The 2019 NFL offseason was action-packed in terms of player movement. Stars like Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Brown sent shock waves throughout the league as they left their teams the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers to join the Cleveland Browns and the Oakland Raiders (sort of). Young guys like Josh Rosen and last summer’s number one overall pick Kyler Murray were also the topic of fans as to how they will affect their respective teams’ future.
But the most talked-about move that summer was the sudden and unexpected retirement of Indianapolis Colts star quarterback Andrew Luck. The 2012 number one pick saw a magnificent 2018 season where he won comeback player of the year after being sidelined with a shoulder injury. With the announcement, the Colts went from a potential dark horse Super Bowl contender to a team built around a retired quarterback in a matter of minutes. Luck’s decision to step away from the sport was negatively met by fans as he was serenaded by boos and jeers in a preseason game against the Chicago Bears.
The front office was left with questions such as: Who will be the quarterback of the future? Will Jacoby Brissett fill in Luck’s shoes? Can Marlon Mack cover the yards lost with the downgrade from Luck? And with the season concluded, the fans have more questions than answers.
Every team is always looking to improve their roster no matter how small. With the Colts, they still need to find a replacement for Brissett who had a good start to his 2019 season but slowly went back down to earth as he led the team to a 7-9 record, missing the playoffs.
Indianapolis is in dire need of a quarterback who can lead them for years. With Peyton Manning and Luck running the offense for 20 years, Colts fans may be a little anxious to find a replacement as soon as possible. There are a handful of guys that they can just plug and play next season but here are three that might do the job for years to come.
Ryan Tannehill
The Tennessee Titans had an unbelievable 2019 season. They managed to have a Cinderella run all the way to the AFC Championship game where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs. The season was in large part thanks to running back Derrick Henry and quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
Tannehill had a remarkable season with the Titans. Taking over Marcus Mariota halfway through the season, the former eighth overall pick finished with 2,742 yards while adding 22 touchdowns with just 6 interceptions. A 70.3 completion percentage and 117.5 passer rating are all career highs as well. Tannehill not only showcased his arm strength with the Titans but he also displayed his running game especially at the tail end of the season and during the playoffs.
If there’s one thing the Colts lack last season that is arm strength. Brissett averaged 6.6 yards per attempt last year making some cringe-worthy drops when throwing deep. Tannehill, on the other hand, averaged 9.6 yards per attempt. This could bode well for receivers like T.Y. Hilton who benefited from Luck’s arm talent in 2018.
While last season could have easily been a fluke for Tannehill, he could definitely be worth the gamble.
Justin Herbert
The most convenient way of finding the quarterback of the future has always been through the draft. Indianapolis is no stranger to this as stated earlier; they drafted both Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. And while the Colts do not have a high position to draft a player like the two mentioned, they could still find themselves with a diamond in the rough in Justin Herbert.
Herbert is a good prospect with good intangibles. Standing at 6-foot-6, the Oregon quarterback has the size to be a major threat in the NFL. Combined with his built is his arm strength something the Colts needed last season. Herbert had moments in college where the ball just exploded out of his hand which could entice Frank Reich and his crew to take a good hard look at the senior.
Of course with the good comes the bad with Herbert. Every game there is at least one or two throws where you wish he could do it again but all of that will come with maturity and the right coaching. The most glaring weakness Herbert has is his comfort level when his first read isn’t available. Often times he will lock in on his target which results in head-scratching misfires.
Drafting a rookie and telling him to run the offense immediately is never a good idea. If the Colts get Herbert they can always sit him down this coming season behind Brissett until they feel he is ready to take over as the first-string quarterback.
Jordan Love
While Jordan Love is not a better prospect than Herbert according to most scouts, he is the most realistic one for the Colts. Indianapolis has the 13th pick this coming draft, the spot Love is projected to be available at.
Love is a good prospect with very little risk involved. He checks the boxes in terms of size and body with his sturdy 6-foot-4, 223-pound build. As far as athleticism is concerned, Love is one of the better ones for sure as he can extend plays with his feet, hitting accurate throws on the run, and taking off with the ball to get yards. The Utah State quarterback also has a lightning-fast release and oftentimes keeps his eyes downfield. Love has some serious arm talent for his age.
Realistically Love has no red flags as a prospect but he does come with some concerns especially his awareness. Like Herbert or most young quarterbacks for that matter, Love has a tendency to telegraph plays with how he gets locked towards his first option. There are times when he fails to recognize coverage rotations as well. Decision making is certainly his worst trait but a good coaching staff can easily fix it. Of course, giving the ball to Marlon Mack will never be filed under the “bad decisions made” cabinet.
