Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich claimed that he’d be waiting on Philip Rivers’ decision about retirement and wasn’t rushing anything. Well, the decision is a bit easier now.
After 17 seasons in the NFL, Rivers has decided to hang up the cleats and retire. With a distinguished veteran retiring, Indianapolis has a big decision about who will be the Colts’ new QB.
Jacoby Brissett, Rivers’ backup this past season, is set to become a free agent in March. If the Colts are considering him, they have very limited time to negotiate a contract with him. Throwing rookie Jacob Eason on the field for a win-now team also doesn’t seem wise.
Indianapolis is only a few pieces away from being a true contender in the AFC and, if they solidify their quarterback position, they could be a force for years to come.
With that being said, here are three options to be the Colts new QB that they can target via trade and/or free agency.
3 Candidates to Be Colts New QB
Matthew Stafford
While new Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell says they are going to reload instead of rebuild, Matthew Stafford has heard the same story a number of times in his career, and he could finally be sick of it. They have the No. 7 overall pick in the draft, so finally parting ways with Stafford is certainly on the table. The Colts have plenty of cap space to work with and not many gaps on either sides of the ball, so they have the firepower to target Stafford.
Another veteran presence in the locker room for the young players will just enhance the culture Frank Reich is trying to build in Indianapolis. Stafford also continues to be one of the most talented passers in the league.
Carson Wentz
This is another player the Colts would have to trade for, and the contract does make things a little tough, but the Colts are clearing to starting QB salaries from their books. Carson Wentz isn’t a free agent for the next few years, so the risk is high, but the Reich-Wentz connection could be something to monitor moving forward. Reich was the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator from 2016-17. The firing of head coach Doug Pederson hints that Philadelphia may stick with Wentz as the starter. However, Jalen Hurts looked promising in the few games he started. With a more established running game and offensive line to take the pressure off him, Wentz would be in a much better situation in Indianapolis.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores claimed Tua Tagovailoa is their guy, despite his poor play. This means we might see Ryan Fitzpatrick in yet another NFL jersey. Fitzpatrick may be 38 now, but he deserves a spot to fight for starting quarterback. If the Colts wanted to take the cheap route at quarterback and pour money into some big-name free agent wide receiver, then Fitzpatrick is a great option. He would be an amazing mentor for the younger guys like Michael Pittman Jr. and Jacob Eason. The Colts are a win-now team and will be for the next few years. If given the opportunity, the magician would likely get the job done for them.
