The future of quarterback Philip Rivers is currently up in the air.
It’s clear that the 38-year old wants to continue to keep playing, but where that is remains to be seen.
The Los Angeles Chargers could elect to re-sign Rivers to a one-year deal, or they could let him hit the market when free agency begins on March 18.
It is a mystery who Rivers will be suiting up for in 2020 – but NFL executives believe that it will be a team not named the Chargers. Instead, they believe that Rivers will sign with the Colts, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
With Indy looking to add quarterback competition for Jacoby Brissett in 2020, multiple league execs say the Colts could turn to Rivers, who threw 92 touchdown passes from 2013 to 2015 with Frank Reich as his quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. Current Indy coordinator Nick Sirianni was also an assistant on that Chargers staff.
“He’s not mobile and his arm strength looked questionable at times, but he’s still a year removed from an MVP-type season. And the Colts have a window,” one exec said.
But here’s the other side: Adding Rivers, whose contract is up in L.A., might not align with the personality of general manager Chris Ballard, who covets young talent he can mold. He could opt for a QB in the draft. And the team hasn’t totally given up on Brissett, who started hot in 2019.
Indy has $93,628,216 in 2020 cap space, more than enough for two veteran-quarterback contracts. Ballard said at his end-of-year news conference that he wished he bolstered the team’s depth with all that space in 2019.
We’ve listed the Colts as an ideal landing spot for the former North Carolina State product. Not only do they have the ammo to bring him in, but there are a few different variables that could entice Rivers.
Coach Frank Reich was the Chargers’ quarterbacks coach during the 2013 season. That season, Rivers led the NFL with a 69.5 completion percentage, the highest of his career.
Along with throwing for 4,478 yards and 32 touchdowns that season, Rivers managed to take care of the football, throwing just 11 interceptions while earning a trip to the Pro Bowl.
Along with the familiarity with Reich, Indianapolis has young playmakers, as well as one of the league’s top offensive lines. Rivers would also be able to play an ideal conditions the majority of the season since the Colts play in a dome.
Rivers threw for 4,615 yards and completed 66% of his passes this past season. He also threw for 20 interceptions and 23 touchdowns, his lowest scoring output since his second season as a starter.
Should the Chargers elect to move on from Rivers, they have Tyrod Taylor, who’s entering the second and final season of his contract. The team also has the sixth pick in the NFL draft, the perfect spot to take a young quarterback.