Anthony Richardson ensures Colts’ draft will have new, non-QB focus

Stephen Holder, ESPNApr 13, 2024, 06:00 AM ET
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INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time in forever, the Indianapolis Colts will have a little less to worry about during the NFL draft.

Granted, the stakes are still high. The team’s seven picks will still be expected to produce. Success in the draft is essential for a team that believes so deeply in fielding a roster that overwhelmingly consists of homegrown talent.

But this year in Indy, there will be no elephant in the draft room. The Colts believe they solved their quarterback need last year when they selected Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick, removing what has been a cloud over the organization since Andrew Luck retired unexpectedly just prior to the 2019 season.

Time will tell whether they are right about Richardson, who missed 13 games with injuries during his rookie season. But the Colts believe they’ve seen enough to move forward unburdened by the pressure created by the lack of a franchise quarterback.

To get a sense of how the quarterback questions have impacted the Colts’ draft decisions, consider the following: The Colts’ combined draft capital spent on acquiring quarterbacks (picks and trades) between 2019 and 2022 included a first-round pick, two third-round picks, a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round pick.

And that haul does not take into account the more than $115 million in quarterback salaries the Colts doled out in the four years before Richardson was selected. That money went to a long list of quarterbacks, a group that included Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan. For that, the Colts managed an average of 7.8 wins and made just one playoff appearance between 2019-2022.

Now, the Colts have gone from a series of dead ends at the position to a quarterback they are optimistic about. That’s changed everything.

“He’s going to go through some growing pain. Don’t just expect him to step out there and be Superman right away,” general manager Chris Ballard said of Richardson. “But is it a lot better feeling knowing that you’re not going out chasing a vet and having to dump a bunch of resources into that? Absolutely, it is.”

Because of that, this draft will be different. First, the Colts will have their full allotment of picks. And they can navigate it more freely.

The Colts won’t even feel pressure to select a developmental quarterback who could, perhaps, grow into a viable starter. This was the idea behind the 2020 fourth-round selection Jacob Eason. He lasted fewer than two full seasons in Indianapolis before being released in October 2021.

But Indy still has concerns at cornerback (and are expected to heavily consider the position with their No. 15 selection). The Colts could also use another true playmaker at the offensive skills positions.

“I think if you pigeonhole yourself into one position, you can kick yourself down the line,” Ballard said. “So, we’ll keep an open mind. We always want to get better at every position, but it’s something that we’ll keep an open mind [about] and get the board lined up the right way.”

Adding to the Colts’ flexibility is the fact that their offensive line remains intact. Ballard has always prioritized that unit, as he did before Luck’s final full season in 2018. The Colts used the sixth and 37th overall selections on Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith, respectively, to solidify the line because of its direct impact on the quarterback’s success.

Now, Richardson has the benefit of all five returning starters protecting him, freeing the Colts up to use resources elsewhere.

In fact, that’s true elsewhere on the roster, too. The Colts return their entire lineup of offensive and defensive starters. They even welcome back all three specialists. That’s a rare feat, but the Colts’ heavy investment in re-signing their in-house free agents was overwhelmingly successful.

Because of that roster consistency, it’s difficult to predict where the Colts will invest their selections in this draft. But with the long-awaited resolution at quarterback now in place, it’s safe to project where they will not.