be Shane’s [Steichen] call, if he’s ready to start the opening game,” Irsay told the media.

But of course, the Colts owner still appeared to indicate who he would start if the quarterback decision were up to him.

“These guys gotta play to get better. Everyone knows that.”

Colts’ Starting QB Options Heading into Minicamp

Indianapolis won’t have a shortage of options behind center when minicamp begins in June.

The Colts signed veteran Gardner Minshew, who started two games under Steichen while with the Philadelphia Eagles, this offseason. Minshew is better suited as a backup, but he can start in the short term if need be.

Indianapolis released veteran Matt Ryan, but the team still has Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger on the roster. Both started multiple games for the Colts during the 2022 season.

Clearly, Foles and Ehlinger aren’t the long-term answer for the Colts behind center. That’s obviously Richardson after general manager Chris Ballard chose him at No. 4 overall.

But like Minshew, Foles and Ehlinger could start if the Colts don’t want to rush Richardson.

How each signal caller performs during minicamp, training camp and the preseason will definitely impact the decision. But starting one of the veteran quarterbacks, at least to begin the season, would be the more prudent choice.

Once the Colts start Richardson, there’s no going back. At that point, it will be his team, and then patience will be key, as he develops his raw talent.

“I have to imagine, if he plays the whole season, it’s going to be tough,” Irsay told the media. “It’s going to be more difficult than easy.”

One thing is for certain, the Colts have tied their future to the quarterback from Florida. All of the franchise’s decisions for the rest of 2023 must be made with Richardson’s best interests at heart.

“Him developing into an outstanding quarterback in this league is going to determine where we go, how far we go and how long we go,” Irsay said. “Everything’s going to be based around that. That’s going to be the primary reason for starting him opening day, is you get better by playing.”

The 2023 NFL draft saw 11 wide receivers selected before the Indianapolis Colts chose North Carolina wideout Josh Downs. But that didn’t stop Downs from making a bold statement in a video tweeted from the official Colts Twitter account.

“I’m excited to be a Colt,” Downs said. “Y’all got the best receiver in the draft. I promise you I’m gonna make you all proud.

“Let’s go. Come on. Let’s do it.”

In three seasons at North Carolina, Downs posted 202 receptions for 2,483 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns.

Josh Downs Calls Himself ‘Best Receiver’ in 2023 NFL Draft

A bulk of Downs’ production came over the last two seasons. He recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving campaigns for the Tar Heels during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

His statistics dropped from his sophomore to junior seasons, but that could be contributed to losing quarterback Sam Howell to the NFL draft last year. Even still, Downs registered a career-high 11 touchdowns with first-year starting signal caller Drake Maye.

At 5-foot-9 and 171 pounds, Downs is undersized, especially for the NFL. That’s probably why he fell into the third round.

But Downs has a lot of other characteristics to like.

“Free-flowing athlete with dynamic footwork and an instinctive feel for how to elude opponents,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote. “Downs posted off-the-charts production over the last two seasons as an undersized slot with an oversized will. His confidence jumps off the tape and he has proven himself to be better at catching through contact than you might expect.

“Downs might not have prototypical size, but he’s well-positioned to keep stacking catches and making plays as a starting NFL slot receiver.”

Zierlein compared Downs to Kansas City Chiefs receiver Kadarius Toney. The New York Giants drafted Toney at No. 20 overall in the 2021 NFL draft.

Toney has yet to break out as an NFL wideout, but he’s contributed in spurts on both offense and special teams as a returner. Downs has returner ability as well.

How Downs Fits With the Colts

With his small stature, Downs definitely breaks the mold in the Indianapolis wide receiver room.

General manager Chris Ballard has primarily targeted receivers taller than six feet. With that in mind, The Athletic’s Zak Keefer called Downs “a nice change-up” for the Colts.

Keefer also tweeted on April 27 that new head coach Shane Steichen was a major factor in the Colts’ decision to draft quarterback Anthony Richardson.

“This is the Colts betting on Shane Steichen’s ability to develop a young quarterback,” The Athletic’s Zak Keefer wrote. “Richardson is just 20 years old and has so much ahead of him.”

Clearly, it appears as though Steichen is having an early impact on player personnel in Indianapolis.

Downs will join a Colts offense that has a very bright future. Michael Pittman Jr. is the elder statesman in the wide receiver room, but he will only be 25 years old in Week 1.

Opposite Pittman, Alec Pierce is expected to be Indianapolis’ No. 2 receiver this fall. The Colts also drafted him on Day 2 last year.

On paper, Pittman, Pierce and Downs figure to be an exciting trio of receivers going forward. Downs’ size should be a great compliment to those two bigger receivers.

Running back Jonathan Taylor will also be just 24 this season, and the Colts just drafted Anthony Richardson to be the franchise’s next long-term quarterback.

If Downs fulfills his promise to be the best receiver in the 2023 draft class, the Colts offense could be scary good soon.

The Indianapolis Colts hold the fourth pick, No. 35 overall, on Day 2 of the 2023 NFL draft. Conventional wisdom says the franchise should use that selection to begin surrounding rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson with other talent on offense.

Colts owner Jim Irsay, though, is anything but conventional. On April 28, he may have hit an all-time high in wackiness.

Less than 24 hours after drafting Richardson to be the team’s future franchise quarterback, Irsay asked on Twitter whether the Colts should draft Kentucky’s Will Levis in the second round.

“Colts Fans…would you take Will Levis at #2 if you’re on the board for the Colts in 4 hours from now???” Irsay asked in his tweet. “…and go Montana-Young for Franchise??”

Of course, Irsay is referring to the glory days of the San Francisco 49ers when they had two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks on their roster in Joe Montana and Steve Young.

Montana led the 49ers to back-to-back Super Bowl championships during the 1988 and 1989 seasons. But San Francisco traded Montana to the Kansas City Chiefs after Young emerged as an MVP candidate while Montana was injured.

Young then led San Francisco to another Super Bowl title in 1994.

Irsay seems to be pondering whether the Colts could recreate that quarterback scenario.

QB Will Levis Falls Out of First Round in 2023 NFL Draft

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer and ESPN’s Matt Miller linked the Colts to Levis in the days prior to the draft. But Indianapolis executed a strong smokescreen, instead drafting Richardson at No. 4.

Then after falling out of the top 4, Levis kept dropping. Quarterback-needy teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, and Detroit Lions went elsewhere with their selections.

Levis is now still available at the beginning of Day 2.

The question heading into the second round of the draft is whether Levis fell on the board because of a trivial factor or was he severely overhyped in mock drafts?

The answer could be a combination of the two. But if a team needing a quarterback finds his fall unjustified, it will likely target Levis early on Day 2.

How Richardson-Levis Would be Different than Montana-Young

Irsay’s tweet suggested that the Colts could be one of the teams considering Levis early in the second round.

But having Richardson and Levis would be quite different than the situation the 49ers had with Montana and Young.

For one, Montana had already won two Super Bowls by the time Young arrived in San Francisco. Young began his career six years after Montana, which allowed the team to maximize Montana’s prime and then transition quickly to Young.

Richardson and Levis are two rookies who are obviously both beginning their careers at the same time. Only one can be the starter with the Colts, and if they were both in Indianapolis, they’d compete for the starting role.

A competition between two rookie quarterbacks drafted in the first two rounds has never happened. But similar quarterback competitions have caused rifts in the locker rooms.

That happened in San Francisco as well. But the 49ers navigated it because they had a terrific roster and Hall of Fame coaches. The Colts would be wise not to hand their first-year head coach Shane Steichen a similarly messy situation.

Perhaps Irsay wasn’t completely serious with his question on Twitter about Levis to the Colts. But it’s such a questionable suggestion, it’s hard to imagine why Irsay would even ask it.

The Colts drafted Richardson at No. 4 overall, and the entire organization, including Irsay, needs to get behind that selection. Not play the what-if games to create drama on social media.

After months of off-season speculation, the Indianapolis Colts finally got their quarterback of the future during the first round of the NFL draft on April 28.

The Colts took Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick on April 27, and general manager Chris Ballard spoke about the decision during a press conference shortly after the team made the selection.

“We’re excited to get him,” Ballard said. “Did a lot of work on Anthony, spent a lot of time with him over the last month.”

In March, Richardson put together one of the best NFL combine performances in recent history. He set new records in the vertical jump (40.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, nine inches) for quarterbacks.

Ballard said although Richardson is a top prospect with a large ceiling, he still has improvements to make.

“Let’s don’t crown him yet; he’s a young player and has work to do,” Ballard said. “What I can tell you is we drafted him for what we think he can really be in the future. He’s a very smart young man, good kid, he works, we think it’s all in front of him.”

A key thing to remember is that the Colts and Richardson had a virtual follow-up meeting after his official top 30 visit in mid-April. That marked the team’s first and only post-top-30 meeting this off-season.

Shane Steichen Ready to Develop Anthony Richardson

Drafting Richardson is a potential affirmation of the Colts’ faith in new head coach Shane Steichen’s quarterback development.

As an NFL offensive coordinator, he helped guide Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to a record-breaking rookie season in 2020. More recently, he worked with 2022 MVP runner-up and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Now, Steichen gets his first shot at drafting and developing a potential future franchise star – this time, as a head coach.

“The tape was the first time I saw him (Richardson)… his physical skillset is impressive,” Steichen said. “There’s certain things he brings to the table that we’re so excited about as a football player and the future of this organization.”

Ballard noticed Richardson’s poise stands out when he’s under pressure in the pocket.

“He’s young, but he’s very poised. I think you see it when he plays,” Ballard said. “He’s going to have growing to do, like all of them do. But we’ll help him. We’ll help him, we’ll bring him along and he’s going to be a good player for us.”

Entering the draft, a primary concern of Richardson was his experience as a raw prospect (Richardson is only 20 years old). At Florida, he only started 13 games and completed just 54.7% of his passes – a potential red flag for Ballard and Steichen, who each value accuracy as a top quarterback trait

But Ballard noted that more game and practice experience will help Richardson’s accuracy – and development – in the long run.

“One thing we’re seeing in the league now is guys you can work on and get them more accurate,” Ballard said. “Footwork, fundamentals, there are certain things I think we can do and I think you’ve seen guys jump in our league. I think you’ll see him jump.”

What Led to the Colts Taking Anthony Richardson?

The Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans selected Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud with the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, respectively. Ballard said he was worried another team could have traded up to jump the Colts for Richardson at No. 3.

The Texans ultimately traded up to acquire No. 3 from the Arizona Cardinals, but took linebacker Will Anderson Jr. since they already picked up Stroud.

“You always wonder if there’s someone laying in the weeds [to trade up],” Ballard said. “Lucky for us, there wasn’t.”

Ballard also acknowledged the Colts did not necessarily zero in on Richardson as the team’s only first-round option, but they made their interest well-known. 

“We did like him a lot,” Ballard said.

It make take a year or two for new Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson to reach his potential. He’s a raw talent but Colts insider Joel A. Erickson called him the most athletic quarterback prospect in NFL draft history.

With that kind of superlative, it’s hard to imagine finding a comparison to Richardson. But ESPN’s Louis Riddick said the Florida signal caller brings back memories of former six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb.

“He reminds me so much of, during my time in Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb,” Riddick said after the Colts drafted Richardson at No. 4 overall. “As far as being big, strong, physical, the way he whips the football out of his hand and can still throw the football.

“He has elite, and I’m talking about, elite mobility inside the pocket and outside the pocket. He can throw on the run, he can go ahead and break your arm … he has 4-4 speed.

“Donovan could do the same things when he was at Syracuse. He could do the same things when he was at Philadelphia.”

McNabb racked up nearly 33,000 passing yards with 216 touchdowns and 28 rushing scores in 11 years with the Philadelphia Eagles. During that stretch, he made six Pro Bowls.

ESPN’s Louis Riddick Compares Anthony Richardson to Donovan McNabb

McNabb started just six games as a rookie. But after becoming Philadelphia’s starter on a full-time basis in 2000, he made five straight Pro Bowls and led the Eagles to four consecutive NFC Championship Games.

Other than Michael Vick, there wasn’t a more athletic man behind center during that five-year stretch. McNabb threw for 110 touchdowns and rushed for 20 scores in those five seasons.

Richardson has that kind of talent too.

“He has the ability to make plays on the move that very few of his NFL peers will be able to make,” wrote NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, who compared Richardson to Cam Newton.

Newton was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. McNabb went second overall in 1999 behind only quarterback Tim Couch.

Richardson was the third signal caller off the board in the 2023 NFL draft. But according to Riddick and Zierlein, Richardson has the potential to be an elite quarterback like McNabb and Newton were.

Accuracy Concerns for Richardson

The Florida quarterback doesn’t come without his faults. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have gone after Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.

Despite his physical traits, Richardson is raw. He only started 13 games in college, so he lacks experience.

He also has accuracy concerns.

“His accuracy on short and simple throws left much to be desired due, in part, to shoddy footwork and inconsistent rhythm,” Zierlein wrote. “The footwork issues can be corrected, but the challenge will be determining whether he can be at least a functionally accurate passer at the next level.”

Interestingly, McNabb wasn’t terribly accurate in the NFL. He posted a 59% completion percentage in 13 seasons. The highest completion percentage of his career was 64% in 2004.

In eight of his 13 seasons, McNabb posted a completion percentage below 60%.

The NFL has changed over the last 20 years. Rule alterations have helped offenses as has depth of target on quarterback throws, which have generally become shorter. Both of those things have led to higher completion percentages across the board.

But in some ways, that’s made quarterback accuracy even more important.

Accuracy is something that Richardson will need to improve in order to fulfill his potential.

The Indianapolis Colts drafted a quarterback with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. But not the one a lot of draft analysts predicted.

At No. 4, the Colts selected Florida signal caller Anthony Richardson. That came after Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer and ESPN’s Matt Miller linked the Colts to Kentucky quarterback Will Levis late in the draft process.

Breer even suggested that the Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning could influence the Colts to draft Levis.

“I heard he made a very positive impression with the Manning brothers at their passing academy last summer,” Breer wrote. “And, obviously, owner Jim Irsay still listens to Peyton on these things.”

But rather than trusting Manning, the Colts appear to be counting on new head coach Shane Steichen to develop another athletic quarterback.

“Time will tell, but I love the gamble: This is the Colts betting on Shane Steichen’s ability to develop a young quarterback,” The Athletic’s Zak Keefer wrote. “Richardson is just 20 years old and has so much ahead of him.”

At No. 4, Richardson became the highest drafted quarterback in Colts history since Andrew Luck went first overall in the 2012 NFL draft.

Shane Steichen ‘Key Piece’ in Colts Drafting QB Anthony Richardson

ESPN’s Adam Schefter began the Colts’ time on the clock during the ESPN draft broadcast on April 27 with a tidbit about the organization wanting to give new head coach Shane Steichen an opportunity to work with a quarterback similar to Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts.

With Steichen as his offensive coordinator, Hurts went from a backup as a rookie to MVP candidate during his third season. In 2022, Hurts posted a 14-1 record as a starter with 3,701 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions. He also gained 760 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

While Levis was a very intriguing candidate, Richardson more closely resembled Hurts’ style.

Like Hurts, Richardson may not make much of an impact as a rookie. But he has very high upside.

“Dual-threat quarterback with an elite physical profile and a lot of work that needs to be done to reach a potentially high ceiling,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote. “Ultimately, he will succeed or fail based on his ability to play with better post-snap recognition and deliver the football with consistency.”

To fulfill that potential, Richardson needed to land in the right situation for him to develop. With Steichen and veteran quarterbacks such as Nick Foles and Gardner Minshew, the Colts appear to be that right situation.

Steichen Previously Silent on Preferred QB Traits

The initial reports from the first night of the 2023 NFL draft indicate Steichen and the Colts were looking for a particular style of quarterback at No. 4. Interestingly, that was kept close to the vest during the draft process.

When speaking to the media on April 12, Steichen said they were focused on the quarterbacks in the draft and not veterans such as Lamar Jackson. But Steichen didn’t go much further in describing what he was looking for in a quarterback.

“I’m looking for good guys. I mean, that’s the biggest thing,” Steichen told the media. “Obviously, there (are) the tangibles and the intangibles, and I’m not going to get into all the details of what I look for, but really I want good guys in this building.”

The fact Steichen had worked with Hurts but also traditional pocket passers such as Philip Rivers in the past helped keep Indianapolis’ desire to draft Richardson a secret.

For the first time since Luck, the Colts have a young quarterback to build their around in the future. It’s now up to Steichen to turn him into a star.

With about 24 hours remaining until the start of the 2023 NFL draft, two quarterbacks appear to be the most likely choices for the Indianapolis Colts — Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Kentucky’s Will Levis.

Both were still on the board when the Colts made their first pick at No. 4 overall in a mock draft from Heavy senior reporter Matt Lombardo on April 26.

Lombardo predicted the Colts to draft Stroud.

“Indianapolis lands a potential franchise quarterback, in a similar mold to the quarterback new head coach Shane Steichen helped develop into an MVP candidate last season in Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts,” Lombardo wrote. “Stroud, 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds passed for 3,688 yards with 41 touchdowns to 6 interceptions last season in Columbus.”

Furthermore, an NFL offensive coordinator told Lombardo that he likes Stroud’s “effortless ability to rip it. The coordinator also said that Stroud’s “a good athlete, but can make all the throws.”

QB C.J. Stroud’s Draft Stock Falling?

For much of the spring, mock drafts had Stroud going to the Houston Texans at No. 2 overall.

But on April 17, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the new expectation around the league was Houston would pass on quarterback. With Bryce Young expected to be the top choice to the Carolina Panthers, Schefter’s report meant Stroud could fall out of the top three.

Since then, mock drafts have shifted to the Texans drafting defensive players at No. 2 overall. Lombardo slotted Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson to the Texans in his mock draft.

Meanwhile, Stroud has continued to see his draft stock fall in part because of his reported score on the S2 Cognition Test.

NFL reporter Bob McGinn of Go Long released a report that indicated Stroud had, by far, the lowest score on the S2 Cognition Test of the consensus top five signal callers in the class.

With Stroud likely to still be on the board at No. 4, it will be interesting to see if the test plays a role in Indianapolis’ draft decision. Clearly, Lombardo doesn’t anticipate it being much of a factor.

Stroud shrugged off the test in front of reporters on April 26.

“At the end of the day, I don’t got nothing to prove to nobody,” Stroud said according to sports columnist Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer. “I’m not about to sit here and explain to somebody how I process football. The people who are making the picks know what I can do. That’s all that matters to me.”

Colts Predicted to Draft QB C.J. Stroud

While there’s no consensus, Lombardo’s projection that the Colts will select Stroud differs from other mock drafts like the one from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who predicted the Colts to draft Levis.

ESPN’s Matt Miller also wrote that he thinks the Colts will take Levis. But Miller reported that Indianapolis’ decision is more complicated if Stroud is available too.

One NFL scout told Miller that, “the Colts would probably love for someone to jump them and select Stroud, so they can take Levis.”

Levis may have performed better on the S2 Cognition Test, but Stroud was clearly the better college quarterback.

At Ohio State, Stroud averaged 9.8 yards per pass with a 69.3% completion percentage in 26 games. He also had 85 passing touchdowns versus just 12 interceptions.

Levis threw for 8.0 yards per attempt while recording a 64.9% completion percentage in 38 games. After transferring from Penn State to Kentucky, he averaged 8.2 yards per pass with a 65.7% completion percentage, 43 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in two seasons.

If Stroud and Levis are both available at No. 4, the Colts will face a difficult decision. But Lombardo predicted general manager Chris Ballard to value game film over the offseason testing.

There are now merely days until the Indianapolis Colts will have to finalize their decision of what to do with their No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. What happens with the first three selections could obviously have a huge impact, but apparently so could the team’s former franchise quarterback Peyton Manning.

If that is indeed the case, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer proposed that Kentucky’s Will Levis will have an edge in Indianapolis’ draft evaluation process over the other rookie signal callers.

“Four days out, few believe the Colts will look anywhere else at No. 4,” wrote Breer. “Which QB they’ll take is murkier. Levis has had a rough pre-draft process, but I’ve heard his name linked to the Colts over and over from other teams last week.

“And I heard he made a very positive impression with the Manning brothers at their passing academy last summer, and, obviously, owner Jim Irsay still listens to Peyton on these things.”

Other Rumblings Connecting Colts to QB Will Levis

Breer isn’t the only insider this week who leaning towards Levis landing with the Colts.

“The Colts want Levis,” an AFC scout told ESPN’s Matt Miller. “The question is do they love him more than Stroud? I think they do, but that’s a bold move.”

That question appeared to be a moot point for most of this spring. Mock draft experts have been projecting C.J. Stroud to the Houston Texans at No. 2 overall for most of the offseason.

But rumors have begun heating up that the Texans are going to pass on all the quarterbacks and instead select a defensive player. If that happens, the Colts could see Stroud and Levis both be available at No. 4.

Stroud posted the superior statistics in college and has generally been regarded this spring as the more pro-ready quarterback. In 2022, Stroud registered a 66.3% completion percentage while averaging 9.5 yards per attempt. He threw for 3,688 yards with 41 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

He also had 4,435 passing yards and 44 touchdowns in 2021.

Levis recorded 2,406 passing yards with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. He averaged 8.5 yards per attempt while completing 65.4% of his passes.

Could the Colts Still Trade Up?

When speaking to reporters on April 21, general manager Chris Ballard suggested just about anything was on the table for the Colts at No. 4. That included trading up to No. 2.

In the same conversation, Ballard also said everybody lies publicly about their draft strategy. It’s possible that Ballard’s claim included himself.

But if the Colts buy the reports that the Texans are targeting a defensive player instead of a quarterback, then there’s less urgency for Indianapolis to work out a trade with either Houston or the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals don’t need a quarterback either. So the Colts could have every signal caller except Bryce Young available to them at No. 4. Obviously, that’s the exact same situation if they traded up to No. 2 (assuming Young goes to the Panthers at No. 1).

So staying at No. 4 might not mean the Colts aren’t in love with one of the quarterbacks. It could simply mean the Colts are betting on at least Levis or Stroud (or both) will still be on the board at No. 4.

If there’s a choice between the two, Stroud has the superior stats. But Levis appears to have the endorsement from Manning.

Between an interim head coach, quarterback changes and poor on-field performances, the Indianapolis Colts had a tumultuous 2022 season. Much of it was spent without one of their top leaders in linebacker Shaquille Leonard.

Leonard underwent back surgery in mid-November and has since embarked on a multiple-month recovery. His injury has improved since surgery, but he currently does not have a timetable for a return.

“I feel a whole lot better than I did at any point last year,” Leonard said during an April 19 press conference. “Still not where I want to be, but still taking it one day at a time, one step at a time, just maintaining the focus and trying to get 1% better each day.”

Leonard noted that his back injury caused nerve pain to shoot down one of his calves. That pain caused him to appear in just three games in 2022 (with one start) in which he put up 11 total tackles, an interception and a pass broken up.

He also noted that he did not give the injury enough time to heal by forcing a return prior to his surgery.

“When dealing with nerves, from what I’ve learned, is that you have to take the proper time, proper rest,” Leonard said. “I wanted to go out there and compete, but I didn’t know I was making it worse by continuing to do the things that I was doing.”

Now that Leonard has had five months to recover and rebuild strength, Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said he “feels good about the direction” Leonard is headed in an April 19 presser.

Shaq Leonard Acknowledges Challenges Amid Rehab

The second-round pick out of South Carolina State said that being confined to the sidelines made 2022 “one of the hardest years” of his life.

“It was tough — mentally, it was really bad,” Leonard said. “I feel like I let the team down not benign there to help them win and felt somewhat embarrassed just coming in each day injured, not getting better.”

Although times were tough, Leonard acknowledged that retiring wasn’t an option.

“It never crossed my mind,” Leonard said. 

Leonard still has progress to make in his recovery, however, as he has yet to officially be cleared to participate in live game action by doctors. That means Leonard might not be ready by Week 1 of the upcoming season.

What’s been most difficult for Leonard is not being able to participate in games, team workouts and off-season programs.

“It was hard. It’s still hard,” Leonard said.

Depth Needed Behind Shaq Leonard

Leonard unexpectedly missing games in 2022 exploited the Colts’ depth at linebacker. Fortunately for the franchise, the unit produced at a high level, as Zaire Franklin set the single-season tackles record (166) and Bobby Okereke and E.J. Speed each earned new contracts.

But Okereke moved to the New York Giants, meaning the Colts will need to fill another hole this season — especially if Leonard isn’t ready to go by Week 1.

Horsehoe Huddle’s Destin Adams tweeted that because Leonard’s status is up in the air to start the season, he thinks the Colts could target more linebackers through the draft and free agency.

“The #Colts could go LB earlier in the draft than people realize,” Adams tweeted. “Zaire Franklin is likely the only starter who will be ready come week 1. EJ Speed and JoJo Domann will be ready to compete for sure but adding a draft pick and/FA should be a priority in my opinion.”

Now that Okereke has been “rewarded for his play,” Bradley and members of his defensive coaching staff are adapting to find new ways to create depth during off-season programs.

“Every linebacker will play all three linebacker positions,” Bradley said on April 19. “That way if we ever get in the season, we can constantly have the next man up regardless of position, go play and the only thing is that it just creates more depth.”

It’s not unusual that with less than a week to go, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, and perhaps even the next couple selections, will already be decided.

But this year, that doesn’t appear to be the case. At least that’s what Indianapolis Colts general manager conveyed when he spoke to the media on April 21.

“No idea,” Ballard said to the media when asked if he had a pretty good idea of what’s going to happen with the first, second and third picks in the 2023 NFL draft. “I don’t think anybody does. Everybody thinks they do, of course, everybody thinks they do and everybody has an insider that’s giving them information of what’s going to be done.

“Just look at the mock drafts and tell me how accurate they are after the draft. Nobody knows.

“I think we’re all guessing.”

The top three picks are particularly pertinent to the Colts this year because they hold the No. 4 selection. The Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals have the first, second and third picks, respectively, ahead of Indianapolis.

The Panthers acquired the top pick from the Chicago Bears in a trade on March 10.

Ballard Calls ‘Everybody’ a Liar

Part of why the top of the draft board is unclear this year (and sometimes other years) is because of the misdirection some organizations deliver to other teams and the media.

The smokescreens are all part of draft season.

Ballard was a little more direct, though, in his labeling of the typical NFL draft “misdirections” and “smokescreens.”

“Everybody’s lying,” he said. “I might be the most honest unfortunately.

“Usually if you ask a question, I’ll either dance around it or give you an answer. Today, I’m a dancer.”

Ballard appeared to be in good spirits as he delivered that answer. He laughed at his joke about being a dancer.

But on a serious note, he added that “there’s no exact science” to prepare for a draft because there’s no way to know who will be available when it comes time to make a selection (except for the team with the top pick).

How the Top of the 2023 NFL Draft Could Unfold

Obviously, Ballard isn’t convinced there is even a consensus with what might happen with the first three picks. But based on most mock drafts over the past several weeks, two quarterbacks are expected to come off the board in the first three selections.

The expectation is the Colts will choose the third signal caller of the class. Ballard left open the possibility when talking to the media on April 21 that other positions besides quarterback are on the table.

But that doesn’t change a thing behind center in Indianapolis. It’s the most important position in the league and thus the biggest need for the Colts this offseason.

One thing that could shake up the top five, though, is if another trade happens. Another team could move ahead of the Colts at No. 4 to nab a signal caller.

Or, the Colts could move up themselves to No. 3 to give themselves better odds at a quarterback or another player they like.

Ballard also didn’t rule out a trade with the division rival Texans for the No. 2 pick.

Ballard’s message, though, was clear. The only certainty is that uncertainty exists with the first four picks in the 2023 NFL draft.

Rumors have swirled the past couple months that the Indianapolis Colts could trade center Ryan Kelly. Even Kelly has seen them.

The Colts veteran center revealed that it’s “impossible not to see rumors” when speaking to the media on April 20. But he also made it clear that Indianapolis is the place where he wants to be.

“I still love this place,” Kelly said were his thoughts after talking with new head coach Shane Steichen for the first time. “It still means the world to me.”

The 2023 season will be Kelly’s eighth with the Colts.

Colts Keeping Kelly for 2023 Season

The Colts drafted Kelly in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. As the longest-tenured member of the team, Kelly came to Indianapolis even before general manager Chris Ballard.

Kelly had a strong start to his career. He earned three consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl from 2019-21. Pro Football Focus ranked Kelly a top 10 center during each season from 2018-20. In 2020, he also made second-team All-Pro.

But the PFF player grades rated Kelly an average center last season. He also received no postseason accolades, failing to make the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2018.

Kelly probably could have hid his struggles if the Indianapolis offensive line played better as a unit. But the Colts struggled in pass protection and generated very little room in the ground attack.

That led to speculation that the Colts could move on from Kelly even if it meant releasing the 3-time Pro Bowler.

“It’s impossible not to see rumors,” Kelly told the media. “I did a really good job of it, but people around me would call me and say, ‘What’s up, dude? Heard you’re going here.”

Colts GM Chris Ballard Sent Indirect Message to Kelly

The Colts center is signed through the 2024 season. But his cap hit increases another $2.25 million while his dead cap shrinks by the same amount next year.

Kelly is now expected to remain in Indianapolis this season, but next year, the Colts could release him and save $12.375 million against the salary cap for 2024. Doing so would also only result in a $2.25 dead cap hit.

It stands then to reason that Kelly will have to regain his 2020 form to stay with the Colts beyond this fall. Ballard appeared to send that message in so many words this offseason.

“Our best players have to play better,” Ballard told the media on March 31. “And we have to play better as a team.”

Whether the Colts keep Kelly for the duration of his contract could depend on how other players perform on the team.

Next offseason, Indianapolis will potentially have six starters who become eligible for NFL free agency, including running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. If those two young stars bounce back from underwhelming 2022 campaigns, the Colts will likely be very motivated to re-sign both.

Defensive tackle Grover Stewart, cornerback Kenny Moore and safety Julian Blackmon are also going to be free agents in 2024. It’s possible that even if Kelly plays well, the Colts will prefer to bring back defensive starters as opposed to Kelly, who will turn 31 next offseason.

Still, Kelly sounds pleased to be back for 2023. The Colts should be pleased too, as the veteran center could play a key role in helping develop the team’s next franchise quarterback.

The Indianapolis Colts have begun press conferences now that off-season workouts are underway and the NFL draft is approaching.

Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley spoke to the media on April 19 and revealed that top 2022 pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue will not return to the team. Ngakoue entered free agency earlier this off-season.

“We lost Yannick Ngakoue,” Bradley said during his April 19 presser. “He was a tremendous player for us. That’s the NFL. There are some times you bring new guys in, and they got to step up, and every year is different with the team.”

The Athletic’s Zak Keefer noted that the Colts signing a different veteran defensive end in Samson Ebukam earlier this off-season indicated that this move was likely to happen.

Related or not to Bradley confirming his departure, Ngakoue tweeted a video of him showing off his footwork in ladder drills on April 20.

Ngakoue only had a one-year stint with the Colts, notching 29 tackles with 9.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits and a forced fumble. Ngakoue was named a Pro Bowl alternate because of his strong 2022 season.

Kenny Moore II Hopes to Improve in 2023

Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II garnered Pro Bowl honors after the 2021 season but struggled throughout last year. He put up just 65 total tackles (102 in 2021) and didn’t force any turnovers after doing so five times the previous season.

It is, however, noteworthy to include that Moore was out five games and had a stint on injured reserve before the final week of the regular season (January 4).

Bradley said he took notice of Moore II’s frustrations last season and is hoping to put him in a better position to succeed this time around.

“I know he was frustrated with the production overall: the interceptions, the caused fumbles when he was playing,” Bradley said during his presser. ”Sometimes, it (frustration) appears just because of the takeaways and things like that. He’s right, and so that’s why we’ve got to do a good job of giving these guys a good chance of being around the ball.”

Bradley joined the Colts last off-season and implemented a brand-new Cover 3-based defense — something Moore II was not as familiar with. Because Moore II has played a full year under that scheme, Bradley said he could take a step forward in 2023.

“I think the big part of it is we have a better feel for the players and hopefully the players have a better feel for us as coaches,” Bradley said of Moore II during his presser. “He’s come in the off-season visiting, talking about the next step for him, the next step for where we want to go as a defense and he’s been tremendous.”

Gus Bradley Addresses Nick Cross’ Development

Colts safety Nick Cross was in the starting lineup for the first two games of 2022 but lost his spot to Rodney McLeod, who finished out the year as the starter.

Bradley said the reason for Cross moving down the depth chart was because he wasn’t playing up to game speed.

“Now, it’s just playing fast on the field — that part we didn’t see at the beginning of the year (in 2022),” Bradley said during his presser. “Felt like he was thinking a lot, his conversation was more about doing things right rather than just reacting and it slowed him down some.”

Despite the 2022 third-round pick out of Maryland moving to a backup role, Cross still made 17 total tackles and a fumble recovery.

The second-year Colts coordinator said McLeod’s ability to communicate ultimately weighed heavily in Cross’ benching.

“I think Rodney was just a good communicator and I think it just brought a sense of calm to guys back there because of that communication,” Bradley said. “That’s the part that held Nick back.”

But McLeod is now a free agent, and it is unclear if he will re-sign. With that in mind, The Indianapolis Star’s Nate Atkins tweeted that Cross has a chance to become a starter yet again.

Bradley said he’s looking forward to seeing if Cross can improve in year No. 2 in his secondary — similarly to Moore II.

“That second year – the jump that he can make – he is extremely talented,” Bradley said. “It would be great for him to take the next step for us.”

The Indianapolis Colts are expected to draft a quarterback in the top 5 this spring. But there’s another veteran quarterback scenario the team could pursue that doesn’t involve Lamar Jackson.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on April 19 that the San Francisco 49ers have received inquiries about quarterback Trey Lance. While Rapoport’s report stopped short of declaring the 2021 No. 3 overall pick available in a trade, rumors that the 49ers are going to eventually trade Lance are beginning to heat up.

With that in mind, Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton identified the Colts as one of five possible landing spots for Lance. Moton proposed the Colts acquire Lance in exchange for the No. 106 overall pick this year (a fourth-rounder) and a 2024 fifth-round pick.

Proposed Trade Sends Trey Lance to Colts for Pair of Day 3 Picks

As much as the Colts have remained steadfast in their desire to find a quarterback in this year’s draft, they have to be intrigued about the possibility of bringing in Lance.

Because the trade compensation will likely be peanuts compared to the top 5 pick it took San Francisco to draft Lance, it’s no surprise that quarterback-needy teams around the league have reportedly been inquiring about his availability.

Moton argued that Indianapolis is an ideal fit for Lance because of the experience new head coach Shane Steichen had coaching Jalen Hurts as Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator.

“The Colts may not see their quarterback of the future available at No. 4,” Moton wrote. “They can offer a couple of middle-round picks over the next two years for Lance, who hasn’t done much on the pro level, but head coach Shane Steichen proved that he’s able to get the most out of an athletic signal-caller last season.”

Moton also suggested after trading for Lance, the Colts could then target offensive linemen and wide receivers early in the 2023 NFL draft. That would surround the young signal caller with as much talent as possible.

Could Colts Draft QB & Trade for Lance?

Targeting a different offensive position in the first round after acquiring Lance makes the most sense. But if Indianapolis really wants to add a rookie quarterback, it could still acquire Lance in a trade.

Indianapolis could conceivably have a quarterback room consisting of both Lance and whichever rookie they target at No. 4. More than likely, that will be either Florida’s Anthony Richardson or Kentucky’s Will Levis.

This is possible because Lance’s trade cost is likely to be late draft picks.

In that situation, the Colts could have two top 5 drafted quarterbacks from the past three years competing for the starting role.

Although an interesting possibility, acquiring both Lance and a rookie quarterback would be complicated. Indianapolis signed veteran Gardner Minshew this offseason and still have Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger on the roster.

If they only draft a quarterback, the Colts are still going to have to release or trade one of the three signal callers they currently have. The addition of Lance and a rookie likely means the Colts departing with both Foles and Ehlinger.

Even then, the quarterback room will still be crowded with Lance, Minshew and a rookie. One of those three would have very little practice repetitions as the third-string quarterback.

All of this makes it highly unlikely the Colts trade for Lance. But his likely low-price tag makes it an intriguing rumor.

Each NFL off-season brings floods of mock drafts as analysts predict what teams will do during the upcoming draft. With the No. 4 overall pick, the Indianapolis Colts have been no stranger to speculation.

On April 18, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager released a mock draft on a segment of “Good Morning Football” that projects the Indianapolis Colts to do something most don’t envision. He predicts the Colts will exchange first-round picks with division rival Houston Texans (trading up from No. 4 to No. 2).

With that pick, Schrager thinks the Colts will select Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.

“I’ve got the Colts loving Stroud — that’s what I’ve heard,” Schrager said. “I was more intrigued by the Colts’ love for C.J. Stroud and also the potential trade partner, a division rival.”

Schrager clarified that his mock draft isn’t based on his personal emotions in mind; rather, he said it’s made with consideration of what he’s heard from teams this off-season.

The Texans will then, according to Schrager, select Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson with pick No. 4 and Kentucky signal caller Will Levis at No. 12. Although the Texans need a quarterback, Schrager believes they’re not as sold on Stroud.

“Texans have not been outright on quarterback and it’s not just Stroud, it’s (Florida quarterback Anthony) Richardson included and even Levis, who I’ve got them taking later on in the 12th overall pick,” Schrager said. “The Stroud to Houston thing specifically: very quiet.”

Schrager also mentioned in his segment that the Texans could end up regretting trading down with the Colts if Stroud pans out as a top quarterback. An added negative would be that Houston plays Indianapolis twice a year.

Most mock drafts this off-season have not projected the Colts to draft Stroud this off-season — let alone trading spots with the Texans in the draft. Richardson and Levis have been most commonly linked to the Colts throughout 2023.

What Would the Colts Need to Give Up?

Schrager noted that in order to move up to No. 2, the Colts would need to give up No. 4 and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner or No. 4 and a Day 2 draft selection.

Buckner played four seasons in San Francisco from 2016 to 2019. For three of those years, now-Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans split time handling defensive quality control responsibilities and coaching inside linebackers.

Ryans having a defensive coaching emphasis could weigh into why Houston might move down in the draft to not only acquire more capital but also take an early first-round defender like Wilson.

Another factor is that the Texans also already own pick No. 12. They could take Levis with that pick, as Schrager noted; however, if Houston waited until then to do so, they could risk another team drafting him beforehand.

The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov tweeted on April 17 that the Texans are officially listening to offers for the No. 2 pick and that it isn’t known which direction they’ll go in the draft.

“#Texans GM Nick Caserio says they’ve received a “few calls” on the No. 2 overall pick and are open to listening to offers,” Meirov tweeted. “Houston has been a tough team to gauge with which direction they’ll go in the draft since Caserio got there. But there hasn’t been any indication they love a specific player in this draft (besides Bryce Young).”

‘Visit Season’ Wraps Up 8 Days Before Draft

April 19 is the official deadline for NFL teams to “time, test, visit, interview or conduct a physical examination with draft-eligible players at club facilities,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote in a tweet.

“Visit season” ending means teams will now put more emphasis on their respective draft boards, draft strategies and communicating with other organizations to make pre-draft deals.

The last-reported Colts visit with a draft prospect was Richardson on April 17, as officially noted in a tweet by CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson.

While it remains unclear exactly what the Colts will do in the draft, team owner Jim Irsay has expressed interest on numerous occasions this off-season that he wants a rookie franchise quarterback.

Irsay even became cryptic about his plans in the draft on social media in mid-April.

Trading up to one of the top two spots in the NFL draft is pretty much off the table for the Indianapolis Colts this year.

But there’s still one possible way the Colts could improve their draft stock in the first round — moving up from No. 4 to No. 3.

That’s exactly what ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed the Colts do in an article that suggested one draft trade for each team in the 2023 first round. He argued that although it’s just one spot, general manager Chris Ballard must be aggressive to avoid three quarterbacks coming off the board before Indianapolis has a chance to make its first pick.

“For the Colts to avoid being beaten to the punch for the third quarterback in this class, they’ll need to trade up themselves,” wrote Barnwell.

Colts to Trade Up to Prevent Other Team From Doing So?

The Arizona Cardinals hold the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Just a year removed from signing quarterback Kyler Murray to a mega contract, the Cardinals aren’t going to draft a signal caller.

That’s the good news for Indianapolis. The bad news is another team could still make a trade with the Cardinals for the third pick to move ahead of the Colts.

A quarterback-needy team jumping Indianapolis in the first round has already happened this offseason. The Carolina Panthers moved up from No. 9 to 1 doing a trade with the Chicago Bears.

With Justin Fields, the Bears weren’t expected to be in the quarterback market either. But by not trading up, the Colts allowed the Panthers to move into a better position to get a premiere prospect behind center.

The Colts have a lot of needs. Sacrificing draft capital to move up one spot isn’t a prudent move. But Barnwell argued it’s necessary for the Colts to land their next franchise quarterback.

“Colts GM Chris Ballard can’t love the idea of trading away three picks to move up one spot and get a player the Cardinals don’t have any intention of taking, but this would be about keeping Arizona from sending its pick to another team,” wrote Barnwell.

There’s Precedent for Trading Up 1 Spot

Moving up one spot early in the NFL draft is unusual, but it has happened previously.

In 2017, the Bears traded the No. 3 pick and three other selections to the San Francisco 49ers for the No. 2 selection. Then at No. 2, the Bears picked quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

That scenario is very similar to the potential trade between the Colts and Cardinals this year. The 49ers weren’t in the quarterback market that offseason, and they confirmed that by picking a defensive lineman at No. 3.

So, from an outsider’s perspective, it appeared as though the Bears gave up two third-round picks and a fourth-rounder for no reason.

But in all likelihood, the Bears made the trade to prevent another team from having the chance to trade up to No. 2 with the 49ers and then draft Trubisky.

If the Colts do move up one spot, Barnwell expects it will cost them about the same in compensation that it did the Bears six years ago.

“The price for the Colts would be in the same ballpark if Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort plays his cards right,” wrote Barnwell.

The NFL Combine, Pro Days and private workouts have wrapped up, but the Indianapolis Colts are hard at work weighing their options with the No. 4 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

With speculation heating up, Brobible’s Dov Kleiman tweeted a video of ESPN’s Adam Schefter giving his thoughts on the NFL draft during an NFL Live segment. Schefter said that since the Carolina Panthers are expected to draft a quarterback at No. 1 overall, there is a chance a quarterback isn’t taken after then until at least No. 4.

“We haven’t seen anybody trade up to (No. 2) and Houston’s open to listening; we haven’t seen anybody trade up to No. 3 because I think Indianapolis thinks there’s a real chance right now that they could sit right where they are at (No. 4) and get potentially the second quarterback in this draft,” Schefter said.

The Colts have left all possibilities open for exploration, but have also publicly made it known they believe it’s time for a rookie quarterback to become the face of the franchise.

How Would That Scenario Play Out?

The real question is what Houston and Arizona will do with the No. 2 and No. 3 picks, respectively. There’s a chance they could wait until draft night to make a final decision, which is why Indianapolis needs to be prepared for every possible outcome.

But Schefter said he thinks there’s a possibility that no trades are made within the top three selections and Indianapolis will have a pick of its choosing.

“There’s a chance we might not see a quarterback go at two or even three, and there might not be a team that trades up because the value in that wasn’t what we thought it would be,” Schefter said. “So Indianapolis may be sitting there with its pick in the litter, Anthony Richardson or Will Levis or C.J. Stroud, that could happen.”

Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema shared his draft theory on April 17 and noted the Texans organization might be playing chess in order to put the Colts in a less favorable position.

“HOU’s leaking info they’re not drafting QB at 2 so IND, their division foe, feels confident at 4 and doesn’t trade up,” Sikkema tweeted. “Meanwhile HOU intends to take a QB at 2, hopes a team leaps the Colts to take another one at 3, leaving IND one QB (maybe one they don’t love).”

Colts Conducting First Post-Top-30 Interview with Top Prospect

Colts owner Jim Irsay has fueled speculation regarding what the team will do this off-season, even noting that “all options are on the table” via Twitter on April 16. As a result, the Colts are exercising due diligence with rookie quarterback prospects.

CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweeted on April 17 that Indianapolis has scheduled a virtual interview with Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, marking the team’s first follow-up interview following an official top-30 visit. The team initially hosted Richardson in a pre-draft meeting earlier this month.

Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud are widely projected to be the first two quarterbacks taken in the draft, with Kentucky’s Will Levis and Richardson making up the second tier of signal callers. Because of that, Richardson could still be on the board if the Colts use their No. 4 pick on a draft prospect.

The Colts drafting a rookie quarterback would grant the team’s wishes after multiple years of different veteran starters. If that quarterback turns out to be Richardson, pairing him with new head coach Shane Steichen could be beneficial to his development, as he has had historic seasons coaching Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts.

Richardson recorded 2,549 passing yards and 654 rushing yards with 26 total touchdowns last season at Florida.

All indications are that the Indianapolis Colts will be drafting a quarterback with their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

But appearing to want a higher level of intrigue with the selection, Colts owner Jim Irsay tried to general some doubt on Twitter about what his team may do with their first pick this year.

“For the ’23 draft, we have many options,” Irsay wrote on Twitter on April 16. “With the #4 pick, we could stay put and take a QB — or trade up and take a QB — OR trade down and MAYBE take a QB — Or NOT.”

“All options on the table, but we like our position and are very excited.”

Irsay also included pictures of the top four quarterbacks in the draft — Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis — in his tweet.

The Colts possess the No. 4 overall selection in the draft.

Reactions to Jim Irsay’s Draft Tweet

Being that Irsay literally listed all possibilities as potential options for the Colts at No. 4, one could argue he said a whole lot of nothing with his 280 Twitter characters.

Some media members and fans held that believe immediately after Irsay’s tweet.

Others claimed to see through Irsay’s attempt to create a buzz around Indianapolis’ selection.

However, USA Today Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon had the opposite opinion, arguing that Irsay may have revealed too much in his tweet.

“Earlier this offseason, Irsay made it clear he expects his franchise will select a quarterback with its first-round draft pick,” Risdon wrote. “Irsay showed the same hand in a provocative tweet on Sunday.”

Sports Illustrated’s staff at Horseshoe Huddle didn’t overanalyze Irsay’s tweet, taking it at face value.

“The Colts and Irsay should have a plan in place by now, but plans change by the minute with the NFL Draft,” the HH staff wrote. “Irsay has simply said the Colts are comfortable with their position and have a variety of options.”

Colts’ Other Option at No. 4

While Irsay tweeted that all options are “on the table,” he didn’t mention one of the more popular rumors surrounding the Colts this offseason — trading for veteran quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Because the Baltimore Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, the Colts could sign the 2019 MVP winner to a long-term agreement. If that happened, the Colts would then send two first-round picks, including No. 4 overall this year, to Baltimore.

New Colts head coach Shane Steichen squashed those rumors, though, when talking to the media on April 12.

“We’re focused on the draft and focused on the players that are in the building right now,” said Steichen. “That’s where we’re at.”

Irsay has also made it pretty clear throughout the offseason that he prefers finding the team’s next starting quarterback in the draft.

“The owner wants the draft-and-develop route, preferring the chance to grow his own while capitalizing on the financial flexibility a young quarterback’s contract affords the team,” wrote The Athletic’s Zak Keefer.

So perhaps not all the options are on the table for the Colts. But at least in the draft, Indianapolis could still go in a variety of directions with its No. 4 pick.

Wide receiver Michael Pittman of the Indianapolis Colts will need a new contract soon. But he made it clear on April 14 that he will not be very involved in the negotiations.

Pittman also explained that he doesn’t have to receive his next contract immediately.

“If it doesn’t happen this year, that’s no big deal. It’ll happen eventually, right?” Pittman told The Athletic’s James Boyd. “I just kind of let that business side … just leave that to my agent because that’s what I pay him to do. You don’t really want it to be muddied up.

“From guys that I’ve talked to, it can get ugly if you’re in those meetings and stuff like that. So, I don’t want anything to do with those. I just want to play.”

Pittman is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He will count as about a $3.9 million cap hit for the 2023 season.

Contract Situation for Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr.

Pittman has developed into Indianapolis’ top wide receiver. The question going forward is whether he should be paid like one of the top receivers in the NFL.

The 25-year-old posted a career-high 99 receptions and 70.2% catch percentage in 2022, but he averaged just 9.3 yards per catch and scored 4 touchdowns. The 99 catches ranked Pittman 10th in the NFL last season, but the only receivers with 50 receptions to post fewer yards per catch last year were Greg Dortch and Russell Gage.

But Indianapolis’ quarterbacks are likely the reason Pittman struggled to make more big plays down field during 2022. The Colts were fourth-to-last in yards per pass attempt in the NFL.

Pittman is more of a possession receiver, so he’s not likely to be a guy that averages more than 15 yards per reception. But across his first two seasons, he posted 12.4 yards per catch with a 67.4% catch percentage.

In 2021 with Carson Wentz at quarterback, he led the Colts with 88 receptions, 1,082 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. He was the only Indianapolis pass catcher that season with more than 400 receiving yards.

Boyd wrote his production through three seasons warrants him being paid a hefty sum on his next deal.

“Whether he is a true No. 1 receiver is hard to gauge given the circumstances, but according to Spotrac, Pittman’s production at this point in his career is on par with where Brandin Cooks, Robbie Anderson, Terry McLaurin and Christian Kirk were when they landed new deals,” wrote Boyd.

Spotrac projected Pittman’s market value on an average annual basis to be $18.4 million on a four-year contract.

Colts RB Jonathan Taylor Also Due for New Contract

It’s an encouraging sign for Colts fans that Pittman won’t be very involved in his own negotiations. But the trickiest part about Pittman’s new deal could be that running back Jonathan Taylor will need a new contract soon too.

Taylor is also entering the final year of his rookie deal. The Colts don’t have a fifth-year option on either player because both were second-round picks.

The Colts could theoretically use the franchise tag next offseason but only on one player. To keep both, general manager Chris Ballard will have to sign either Pittman or Taylor to a long-term deal.

Spotrac projected Taylor to be worth $13 million on an average annual basis also on a four-year contract.

In total, Spotrac predicted the Colts will have to spend more than $125 million to secure both Pittman and Taylor on long-term deals.

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Shaquille Leonard missed much of the 2022 season with a back injury, hence why he only played three games (starting just one).

But apparently, Leonard now appears to be on an upward trend in his recovery.

The Herald Bulletin’s George Bremer tweeted that Colts head coach Shane Steichen told him Shaq Leonard is ‘progressing well’ during the first week of off-season workouts at the team facility. Bremer also noted that Steichen said he would “not going to put a timetable on the all-pro linebacker’s recovery.”

One interesting point Bremer made at the end of his tweet was that he described Leonard’s rehabilitation process as the “biggest offseason story outside of QB.”

That’s because Leonard is a two-time First-Team AP All-Pro (2020-21) and ranks among the NFL’s top linebackers when healthy.

In 61 career games, Leonard has 549 total tackles (30 for a loss), 15 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, 12 interceptions and 31 passes broken up.

Although the 2022 season was difficult due to multiple quarterback benchings, controversial coaching changes and a 4-12-1 record, Leonard’s absence had a weighing presence on the Colts.

Earlier this offseason, Leonard credited interim head coach Jeff Saturday for shutting him down and holding him back from risking further injury.

Zaire Franklin Breaks Down Leonard’s Recovery, Progress

Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin had his name called early and often last season due to Leonard’s injury. Not only did Franklin meet expectations, but he defied them as he led the team and ranked fourth in the NFL with 167 total tackles.

Franklin started all 17 games in 2022 for the first time in his career. Franklin said that he’s looking forward to starting alongside Leonard for a full year.

“Obviously having a guy like him back is going to make a whole lot of things better,” Leonard said to Bremer. “I know he’s feeling good about his progress.”

One can only imagine the stats Franklin and Leonard would put up in a full season. While it’s been months since they played alongside each other, they’re keeping their chemistry strong this off-season.

According to Horseshoe Huddle’s Jake Arthur, Franklin and Leonard have spent time working out in Tampa.

“They put in a ton of work [this off-season],” Arthur tweeted. “Certainly sounds optimistic and (Franklin) had a big smile when he talked about Leonard eventually returning.”

Colts team reporter Larra Overton clarified that both players took part in 5:30 a.m. workouts but had individual workout plans. She also shared in a tweet that Franklin said Leonard was “getting after it” during his rehab.

Zaire Franklin Talks Bobby Okereke’s Departure, E.J. Speed’s Return

The Colts’ linebacker corps has slightly reshuffled this off-season.

Linebacker Bobby Okereke, who started opposite of Franklin last season while Leonard was out, took a payday and signed with the New York Giants on a four-year deal earlier this off-season.

Another Colts free agent linebacker, E.J. Speed, did the opposite of Okereke and remained with the team. Speed inked a two-year deal worth up to $8 million.

Now that the Colts’ linebacker corps is being figured out for 2023, Franklin said he’s happy for both Okereke and Speed as well as the situations they’ve ended up in.

“It’s always good when the boys get paid,” Franklin said according to a tweet by The Athletic’s James Boyd. “[Okereke’s] a hell of a player. Definitely somebody I miss in the building… Obviously [I] was big on getting Speed back.”

Speed returning to Indianapolis might be a more notable outcome than some think, as Leonard alluded to.

Last season, Speed entered the year in a reserve/special teamer role. But due to injuries and his play, he earned five starts — the most in a season so far in his career.

He made the most of it, too, putting up 63 total tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack.

The Indianapolis Colts saw their former head coach and the Carolina Panthers move ahead of them in the NFL draft order. They can ill afford to let another team to do the same.

That’s why in the latest mock draft from the Bleacher Report NFL scouting department, the Colts are projected to conduct a trade with the Arizona Cardinals to move up to No. 3.

Then at No. 3, Bleacher Report predicted the Colts to select Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson.

“The Indianapolis Colts can’t sit and hope their preferred quarterback prospect remains available with the fourth pick,” wrote the Bleacher Report scouting department.

“Yes, the term “preferred” is appropriate since it became clear the organization wasn’t in love with Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud when it didn’t move to acquire the top pick.

“However, the Colts can make a simple swap with the Arizona Cardinals to land arguably the best prospect for their situation in Florida’s Anthony Richardson.”

If the Colts moved up to No. 3 and drafted Richardson after Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud went No. 1 and 2, respectively, (as Bleacher Report predicted) it would be the second time in three years that quarterbacks went first, second and third in the same NFL draft.

In 2021, quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance were the first three picks.

How Anthony Richardson Fits With the Colts

There are concerns with Richardson, especially if a team has to give up draft capital for the right to land him. He struggles with accuracy, experiences issues with his footwork and must improve at reading defenses.

But he has tremendous upside because of his athleticism. Bleacher Report’s Derrik Klassen identified that as the reason why the Colts could pursue Richardson after moving up to No. 3.

“General manager Chris Ballard loves traits, and no quarterback in this year’s class has better traits than Richardson,” Klassen said. “As a rare athlete for the position, Richardson is a talented quarterback who needs a little bit of love and care to reach his potential.

“On the bright side, Richardson offers exceptional scrambling ability, pocket management and the know-how to avoid sacks, not to mention he’s a decent processor for a one-year starter.”

In his lone starting season at Florida, Richardson recorded 2,549 passing yards and 654 rushing yards with 26 total touchdowns. He completed 53.8% of his passes while averaging 7.8 yards per pass. He also averaged 6.3 yards per carry.

Colts ‘Focused’ on 2023 NFL Draft

Rumors have swirled this offseason that the Colts could pursue Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, which enables him to negotiate with other teams.

But no deal has come to fruition, and on April 12, Colts head coach Shane Steichen all but ended the rumors that Jackson could play in Indianapolis this season.

“We’re focused on the draft and focused on the players that are in the building right now,” said Steichen. “That’s where we’re at.”

The Colts haven’t given much indication that trading up to No. 3 is on the table. Actually, other than Steichen’s comments on April 12, the organization is strongly recommending its staffers to stay quiet about the team’s plans behind center.

Whether they trade up or not, though, Richardson appears to be the most likely choice for the Colts with their first-round pick.

Given the team’s huge need at quarterback, Bleacher Report urging general manager Chris Ballard to move up the board to ensure he lands Richardson makes sense.

The Indianapolis Colts have seemed like the best fit for the quarterback Lamar Jackson all offseason. But the Colts don’t sound very interested.

At least new Colts head coach Shane Steichen didn’t when he spoke to the media on April 12.

“We’re focused on the draft and focused on the players that are in the building right now,” said Steichen. “That’s where we’re at.”

The Colts hold the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, which puts them in a strong position to land one of the top quarterbacks in the class.

Colts Out of the Running for Lamar Jackson?

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport implied that Steichen’s remarks, as is the case with every NFL coach this time of year, should be taken with a grain of salt. But Rapoport also argued that Indianapolis’ actions support what Steichen told the media on April 12.

“The reality is they have not yet made a move for Lamar Jackson, and the actions speak a lot louder than his words although his words are ‘we are focused on the draft,'” said Rapoport. “Remember, they have the No. 4 overall pick.

“They are taking a look at all the quarterbacks, presumably, that is another prime quarterback location.”

Colts general manager Chris Ballard didn’t rule out trading for Jackson when he spoke to the media at the NFL annual spring meeting. But The Athletic’s Zak Keefer has reported that owner Jim Irsay prefers the franchise start over with a rookie signal caller.

“The Colts aren’t ruling anything out, not yet, but deep down, Irsay wants his team to find its next quarterback in the draft,” wrote Keefer.

Keefer detailed that Irsay has that preference because of the draft capital the team would have to give up for Jackson. The 2019 MVP would cost at least two first-round picks in a trade. He also might be seeking a fully-guaranteed deal with his next contract.

With a rookie, the Colts would have a quarterback on an affordable deal for the next four years.

Colts Focused on Drafting Quarterback

Rapoport described Indianapolis’ spot at No. 4 as a prime quarterback location. However, it’s very unlikely they will have their choice of any signal caller in the class.

The Carolina Panthers traded for the No. 1 pick from the Chicago Bears and are expected to pick a quarterback. The expectations are the same for the Houston Texans at No. 2.

That means unless something weird happens, Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud will be gone by No. 4. Then, the Colts will have their pick of either Kentucky’s Will Levis or Florida’s Anthony Richardson.

Both quarterbacks possess high upside but are more raw than either Young or Stroud.

That could make the signal callers already on Indianapolis’ roster particularly important. This offseason, the Colts signed veteran Gardner Minshew, who could be a placeholder behind center until the rookie the team selects is ready to start.

They also still have former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger on the roster. Each started multiple games for the Colts during the 2022 season.

While Steichen said the team is focused on its current players and the draft, he didn’t reveal what specific traits the organization is looking for in its next quarterback.

Steichen has experienced success as an offensive assistant with traditional pocket passers such as Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert and with a more running-styled signal caller in Jalen Hurts.

“I’m looking for good guys. I mean, that’s the biggest thing,” Steichen told the media. “Obviously, there (are) the tangibles and the intangibles, and I’m not going to get into all the details of what I look for, but really I want good guys in this building.”

Indianapolis Colts players were back in the team facility on April 10 for off-season workouts. One player in attendance is defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.

He is also handling the business side of things in his return. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Buckner restructured his deal on April 12.

“The #Colts converted $5 million of DT DeForest Buckner’s salary this season into a signing bonus, clearing $2.5M in cap space,” Pelissero tweeted. “He’ll still make $19.75M, which is now fully guaranteed.”

Buckner hinted that a trade rumor involving him was inaccurate in March. That proved to be the case, as he’s already immersing himself in the team’s workout program.

With this conversion, Buckner’s cap hit will be $17.25 million this season. According to Spotrac, the Colts currently have about $23.4 million after the move.

Buckner joined Indianapolis after four years with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 after the Colts gave up the No. 13 overall pick. Since then, Buckner has been a captain twice with the team and will likely continue to lead in that role in the two years left on his current deal.

The 2020 First-Team AP All-Pro and 2021 Pro Bowler has 200 total tackles, 24.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and nine passes knocked down in three years with the Colts.

Buckner dealt with an elbow issue that lingered since September 2022. Despite that, it didn’t affect his ability to play, as he did not miss a game all of last season.

According to The Indianapolis Star’s Joel A. Erickson, Buckner noted his injury was a UCL tear.

“He didn’t need surgery because he’s not a QB or a (baseball) pitcher,” Erickson tweeted.

Insider Reveals Buckner’s Discussion With Colts GM

The Athletic’s Zak Keefer reported that Buckner had a meeting with Colts general manager Chris Ballard after the 2022 regular season to “discuss me.”

According to Keefer, Ballard’s message to Buckner was simple: “Trust me.”

Buckner never wanted to be traded or released by the Colts this off-season. He was “in” on coming back to Indianapolis for the fourth straight year, per Keefer.

Keefer added that Buckner said that trade rumors were made up to generate clicks and engagement.

“People like to make headlines and clickbait and all that kind of stuff,” Buckner said.

But apparently, that wasn’t enough for Buckner to move on from a team that finished 4-12-1 in 2022 after winning nine games in 2021. It seems as if Buckner is heeding his general manager’s message.

Buckner Addresses Stephon Gilmore Trade

As Buckner spoke to Indianapolis media on April 12, he acknowledged cornerback Stephon Gilmore’s trade to the Dallas Cowboys in mid-March.

According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, Buckner “made it clear” that Gilmore was traded by the Colts at his own request.

“That’s what he had to do for him and his family,” Buckner said in a tweet authored by Holder.

Despite keeping that in mind, Buckner was still disappointed by the move because he said Gilmore was “one of my favorite teammates in my career,” according to a tweet by The Herald Bulletin’s George Bremer.

In his tweet, Bremer added that Buckner said he and Gilmore are at two different points in their careers. That’s why Gilmore wants to join a contender and Buckner never considered switching teams to do so.

The uncertainty of the Indianapolis Colts’ next quarterback remains as the NFL draft is nearly two weeks away. With that in mind, the Colts’ focus has primarily been on quarterback prospects this off-season as they hold the No. 4 overall pick.

But since rumors involving prospects and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson flooded Indianapolis’ off-season, ESPN’s Stephen Holder said the team’s future remains uncertain.

“I don’t think anyone truly “knows” what they’re gonna do, but I will tell you this: The Colts made it a point to tell staffers to STFU about QB plans,” Holder tweeted in a reply to Horseshoe Huddle’s Zach Hicks. “They aren’t talking, for the most part.”

Jackson had substantial involvement in the Ravens signing free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Jackson was “probably” going to be Baltimore’s signal caller next season after a Colts offseason full of discussions about Jackson.

Holder, who often shows transparency when replying to tweets, revealed he has different ways of reaching sources but it’s difficult to get information due to the Colts’ silence.

“There are obviously still other ways to get info, some of which I’ve been able to tap into,” Holder tweeted in another reply. “But just saying they are keeping things really buttoned up.”

Holder Reveals His QB Impressions

And while it appears the Colts are keeping things under wraps regarding their draft pick decision, Holder said it could end up being Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson.

“And I do lean toward AR for the record,” Holder said, although he did not specify exactly why.

According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Florida quarterback is wrapping up a pre-draft visit with the Carolina Panthers, who are now led by former Colts head coach Frank Reich. The Panthers leapfrogged the Colts in the draft, as the team traded up to No. 1 from No. 9 last month.

But the Colts also want to learn more about Richardson, which is why they’ve scheduled a pre-draft visit of their own with him on April 11 and 12.

Richardson could be a noteworthy prospect for the Colts at No. 4, as some believe he could be available there despite a demand for early-round quarterbacks.

Colts’ Core Values Entering Steichen Era

In addition to Richardson, it turns out that the Colts were also back in the facility on April 10 for off-season workouts.

The Athletic’s Zak Keefer noted that the full squad returned, marking seven days earlier than other teams because they have a new head coach in Shane Steichen.

The Colts social media team captured wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and cornerback Kenny Moore II showing up on the first day of workouts. The team also tweeted photos of one of the team’s first workout sessions.

In addition to that, Steichen spoke to the team for the first time on April 11. He addressed the team’s core values, rules and culture entering the new season.

In a Colts tweet featuring Steichen talking to the team, character, preparation, consistency and being relentless were the new head coach’s key themes for the team in 2023.

The video also showed a projector on behind Steichen, which said the team will “entertain, inspire and unite” by winning the Colt way and building the culture.

“When we are connected, we are committed,” Steichen said.

Free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. signing with the Baltimore Ravens on a 1-year deal has changed the trajectory of the team’s wide receiver room.

It turns out, the move could also affect another team: the Indianapolis Colts, including their chances in the sweepstakes to acquire Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport said on “The 33rd Team” on April 6 that he thinks Jackson will most likely sign a new contract with the Ravens. While that still has not happened, Jackson has had a substantial influence on Beckham Jr. signing to become Baltimore’s new top receiving target.

“This is really what Lamar Jackson has been looking for in his recruitment of Odell Beckham Jr. and the two are friends, by the way,” Rapoport said during an NFL Network broadcast on April 10. “But there was a clear understanding that when they talk about the quarterback that’s going to be throwing passes to Odell, that it’s probably going to be Lamar.”

Jackson, who requested a trade from the Ravens in March, could have joined Indianapolis or another team via a signed offer sheet or a franchise tag-and-trade scenario, according to Rapoport.

Instead, it now appears Beckham Jr.’s new deal is directly impacting Jackson’s future, as the road to signing Jackson has become even more difficult for the Colts.

After Beckham Jr. put pen to paper, he and Jackson celebrated the deal in Miami, according to Rapoport.

‘Zero Indication’ Another Team Signs Lamar Jackson

Since the 2019 NFL MVP has been placed on a non-exclusive franchise tag, teams have been able to propose a trade for him or sign him to an offer sheet. Rapoport said he does not expect that to happen at this point.

“Now, I guess a crazy thing that could happen is some team could sign him to an offer sheet — we’ve had zero indication that could be the case,” Rapoport said.

The Ravens entered the offseason hoping to retain Jackson as a first-and-foremost priority. While things seemed rocky for Baltimore (especially as Indianapolis-Jackson trade rumors gained traction), Rapoport said everything is pointing towards Jackson remaining a Raven for at least one more year.

“All signs point to (Jackson) being the Ravens quarterback next year in some form or fashion, either under the tag or a new contract,” Rapoport said.

As Rapoport noted, Jackson could return to Baltimore under the franchise tag for a near-$32.5 million cap hit. Another option is an extension (which must be reached by July 17), which remains a possibility due to Jackson’s previous demands for fully guaranteed money.

Ian Rapoport Adds Insight on Colts’ Pre-Draft Trade Scenarios

The Colts, who currently hold the No. 4 pick in the NFL draft, debated trading up earlier this offseason. But the team hesitated after inquiring about a potential trade for No. 1, as Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that the Colts were not ready to settle on a surefire starting rookie quarterback.

Because of that, the Carolina Panthers traded from No. 9 to No. 1 with the Chicago Bears last month. That gave Rapoport some more clarity on the Colts’ quarterback situation, which he spoke about with Joey Mulinaro on “The 33rd Team.”

“(Colts general manager Chris Ballard) didn’t seem very much in the mix for the No. 1 pick trade, to be honest,” Rapoport said. “I know maybe he had a conversation, but he didn’t seem like one of the teams that were really battling for it.”

Rapoport believes Ballard “probably isn’t head over heels” with one of the top prospects in Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Rather, Rapoport said he thinks Ballard has an interest in a prospect who is not a top-two consensus projection, such as Kentucky’s Will Levis or Florida’s Anthony Richardson.

“Maybe he’s like, ‘Hey, this is the guy that I like, Levis or Richardson, and he’s going to get to me so I’m not worried about it,’” Rapoport said of Ballard.

Ballard has been patient in searching for the team’s next quarterback this offseason. The team recently conducted workouts for each of the projected top four quarterbacks in the draft.

Although Colts owner Jim Irsay will not necessarily have the main say about the team’s decision at quarterback, he has repeatedly expressed interest in drafting and developing a rookie signal caller. The team has started different veteran quarterbacks each of the last four seasons since Andrew Luck’s retirement.

The Indianapolis Colts aren’t expected to have the opportunity to select either of the top two quarterbacks — Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud — in 2023 NFL draft.

But according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz of The Score, that should be just fine. That’s because Schultz is encouraging the Colts to target Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.

“I like the Colts a lot for him at 4,” Schultz said while making a guest appearance on The Herd on April 10. “They worked him out privately in Lexington. I heard he did a hell of a job.”

Schultz also said that he spoke with former Kentucky and current New York Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who called Levis a “tremendous leader” and “totally misunderstood.”

QB Will Levis a ‘Totally Misunderstood’ Leader?

Alleged character issues can be the kiss of death this time of year for incoming NFL rookies. Fortunately for Levis, he has an NFL receiver who played well in a small sample as a rookie vouching for him.

Schultz said on The Herd that Robinson told him everything that Levis does “comes from a good place.” Schultz added that “pretty much anyone around Kentucky” football would say the same thing.

“That tells me everything I need to know about Will Levis,” Schultz said. “He was the kind of guy that you want as the leader of your program.”

Schultz reported that Levis performed well at his private workout with the Colts on April 6.

But unfortunately for Levis, leadership isn’t the only sticking point with his draft stock.

Levis is one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the draft, but there are warts in his game that might not be easily corrected,” wrote NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein. “Levis’ talent is well worth an investment, but could require a talented quarterback coach and a patient plan to tighten up his mechanics, rebuild his confidence and explore an offensive scheme that best suits him.”

Whether or not the Colts take Levis at No. 4 could depend on how they view his ability to grow and not necessarily how he is as a leader.

Colts’ Options With No. 4 Draft Pick

Young and Stroud are expected to go first and second, respectively, in the 2023 NFL draft. But while the Colts likely won’t land one of the top two signal callers in the class, they still have options at No. 4.

In addition to Levis, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson should be available. Using the No. 4 pick to trade for Lamar Jackson also isn’t off the table.

The Athletic’s Zak Keefer reported that the Colts will be wrapping up their rookie quarterback meetings by the end of the Week of April 10. It’s likely that at that point, the organization will make a decision about its future behind center.

Keefer reported that owner Jim Irsay would prefer to draft a quarterback.

“The owner wants the draft-and-develop route, preferring the chance to grow his own while capitalizing on the financial flexibility a young quarterback’s contract affords the team,” wrote Keefer.

But while Irsay will have a small role, head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard are the two that will play the biggest part in choosing the next quarterback for Indianapolis.

If it were up to Schultz, the choice would be Levis.

The search for the Indianapolis Colts’ next quarterback is heating up as the team is in the midst of conducting private workouts.

The team sent out a contingent to Lexington, Kentucky to hold a private workout for quarterback Will Levis on April 6, according to a tweet from Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Several faces from the Colts’ front office showed up to watch the former Kentucky signal caller throw live.

“GM Chris Ballard, HC Shane Steichen, OC Jim Bob Cooter, QBs coach Cam Turner, ass’t GM Ed Dodds and college director Matt Terpening were all there, per sources,” Breer tweeted.

In addition to Levis, the Colts will soon finish workouts with the other three projected top quarterbacks in the upcoming draft, according to NBC Sports’ Peter King. Those names include Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Alabama’s Bryce Young and Florida’s Anthony Richardson.

Stroud and Young were the most recent quarterbacks to be worked out by the Colts in California, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Richardson will “work out for them in Gainesville [Florida] at some point,” per James Adams from 107.5 The Fan.

Fowler also noted that Colts personnel traveled to Utah to watch a private workout with BYU quarterback Jaren Hall on April 4.

How Does Indianapolis View Will Levis?

During Ballard’s six-year tenure as Colts’ general manager, he has made size an emphasis at the quarterback position. Ballard has never selected a starting quarterback shorter than 6-foot-4. 

That six-year stretch includes four different veteran quarterbacks from 2019-2022 after Andrew Luck’s retirement.

“Ballard said the Colts are still ‘stringent’ about certain measurables with draft prospects,” Colts.com writer J.J. Stankevitz said on March 1. “‘But,’ Ballard said, ‘there’s always exceptions.’”

The Colts cut Matt Ryan after a season that included two benchings. After several one-year stints with veteran quarterbacks, the front office has made it clear that pursuing a rookie signal caller is in their best interest.

With size (6-foot-3, 232 pounds), mobility and a strong arm, Levis possesses attributes that Ballard desires in a quarterback prospect. But Ballard has not yet revealed his plans with the No. 4 pick in the draft.

Some could suggest Levis’ 2022 numbers did not show a vast improvement from 2021. But it is noteworthy to mention that he missed two games his senior year due to injury.

It’s also fair to acknowledge Levis’ offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello was fired immediately after the team’s last regular-season game in 2022. Levis was also without his 2021 leading receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who became a second-round draft pick after he put up 104 catches, 1,334 yards and seven touchdowns.

Ultimately, it’s up to the Colts to decide if Levis’ potential is enough to deem him the quarterback of their future.

How Are the Colts Evaluating Other Quarterbacks?

The Draft Network’s Jaime Eisner tweeted on April 6 that odds have moved to make Bryce Young a new co-favorite to get drafted No. 1 overall, per Fanduel Sportsbook. Eisner noted that Young and Stroud are each listed at -110 odds.

While these numbers are likely meaningless to the Colts and other NFL front offices, they still indicate that Young and Stroud are each favored — and heavily rumored — to each be taken within the top three.

Last month, Indianapolis was put in a more difficult position to move up in the draft as a result of the Carolina Panthers trading up to No. 1 (previously owned by the Chicago Bears). Despite that, due diligence has been key for the Colts this off-season.

It took Indianapolis five weeks to hire its new head coach (Steichen) after its offseason began. The team is now hesitant once again — this time in pursuit of a new quarterback.

Despite the Colts working out four draft prospects within a week, a rookie quarterback is not guaranteed. Recurring rumors of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson getting traded to Indianapolis have flooded the team’s offseason.

While it remains unclear which quarterback the Colts will pursue, Steichen recently told Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce that he values passers who can throw accurately the most.

The Indianapolis Colts have yet to make a final decision about the team’s future at quarterback. But sports agent Drew Rosenhaus offered a simple solution for the Colts when asked about the team’s position behind center while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show.

He delivered it in the form of a message to Colts general manager Chris Ballard.

“You’ve gone all out for guys like [Carson] Wentz. You’ve made moves for Matt Ryan,” Rosenhaus said about Ballard. “You’ve got nailed when Andrew Luck retired early. Let’s make it happen for Lamar Jackson.”

The Colts can acquire Jackson this offseason because the Baltimore Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on the quarterback. That allows Jackson to negotiate with other teams.

If the Colts offer Jackson a contract that the Ravens are not willing to match, the Colts would receive Jackson in exchange for two first-round picks.

Compensation for Lamar Jackson Too High?

There are potentially a few obstacles for the Colts acquiring Jackson. First, he may be seeking a fully-guaranteed deal as high as $250 million.

Colts owner Jim Irsay didn’t address Jackson’s contract desires specifically, but Irsay did say at the NFL’s annual spring meeting that he doesn’t “believe in fully-guaranteed contracts.”

When talking about Jackson, though, Irsay expressed that the cost to acquire him is too high.

“[Irsay] said last week that though the type of contract disgruntled Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is seeking is “no problem” — likely north of $150 million fully guaranteed, at the very least — it’s the lost draft capital (two first-round picks) and salary-cap restrictions that have tempered Irsay’s interest in such a blockbuster move,” The Athletic’s Zak Keefer wrote.

Rosenhaus essentially argued that two first-round picks is a small price to pay for a quarterback such as Jackson.

“Two first-round picks? Forget about it,” Rosenhaus said. “My opinion is give up that first-round pick, next year’s first-round pick, with Lamar Jackson, is going to be a late first-rounder anyway because you’re going to be a playoff team with him.

“This will turn this franchise around.”

It’s hard to disagree given that Jackson has posted a 45-16 record with 101 passing touchdowns and only 38 interceptions in his NFL career. Jackson has also averaged 6.1 yards per carry.

Furthermore, the Colts sit in the AFC South, where the right change at quarterback could vault a team from the bottom of the division to the top very quickly (like Jacksonville).

Colts in Position to Make a ‘Big Splash’

Heavy senior reporter Matt Lombardo listed the Colts as one of the three most likely teams to make a “big splash” in the NFL draft.

That most obvious big splash the Colts could make is acquiring Jackson. One NFL agent who spoke to Lombardo called the Colts the “leaders in the clubhouse” for Jackson.

“The only team that I think could make a splash during the draft is the Indianapolis Colts,” a veteran NFL agent told Lombardo. “I think they really are the leaders in the clubhouse for Lamar Jackson.”

Keefer reported that Irsay prefers to find a franchise quarterback in the 2023 draft. But at No. 4, more than likely, the Colts will land the third-best signal caller in the class.

That factored into Rosenhaus’ analysis.

“This year, you’ve got the fourth pick. Are you going to gamble on Anthony Richardson or Will Levis? Rosenhaus asked McAfee.

“They’re very talented guys, but we don’t know what they can do in the NFL.”