Colts have been backed into uncomfortable corner in 2023 NFL Draft
No choice but to be aggressive.
The Indianapolis Colts desperately need a quarterback, and that became a bigger challenge this week. That is because the Carolina Panthers changed the entire draft by trading up to the No. 1 overall selection.
For the opportunity to land a franchise quarterback, the Panthers sent the Chicago Bears a haul. Which included the No. 9 overall pick, a first-rounder in 2024, and two second-round selections. Oh, and wide receiver DJ Moore was also in the deal.
Meanwhile, the Colts have seen a different team beat them to the punch. As a result, Indianapolis is in the position to come away with the third best QB prospect in the draft — at best — by sitting behind Carolina and the Houston Texans in the draft order.
Now, the focus is on what the next step is. As of now, the smart move would to likely be trading up with the Arizona Cardinals, who hold the No. 3 selection. Indianapolis can ill-afford to let another QB-needy team jump them.
Of course, the Colts may still be okay with where things sit. That all depends on how head coach Shane Steichen and general manager rank the board of the four quarterbacks.
But getting to the third pick and making sure they get one of their preferred signal callers is a must. It appears that CJ Stroud could be the quarterback that the Panthers have their eyes set on.
Which would leave Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis on the board. After the Texans make their selection, only two of those three will still be available for the Colts to grab.
Needless to say, the pressure is on. Look for the Indianapolis Colts to secure a top-3 pick before another team makes the search for a franchise signal caller even more difficult.
