Colts management extensions.

Interestingly, I now see CJ Stroud mocked to the colts in a couple mock drafts.  Previously he was way above their pick.  Partially its because the colts have moved up but also Stroud has fallen a bit.  Seems like he was typically the #1 pick when I last checked the mocks around mid season.  Now I mostly see Young and Levis ahead of him.  Did Stroud do poorly against Michigan?  I dont know.  

I have no opinion on what college QB the colts should want...just havent seen that much of them.  I do think that the best thing is to secure a high pick and use it or package it for a college QB.  this plan of trading for veteran QB's whose teams no longer want them is just not working out.  We are finding out why their teams no longer wanted them.

The situation:

*  The colts MUST use the 2023 draft pick to fix the QB position.  This is not open to debate.

*  There is a general consensus that Young, Stroud, Levis are top 6 picks in some order with Richardson usually down in the 20's.  NFL QB expectations for college players are a VERY inexact science, but without the time or desire to do an extensive scouting effort myself, I'm going to use the consensus view when thinking about the colts' situation. 

*The colts #1 priority as a franchise at this point should be to get one of these top 3, or possibly use the pick to somehow trade for another QUALITY QB who has not yet exited his prime.  As we know, teams who have such players are usually not at all open to trading them away.

* Colts currently sit at #6, which generally gets them the third QB in the mocks I see.  HOWEVER at #6 the colts are at risk of being jumped over by other QB needy teams through trade ups, and thus lose out on the top 3 QB's.

* It is therefore vital that the colts continue to lose to improve their position and not get any worse of a position.  Colts fans who show up and cheer for a win today are to be pitied and despised in their total cluelessness and overwhelming stupidity.

*A loss to the Chargers would guarantee at least the #5 spot at weeks end, as LAR and Denver play each other.  AZ also has a winnable game at home against TB.  Best case scenario is that the colts end the week at #4, which you would think pretty much assures them one of the top 3 and maybe even a choice between two of them.

*A choice between 2 of the top 3 QB's is overall the best possible outcome at this point, given that the Texans will almost certainly pick above the colts and pick a QB.

*Colts finish with the Texans at home, which unfortunately is the closest thing to a sure win that exists in this year's NFL, so it is absolutely vital to lose to LAC and NYG next week.

Foles passer rating at 20 after 3rd interception

Which QB would be the most embarrassing for the colts to start these last two games?

*The big off season acquisition veteran QB who proved to be clearly and predictably over the hill and off the age cliff, who has been bringing up the rear in NFL QB statistics all season, and who has already been benched twice.

*Inexperienced, low-ceiling 6th round draft pick who played like an Inexperienced, low-ceiling 6th round draft pick, and has been benched once already.

*Has-been, Bears cast-off who just had a 0 TD, 3 Int, 31 QBR rating game leading the offense to 0-10 third conversions and 3 points.


That's quite an interesting set of choices you've given your coach there, Chris Ballard.

Can any decision do any good?

The young guy conceivably could benefit if the offense rallied to play well. Hopefully not well enough to win. He may have a future as a backup.

If the Colts successfully lose out and draft a QB it's not the worst idea to have a solid journeyman available to start next year, neither of the other two do I see in that role.

Yeah, but who's going to want your exorbitantly paid, low-impact position players?

I think the colts have been the worst team in the league since Thanksgiving.  Ballard's 6-year body of work should be evaluated on this basis...making the decision obvious.  But the colts have an owner who is not terribly bright and who has been negatively affected by years of drug abuse.  Additionally, he is hyper concerned about his public image and, above all things, wants to be seen as being different from his father.  This is not an overall mental package that is conducive to making intelligent decisions, even when they are obvious.