The Indianapolis Colts are a team that a lot of people are going to be keeping a watchful eye on this off-season. For the fourth consecutive offseason, they are going to be taking a ride on the quarterback carousel to find a new starting quarterback.
The Colts haven’t had the same starting quarterback under center in Week 1 back-to-back seasons since Andrew Luck from 2012-2016. Since he shockingly announced his retirement ahead of the 2019 season, the team has been left scrambling at the position.
This offseason, the Colts will have a good chance to find a long-term solution for their quarterback woes. They own the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which puts them in a prime position to select one of the top signal-callers from this class. They also have the means to move up in the draft to ensure they land the player they want.
But, they could also address their needs ahead of the draft. There are some intriguing options available, such as Jimmy Garoppolo and Derek Carr. General manager Chris Ballard has shown he isn’t afraid to make a big move; could that lead to the team having some interest in Aaron Rodgers?
The No. 4 overall pick in the draft should be enough to get the Green Bay Packers to the negotiating table. It would enable the Packers to start their retooling around Jordan Love and have a crack at two first-round picks for the second straight year to continue bolstering the roster.
Indianapolis, on the other hand, can try and breakthrough as a playoff team in the relatively wide-open AFC South. Bringing Rodgers into the fold could make them the favorites to win the division with the Houston Texans being in the early stages of a rebuild and the Tennessee Titans looking like a mess to end the 2022 season. The Jacksonville Jaguars, while improving, are far from juggernauts.
The only hesitation that the Colts will have is that they have been down this road before. They would have to go year-to-year with Rodgers as he hasn’t even committed to playing in 2023, let alone beyond that.
If Indianapolis wants more of a long-term commitment, Rodgers isn’t the guy for them. But, if they believe they have the pieces to turn things around and live up to their dark horse contender status, Rodgers can help get them to that level.
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