Colts upgraded at quarterback in more than just one way
The Indianapolis Colts have had a revolving door at quarterback since Andrew Luck retired prior to the 2019 NFL season. Since then, the Colts have attempted to fill the void with veterans such as Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan. General manager Chris Ballard had to make a change. Especially with Shane Steichen set […]
The Indianapolis Colts have had a revolving door at quarterback since Andrew Luck retired prior to the 2019 NFL season. Since then, the Colts have attempted to fill the void with veterans such as Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan.
General manager Chris Ballard had to make a change. Especially with Shane Steichen set to take over as head coach. Fortunately, the 2023 NFL Draft class lined up perfectly for the Colts. And that has made the Colts winners in more ways than one.
Indianapolis selected Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson at No. 4 overall. He's the quarterback that the franchise is set to build around. His athletic profile paired with Steichen's scheme points to a big upgrade on the field.
Richardson has the rare skillset that is capable of beating defenses through the air and on the ground. He has a rocket for an arm and is as dynamic as any quarterback in football. Which makes for a fun style of play in Indianapolis.
But it's not only on the field where the Colts have upgraded. The franchise also upgraded on the payroll. Richardson is set to make $35.585 million over four years on his rookie contract. That averages out to about $9 million per season.
That's a steal on the quarterback market. Bigger and bigger contracts are consistently being handed out to the most important position in football. But that's even more so the case when it comes to the Colts.
Indianapolis was on the hook for a ton of money for their veteran signal callers over the past few seasons. In fact, the franchise spent about $100 million at the position since Luck opted to call it a career.
The Indianapolis Colts will now have the opportunity to build around a franchise quarterback on a rookie deal. That kind of luxury is critical as the Colts look to compete in a competitive AFC.
Now, it's time for the Colts to take advantage of such a situation. The potential is sky high for the pairing of Anthony Richardson and Shane Steichen.
