Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: Could They Be Pursuing Lamar Jackson?

Starting point is 00:00:00 We all seem to think the Colts are going to get their potential franchise quarterback in the draft, but there is actually still a big fish out there on the free agent market. Let's discuss. You are Locked On Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. What's up everybody? Thanks for tuning in and making us your first listen of the day. This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. I am Jake Arthur and he is Zach Hicks.

Starting point is 00:00:55 You know the two of us from horseshoehuddle.com. Today, I think it's finally time we dip our toe into a couple of the more polarizing quarterback prospects. You know, we talk a lot of quarterbacks here, but two, we don't talk a whole lot about Lamar Jackson and the potential of the Colts going after him on the free agent market. He, of course, received the non-'t take a quarterback in the top five. And that is selecting Hendon Hooker later on in the draft, perhaps round two at pick 35. I know that Zach, you're probably not really much of a fan of either of those scenarios. I don't think many of us are. I think it would just be real clear cut to just go and get their guy with this top four pick. But so the whole reason we're even discussing the Lamar Jackson thing today, our colleague over at Horseshoe Huddle, Dustin Adams,

Starting point is 00:01:53 he put out a tweet earlier just discussing that. You know, he heard from a source that there was a Colts plane over in Baltimore, you know, over the weekend. And, you know, there's so much you can do with that. It could mean nothing. Colts playing over in Baltimore over the weekend. There's so much you can do with that. It could mean nothing. Billionaires like Jim Irsay, they travel, they go do stuff. But it could also mean potentially, without trying to dive too much into what it could be,

Starting point is 00:02:23 Lamar Jackson meeting with the Ravens. We think Lamar's probably in florida right now uh perhaps meeting with the ravens and hammering out what it would take to get lamar and not be matched by by the ravens because zach i mean if if you're gonna offer a guy you want it to at least be something that it's not going to get countered by the team that he's with yeah uh yeah you would want that but i don't know why the ravens would tell them like why would like what would going up what would flying out there to talk with the ravens even do in that situation like you go out there and like hey guys i want to talk to you about your star player that's a that's an

Starting point is 00:03:02 exclusive tag or non-exclusive tag free agent we want to offer him this can you guys physically match that like let us know like it'd be cool like i i don't know i don't really see this being anything regarding the lamar lamar jackson stuff because like you said i'm like 99 sure he's down in florida right now uh i mean that dude that they just posted a video of that dude or whatever and that dude is florida based so i'm assuming they're down in florida that's where lamar jackson's from um so when it comes to flying out to baltimore to talk with him that doesn't make any sense and then obviously to talk to uh the ravens brass and stuff like that it just i don't know it doesn't make sense unless you're saying hey ravens are going to match no matter what and then we got to work out like an

Starting point is 00:03:42 additional trade afterwards which would be more than those two first round picks. I don't even know if that's allowed. Like we'll have to look into the NFLPA stuff because I don't think you could trade him on that tag, but we'll have to see. I haven't read up too much on it because I don't anticipate Lamar Jackson being an indie, but that would literally be the only case I could see

Starting point is 00:04:03 is the Ravens are going to match no matter what and if he's allowed to be trade then the Colts can come in and give like three or four first round picks or whatever it is like which I already know a lot of you guys are out on the two first round picks for Lamar Jackson so I can't imagine what additional resources would be so yeah I don't know I it's a lying it's a lying season. It's crazy season. And I'm not saying that Destin is lying or he got a wrong source or anything, but there's so many different reasons why a Colts playing could have been

Starting point is 00:04:31 out there. You know, Jim Irsay could have been at some guitar event or something. They could be out there meeting with a free agent or a draft pick. They could be meeting with a, you know, a player's family or a player's coaching staff. Like there's so many different things. So I just, it seems a little weird to me. I don't know. I don't really buy too much into that.

Starting point is 00:04:49 This is a Lamar Jackson type of story here. Yeah. So for what it's worth, I think, you know, it's smart for any of us to look into, you know, sources or anyone who we might know who could be in the know about this whole thing, just to see what's the likelihood of it all. And I did a little asking as well. And again, something I found odd is just no one really willing to talk about it.

Starting point is 00:05:13 You know, knowing some of us are in the media, they could just throw us off the trail saying, you know, no, it's, it's nothing. He's been visiting someone, whatever. But people don't really want to talk about it apparently which again that could mean nothing it could be a mind your mind your business thing or what but no it's uh it's it's still interesting nonetheless and again you know if there's if there's multiple planes and again it's a billionaire billionaires travel they do stuff with their private jets so um no nonetheless you know it's for the colts

Starting point is 00:05:46 it take a huge price tag on top of the the two first round picks i don't know you know i've i still lean away from it being a likelihood uh you know i was just on a radio show as a guest this week and someone asked me about that and i was like, I just don't see it happening. You know, you have to have that money prepared up front. I do think the Colts, you know, for someone who is an established quarterback like that, they'd probably be willing to do the two first round picks. If I had to guess they'd of course want to build around them, but the price tag financially on top of the two first round picks, I just,

Starting point is 00:06:22 it still seems unlikely and it still seems unlikely. And it still seems unlikely to do that with someone who's already got some tread taken off the tires. You know, you would think if they want to make a huge investment, it'd be for someone shiny and brand new. Yeah. Yeah. The couple of things I'll say to this is, you know, like you said, when I heard about the jet out there, I was like, you know what, what let me ask a couple people just what they've heard what they know and the only thing I really got on this front whatsoever is the general consensus that if any owner is the type to make this kind of move not not in terms of like making this big splash but just going against the grain and going against what everybody else is doing it would be Jim Irsay you know he would be the owner that would step in and break this collusion

Starting point is 00:07:08 that we think is happening against Lamar Jackson, and he would offer the big deal. But that's all I've really heard. I haven't heard anything concrete whatsoever about Lamar Jackson, the Colts. And I think it's wise of them not to shoot it down completely like all these other teams for some reason have done because, one, let's say this is kind of a collusion type thing you don't want to be opened up to that but two you're sitting at four you know there are teams behind you that might want to move up to three

Starting point is 00:07:34 and take Anthony Richardson or Willows whoever you're you're you really want in this draft why do you want them to think that you're going to take one of those guys you know if you're the Colts you keep putting it out there that hey we taking, or we're going to go get Lamar Jackson. Hey, we're going to go take a Hendon hooker on day two. And I don't really care about Richardson or Levis. So if they fall to us at four, we're not going to take them or whatever. So you're trying to dissuade teams like the lions, teams like the Seahawks teams, like the Falcons, teams like the Raiders from coming up in front of you to take those quarterbacks, it might have a 1% shot of working. But if that, I mean, that's the case, there's no putting it. So even when reporters or people like us reach out for like, oh, you know,

Starting point is 00:08:16 what are you doing out there? It's, you know, it's lying season. We're going to say we're going out there to talk to Lamar Jackson, or we're going to be really discreet about it. Oh, you never know. You never know. We could go after Lamar Jackson, even're going to be really discreet about it. Oh, you never know. You never know. We could go after Lamar Jackson, even though it's probably really unlikely. So yeah, it's definitely lying season right now. April is the prime time for lying before the draft. And I don't think the Colts are going to come out and say no way to Lamar Jackson,

Starting point is 00:08:42 no way to Hendon Hooker, no way to these other things because they want those teams behind them to think we're not taking a quarterback or we're not taking your quarterback you can wait on him and not give up that draft capital when in reality the Colts probably are taking a quarterback in number four yeah it's it just doesn't seem like their style to to go that route and let's just let's just go with it and say it was something it doesn't mean anything is coming down the pike you know it could just literally been a fact-finding mission it doesn't have to be hammering out details of some deal um but no i still we obviously both are leaning on the side of it not happening again i think the whole thing is interesting like it, it was worth looking into over the weekend, you know, just to see if there was anything there. Um, I was not able to turn up anything. I don't think

Starting point is 00:09:31 anyone else was so interesting. Yes. Fruitful. Probably not. We'll see. I will say I did, I did look into if there are any rare guitar auctions going on in Baltimore. I looked into it. I didn't see anything I think there was a Maryland Fest that was happening this weekend so maybe maybe Jim was trying to go hang out the Maryland Fest or something I don't know like who knows honestly it really could just be like you know like for instance I saw Todd Vasvari at the Maryland Pro Day last year you know and he's I think the assistant college director or scouting director it could just be flying one of those guys out to get ready for one of the pro days out here instead of having

Starting point is 00:10:09 them drive across the country like there's so many different things it could be uh but if you guys want my honest opinion I would 100% give up two first round picks for Lamar Jackson I would do that 10 times out of 10 like I I love Lamar Jackson I think he's a true franchise guy uh he'd be perfect for this offense. It's just, I don't see it happening. It's such an unlikely thing for a quarterback of his caliber to even be somewhat available. And that next step of having the Ravens let him go, I don't see it. I don't see it whatsoever. Nope. Agreed. But before we go on and talk further about another polarizing prospect, Hendon Hooker, which I mentioned earlier, we're going to tell you guys about our friends over at FanDuel. The tournament is heating up and now is the perfect time to download FanDuel, which is America's number one sportsbook. Because new customers, you guys get a no-sweat first bet up to $1,000.

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Starting point is 00:11:28 bets. When you go to FanDuel.com slash locked on that's FanDuel.com slash locked on to learn more, make every moment more with FanDuel. All right, Jake. So let's talk some Hendon Hooker and you know, we're not going to go too deep into his film or anything like that. Cause I think Hag and I are going to talk about Hendon Hookeker sometime this week and we'll really break down the prospect that he is and stuff like that but if you guys follow me on social media I'm staunchly against the Hendenhoeker idea for the Indianapolis Colts it just doesn't make any sense to me and I'll say a couple quick things here again we're going to talk about in more detail later this week but you're talking

Starting point is 00:12:03 about a 25 year old quarterback I'm not even going to mention the acl injury because i don't i don't care too much about it but we have a guy who's 25 who's coming from an offense that statistic like never works in the nfl like these the guys who come from this offense like the guys that you're thinking are like bryce petty you know like it's this is not it's not like a traditional spread where it's like four receivers out it's specifically an offense designed to take advantage of how the hash marks are in college football you know so it's all spacing that just doesn't exist whatsoever in the NFL so when I say like this offense is like a gimmicky fake college offense, it's because it does not translate whatsoever to the NFL. That's not saying Hendon Hooker can't learn an NFL

Starting point is 00:12:51 offense, but you're talking about a 25 year old quarterback who has to relearn what an NFL offense is and get out of this system he's currently in. And I don't see that being worth a second round pick, maybe not even a third round pick like I like Hendon Hooker I think he's a great dude he's got some nice traits about him he's athletic he has a decent arm like there are some things there but when you compare him to guys like Will Levis who's played in NFL offense the last two seasons has a special arm and also has pretty good mobility as well or Anthony Richardson who has you know the potential of being a top five quarterback one day with his athletic traits and his ability I don't see how

Starting point is 00:13:30 you could pass on one of those guys and take a guy like Hendon Hooker has so many more question marks in round two or round three I like I get it I get saying like I want Will Anderson Will Anderson's cool I get it but you can't be too cute with this quarterback thing. You've got to take the guys who have the ability to be a top five or a top ten quarterback one day. And I just don't see that ever being the case with Hendon Hooker. Good player. Great dude. I just don't really see it as an NFL draft prospect to be taken as high as some people are.

Starting point is 00:14:01 Some people are saying trade up into the first round again for him. And I just can't get behind it whatsoever. Like I would not pass on one of these guys at the top of the draft who are either more pro ready or younger with higher potential. No, there's just, there's just too much at stake with that. And you're also essentially committing to Gardner Minshew for the season at that point, because there is the ACL recovery, you know, again, long-term that's not really a concern, but that is something where I don't think he's really going to be ready until training camp.

Starting point is 00:14:33 So physically, you've got a guy who was not there all spring doing reps on the field. So there's that part of it. There's having to totally get used to an NFL offense, like you mentioned, because those offense, you might as well have been playing backyard football the whole time, essentially. He's a very bright guy, and his preparation is outstanding. And I loved everything he answered at the combine. But still, you're just starting too far back.

Starting point is 00:15:04 And at the age that he is where you're maybe waiting a year or two for him to take the reins as the guy he's going to be like 27 or 28 by that point you know what i mean like and you're just you're too far down the road at that point you've probably missed out on other top flight candidates you could have had like they have mistakenly done the last couple years already you're just repeating the same cycle at that point and all you will have had to show for it is a will anderson or something cool that's not going to matter and get you into the playoffs again like sure i i get the point of like you're banking on that quarterback and you got some like blue chip prospect first. But the likelihood of Hooker panning out, especially with like the 35th overall pick, that's just too rich.

Starting point is 00:15:55 Yeah, it's all it's just too much to tie into that situation. And I think we've seen enough from them in the last few years to know that that would probably be a mistake. Yeah, look, I like Hendon Hooker. I really hope he's successful in the NFL because he's a great dude, and I love to see players who have just improved every single year in college, and every single year he got better and better. It's just there's so many red flags with him, and it's not even personality-wise or anything like that.

Starting point is 00:16:23 It's all field stuff. It's all physically I don't think he has these high-end traits that you really want to bet on obviously he's already i mean like i had someone the other day tell me he reminds me of a younger jalen hurts he's older than jalen hurts he's not a younger jay right right now yeah yeah like right now he's older than jay forever he'll be older than jay and it's just like that kind of stuff and then mentally again this offense great college offense so much success at the college level it's just not something that translates at all like a lot of what he was doing was getting the play from the sidelines and exactly who he needs to throw the ball to. And then not really reading the defense, just reading that play and then throwing it to that one receiver.

Starting point is 00:17:08 Like it wasn't there wasn't really much he had to do with his eyes, with his footwork, with actually reading, you know, oh, I'm seeing middle of the field closed coverage. I need to attack this outside leverage here and tack it down the field and get my vertical routes going. You know, it's not stuff like that. He's not reading this defense. He's literally attacking different like it's all about spacing that just doesn't exist in the NFL that's all he was doing was attacking those spacing things I firmly believe he can one day get to an adequate level at the NFL like I think he can be a solid NFL quarterback it's just I don't you don't you don't strive for solid you don't strive for solid. You don't strive for solid at all.

Starting point is 00:17:45 And that's what it would be like. You're basically striving for just a solid quarterback at 35. If you're taking Hendon Hooker there. And that's not at all what I want. I want to either boom or bust like Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, whoever that is. Those guys could be top five quarterbacks or they could be out of the league in two years. That's much more preferable than Hendon Hooker coming in and being a Gardner Minshew-level player for his whole career,

Starting point is 00:18:09 like a high-level backup, low-level starter. I just don't see it. I'm sorry. I like Hendon Hooker. Again, I hope he has a lot of success, but I just don't see it whatsoever for the Colts. And I would much rather throw 10 first-round picks at Lamar Jackson than spend pick 35 on Hendon Hooker. I just can't get behind it whatsoever. Now, I will say I'm not opposed to an idea that was floated earlier in the offseason of if he's available taking Hooker later down the

Starting point is 00:18:39 road. If he's there in the mid rounds or something, if something happens and he begins to slide, I'm fine with that. But 35, you're still getting someone who could be considered a first round prospect at that point. So with four and 35, you're basically getting two first round picks and you would be using 35 on a player who's not going to play for you for a couple of years. Like perhaps as bad, if not worse than the Jordan love pick was at the time

Starting point is 00:19:05 for the packers you know what i mean um so yeah it's uh love the player i don't love that value at 35 now and even to your point where you said take him in the middle round and stuff like maybe if your team that needs a backup i would take him there but like you're not drafting a started quarterback in round four because if you view this guy as having starting traits you're taking him in round one or round two that would be the point that would be the point would be to be the the backup yeah right right like i think he can be a really solid backup and again maybe a low-level starter in the nfl it just it's not what the colts need the colts need the the guy. They need the guy, whether that's a guy like

Starting point is 00:19:46 Richardson who has to sit for the whole first year, but you know that he has the ability and the traits to be that guy, or a guy like Will Levitz where you're going to have some ugly moments in his first year as a starter, but he has those traits where he can be boom or bust and maybe be that guy. Hendon Hooker, I just don't think is ever going to be the guy. And I would love to eat a crow if he one day turns into Jalen Hurts and becomes, you know, an MVP level quarterback, but I don't see it. I would love for him to prove me wrong, but it's just, it's just not what the Colts need. They just don't need that whatsoever.

Starting point is 00:20:18 Yeah. And I think that's another part of it is like, I don't even hate it for some other team. I just hate it for the colts like another team can do that and maybe it'll pan out for them but that is not what the colts need you know yeah no it's like the bucks or the vikings took them in the middle of round two like that's that makes sense yeah it's fine value like that like there's something there personality wise there's something there athletically that you can make work. It's just, it's not for the Colts. It's just not for the Colts whatsoever. Yeah. Agreed. Well, you, you have anything else

Starting point is 00:20:52 to add to the Lamar Jackson, Hennon Hooker discourse? No, uh, again, I would love Lamar, but it's just not going to happen. Uh, and, and Hooker. Yeah. I mean, I, I kind of just said enough there, but, uh, yeah uh yeah just remember guys it is lying season uh everything that you hear even from us if we hear it from someone that we think is credible a lot of reasons when those reports come out and and things are said behind closed doors or even you know in front of the closed door to us and stuff like it's lying season you're saying that with a reason to get that report out there so So even the stuff that I hear from people who I've known for 10 years or whatever and I'm really close with, they might not be lying directly to me, but they were lied to when they were told something because it's just that season.

Starting point is 00:21:37 It's happy-go-lucky lying season. The Colts are going to want to sell as much as possible. They don't want a quarterback at four because they want to make sure those teams behind them don't get antsy and jump up in front of them. But also those teams might just be like, yeah, we'll trade up just to be safe. So it's,

Starting point is 00:21:51 it's a crazy time of year. Everyone's lying. Everyone's, you know, feigning interest in a bunch of different things. And then we'll get to draft day and it'll go exactly the way we think or, or go crazy. Like who knows?

Starting point is 00:22:02 It's, it's just that time of year. So bear with us for another month, guys. I know it's wild. But yeah, hopefully the Colts have a quarterback by the end of the draft, at least. Like at least have a quarterback by then. I'll be happy. Yeah, I do think their approach so far has been strategic. Like I do think they're playing this a certain way that they want to do it. So we obviously have seen other teams throwing full resources at things. And the Colts maybe at face value weren't doing that, but we'll see.

Starting point is 00:22:34 So, yeah, that is it for us today. We'll be back with you guys tomorrow. Free agency could come up. You know, more draft stuff could come up. Over at Horseshoe Huddle, we actually have another full week of our Pro Day Tour to go. Monday, when you guys will be listening to this, Destin will be at Ball State. The next day, he'll be at Louisville. Wednesday, Shad will be out at LSU. Wednesday, Zach is going to be out at Maryland. And then on Thursday, I will actually be at Tennessee, maybe talking to Hendon Hooker.

Starting point is 00:23:09 So all that to bring it right back around to, I'll get more from Hendon Hooker on Thursday if he's there. There you go. There you go. Make sure you guys are following us on social medias, at LockedOnColts, at JakeArthurNFL, and at ZachHicks2 on Twitter. Also subscribe to LockedOnColts on YouTube, wherever you list your podcasts.

Starting point is 00:23:26 And thanks for making LockedOnC Colts your first listen every day. Now make your second listen, Locked on NFL Scouting with the Draft Dudes. From free agency to the draft to salary cap management and more, join NFL experts Kyle Krabs and Joe Marino as they take you through what it's like to build a successful NFL franchise every Monday through Friday. Find Locked on NFL Scouting with the Draft Dudes wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. For the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

Starting point is 00:23:49 We will see you guys tomorrow.

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Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: Could They Be Pursuing Lamar Jackson?

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