With offseason speculation looming at the quarterback position, different opinions and predictions have been formed as to what Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard and the rest of the front office should do.
It seems that the options are endless and fans or even members of the media may not know until later in the offseason.
Does Jacoby Brissett need more time? Will a young draft pick at 13 (or higher) be the future? Does a veteran quarterback like Philip Rivers or Teddy Bridgewater seem like a safer option? Could Tom Brady wear the horseshoe?
These questions are just some of the many that Ballard will have to answer in the next few months. When it comes to picking the quarterback position, however, he is somewhat inexperienced. Ballard has an impeccable eye for talent and that has been shown from his time in Indy and in Kansas City.
He was responsible for drafting Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Marcus Peters. All three of those big-time talents were Pro Bowlers within their first three seasons. Hill and Kelce were also a monumental part in Kansas City’s Super Bowl victory and have helped elevate Patrick Mahomes immensely.
Ballard has never drafted a quarterback in his three drafts as general manager for the Colts. As director of player personnel and director of football operations with the Chiefs, he had only drafted two quarterbacks in a four-year span.
Granted, Kevin Hogan and Aaron Murray were both fifth-round picks and did not pan out to have successful careers, but this is the first time where Ballard has the reigns and the team desperately needs a quarterback.
Working with former Chiefs and Browns GM John Dorsey, Ballard did not have the final say on which players to draft. Now it is different.
Ballard’s knowledge of players is very deep and his ability to see value in draft picks makes him one of the best GMs in football. Hopefully, he can nail drafting a quarterback in April like he nailed picking Quenton Nelson and Darius Leonard in 2018— that’s if the Colts decide to get a quarterback with the No. the 13 pick.
Still, a lot of time is left to decide what is best for this team ahead of the NFL Draft on April 23. Key positions may experience some turnover and there may be new faces, young and old, out there when training camp starts.
One thing is certain though, in Ballard we trust.
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