The worst case draft scenario for the Indianapolis Colts came to fruition on March 10.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Chicago Bears dealt the No. 1 pick to Carolina Panthers for four draft picks and wide receiver D.J. Moore. The Carolina picks heading to Chicago include two first-rounders, including the No. 9 pick this year, and two second-round selections.
Compensation update, per sources: Bears trading No. 1 overall pick to Carolina for:
🏈pick No. 9
🏈pick No. 61
🏈a first-round pick in 2024
🏈a second-round pick in 2025
🏈WR DJ Moore
— Adam Schefter ()
It was a small king’s ransom for the Panthers to pay, but what it means is there are now two teams in need of a quarterback ahead of the Colts. In all likelihood, general manager Chris Ballard’s choices behind center will be either Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson.
Adding insult to injury, the top signal caller of the class will be with former Colts head coach Frank Reich in Indianapolis.
Colts Pass Up Guarantee in Landing Top QB in 2023 Draft
It’s hard to completely find fault in Ballard staying pat at No. 4, at least with still six weeks remaining until the NFL draft. Fans and the media are privy to Ballard’s full line of logic.
Perhaps he and his scouting staff are in love with three quarterbacks in the 2023 draft class. Or he could love none of them and will be passing on whichever signal callers are still sitting there at No. 4.
But the fact remains that the Colts need a quarterback. Carolina’s trade up signals the Panthers will be taking a quarterback. In all likelihood, the Houston Texans at No. 2 will as well.
That probably means the consensus top two signal callers in the class — Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud — will be gone.
To have a chance to draft Levis or Richardson, Indianapolis now must hope no other quarterback-needy team makes a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 3 pick.
Recent NFL Draft History Favors Indianapolis
It had to be disappointing for Colts fans to see Carolina be aggressive about trading up and not their own general manager. But if recent NFL draft history counts for anything, not all is lost for the Colts.
From 2017-22, Deshaun Watson, Josh Allen and Justin Herbert were all the third quarterbacks chosen in their draft class. Watson and Allen have experienced more success than the …read more
Source:: Heavy.com