Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: What's Going On with Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones Rumors?

Starting point is 00:00:00 the your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. All right, 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. What is up everybody? This is Jake Arthur of HorseshoeHuddle.com and today we've got to get into it.

Starting point is 00:00:48 It's a lot of quarterback rumors swirling around the Colts. Basically starting last week with the NFL Combine, Chris Ballard reiterated that Anthony Richardson is not going to be handed the starting job. It's going to be an open competition. Today, we're going to explore just what does that mean? How open is it really going to be? I'll let you know, you know, what are maybe some of the most realistic options, what I would probably do. Uh, but specifically we're going to dive in first with Sam Darnold and what surrounds that and Daniel Jones, who is probably the leader

Starting point is 00:01:21 in the clubhouse at the moment. Uh, so let's just kind of first introduce this Anthony Richardson situation, why there is a quarterback competition in the first place. So obviously Anthony played four games as a rookie, have the season ending shoulder injury, missed four games with injuries last year as well, including a back issue, which was discovered, maybe chronic. It's something he's had off and on dating back to like eighth grade. last year as well, including a back issue which was discovered maybe chronic.

Starting point is 00:01:45 It's something he's had off and on dating back to like eighth grade. He's healthy now and by all accounts is gonna have a healthy off season. But that is absolutely noteworthy to say the least. So obviously he got benched for a couple weeks as well. So you've got a thing where you have a quarterback who is injury prone until he proves that he's not and that at one point, you know was kind of not holding up his end of the bargain and was struggling on and off the field in terms of being a quarterback and had to get sat down for a couple weeks. So obviously you got to keep him accountable. They apparently want to

Starting point is 00:02:21 keep that fire going. They're trying to you, get him fired up any way they can. It seems by kind of making these things more public than they certainly used to. So that is why there is going to be a competition. Now, I will say I do think they want Anthony to succeed. I think they want him to be their starting quarterback in 2025 and moving forward. I think they want this to be a success story and for this all to just be a big, messy, sloppy start to the career that they hope brings their team a lot of success. But with that, I think what's gotten lost in a lot of this is people are focusing on

Starting point is 00:03:00 the quarterback competition part of it, which of course, that's incredibly noteworthy. But at the end of the day, you, you need a backup for a guy that has missed a lot of games due to injury. Even if Anthony goes out there and plays lights out when he's on the field, I mean, statistics show over the last couple of years, the guy's going to miss a lot of time. He's had concussion shoulder, the back injury, uh, the, the hip thing. So he's had several things that have kept him out of games Good logic tells you that you're gonna need a capable player behind him to help win you games if he misses

Starting point is 00:03:38 So that's led us to the Daniel Jones stuff So ESPN's Jeremy Fowler came out. He was Sunday or Monday and said that he had multiple conversations with people throughout the week of the combine. He pointed out specifically Justin Fields, Jacoby Brissette. I think it was Trey Lance and Daniel Jones is four guys who are on the Colts radar in that he kept hearing Daniel Jones was probably at the forefront. And then Rich Eisen the next day came out and said the same thing. He'll hear multiple people tying Daniel Jones to the cult.

Starting point is 00:04:11 So normally the cults are pretty tight-lipped with this stuff. But we've seen in the past, you know, Philip Rivers poorly kept secret. Carson Wentz poorly kept secret. So I think there's something to this and I'll tell you why. So financially, I don't think it's going to cost as much as a lot of people are kind of making it out to be so slow track. Com puts Jones market value at 5.1 million dollars per year. I think that might be a little low just for a guy who just

Starting point is 00:04:44 a couple years ago earned a big contract. However, I don't really see it going too much more than than, you know, 10 to 12 million a year. I think you're looking at the low end is, you know, about eight million dollars is what Jacobi Brissette signed for per year last time. Trey Lance as well. That was that was his deal. Obviously, still part of his rookie deal. But then you go up to like Gardner Mentsch you $12 million a year with the Raiders. It's probably about the high end of it. So I think you're probably looking anywhere to 8 to $12 million a year for for Daniel Jones for a guy who might win a quarterback competition for you this summer.

Starting point is 00:05:29 And if not is probably going to have to start games and hopefully win them for you at some point. I think that is a reasonable contract. It's not like you're spending like a first or second round pick on the guy. This is an important position with the Colts because they're probably going to have to play you look at it with Gardner Mentsentsch two years ago and Joe Flacco last year. You're going to have to pay decent money for a guy who is most likely going to have to play for you. So Daniel Jones himself is not really a popular option among Colts fans.

Starting point is 00:05:58 I do get that. But you're going to have to get somebody, you know, there's a couple guys who are maybe pipe dreams or best case scenarios that I don't know how realistic that is. But more likely than not, you're looking at a Daniel Jones level player to come in and compete with slash backup Anthony if Anthony wins the job. To me, this is a true, it seems like a true competition. Daniel Jones is a decent enough option to not be more expensive or threatening to Richardson's job. Like I think that's if their goal is to kind of, you know, give Anthony a kick in the pants, I think this is the level of signing that kind of does it. It's enough for Anthony when to win that job outright, but if he doesn't like I think Shane Stikin could do enough with Daniel Jones to get them by which you

Starting point is 00:06:55 want more than just enough, but the only quarterback you're going to acquire that's going to get you where you want to go into the playoffs and beyond is Anthony. That's where the potential is. So if he's not going to be that guy, then you might as well get someone who is at least going to be capable of maybe just operating the offense at an OK level. Jones throughout his career, he has kind of true backup numbers. Career 64 percent passer.

Starting point is 00:07:21 He does have only one season at 20 plus touchdown throws, which is kind of concerning. It was his, uh, it was his rookie year career, six and a half yards per attempt. Guy, uh, 2100 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in his career. Very much is just a guy that's going to give what the defense or is going to take what the defense gives you. Doesn't push the ball down the field a whole lot. Although I will say the supporting cast he would have here in Indy, I think is better than what he had for a good majority of the time in New York.

Starting point is 00:07:51 I mean, he had Saquon Barkley, of course, but you've got Jonathan Taylor here. You got a better offensive line than he had in New York and you've got better skill position guys in the outside. Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr, Alec Pierce. If AD Mitchell can do anything. We know the Colts are going to look pretty hard at upgrading the tight end room this year as well. So he may be capable of doing a little bit more than he did in New York. Just again, the coaching and the supporting cast might be a little bit better than what he had in New York. And again, you look at the reclamation project part of this whole thing. Jones is 28. He's going to be 28 in May.

Starting point is 00:08:35 I don't think you make a move like this or really any other backup to be a long-term option. I think it's very much a get this guy, you know, has maybe some high upside to operate the offense, but you just, he's gonna be the person that lets you know whether Anthony is the answer or not. And if Anthony is not, doesn't win the competition this year, then this guy can at least, and a ball off to Jonathan Taylor,

Starting point is 00:09:04 take what the defense gives him. Maybe you get into the playoffs. I think that's kind of realistically what the Colts are looking for here and. Again, I think just about any name we throw out there is going to be unpopular, but that's because it's it's just not a great crop of free agents.

Starting point is 00:09:22 It's not really a great crop of draft. The quarterbacks in the draft. It's obviously not last year when you had a half dozen guys go in the first round, but it is what it is. I think Daniel Jones is not the worst option out there for the Colts, but we're going to move on here in a moment and talk about the same Darnold of it all. Does that one make any sense whatsoever? We are going to take a look at that in just a moment.

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Starting point is 00:11:34 Alright guys, so outside of Daniel Jones, the other quarterback that is garnering the more the most buzz when it comes to the Colts is Vikings free agent and rain pro go or Sam Darnold. So this one to me makes very little sense. The age isn't the problem on this one. He's going to be 28. So it's not like he's 38 or 39. So you're not he's not coming to the retirement home like we've seen other guys. But Sam Darnold is very much a guy who was like eligible for the franchise tag. Now, obviously, Minnesota didn't tag him, but he's someone who might command a multi-year deal, you know, two or three years.

Starting point is 00:12:17 And as far as per year, you're looking at like 35 million per year minimum, maybe 40. If you do that, if the Colts bring in a Sam Darnold, you're completely pulling the record on the Anthony Richardson thing. You don't pay a guy like that that much money to come in and compete. You cannot pay a backup 35 40 million dollars. That is absolutely insane. You just can't do that. So obviously if you sign Sam Darnold, he is your starter.

Starting point is 00:12:49 There is no competition to it. You know, Anthony Richardson starts if Darnold goes down and gets hurt. Now, is that realistic? Should the Colts do that whatsoever? You're obviously gambling on the fact that, you know, what he just did in Minnesota was a sign of things to come and that he's really turned his career around. So obviously he was a top pick by the Jets. You know, I think 2018, I think it was came in with Quentin Nelson

Starting point is 00:13:16 back with the Jets flamed out there. Didn't do all that well with the Panthers, but the Jets and Panthers were both really messy franchises at the time. But, you know, he got some stability with Kevin O'Connell and Josh McCown and you Denske there in Minnesota and really found his footing. He passed for over 66% had 4500 total yards from scrimmage 36 total touchdowns did have 16 turnovers, which is kind of been a thing for him throughout his career.

Starting point is 00:13:45 But I will say I think the same Arnold, I think the price of Sam Arnold has caused people to really rip him apart a bit. And I don't think that's necessary. Like I think he's he's still going to be a decent player like the numbers he put up. Not everybody can do that. I think he does have to be in a good situation with a Kevin O'Connell or some sort of supporting coaching past like that. So he's not just going to go like anywhere and succeed. But you know, I think it is very risky to roll the dice on

Starting point is 00:14:21 that one season that one Pro Bowl season and say, all right, this is going to be our guy for the next three, four or five years. I don't think the Colts should do that at all. And again, I like Sam Darnold. I think he's a great story. I'm gonna root for him wherever he goes and hope he has a great rest of his career and that this is kind of like a Geno Smith thing. But I just don't think that should be the case with the Colts.

Starting point is 00:14:43 And I'm sure you guys agree as well. There's just I don't know the national narrative around this recently is, you know, Daniel Jeremiah, which is a guy I really, really like, but he put out a tweet. I think yesterday that got a lot of people talking and it was, you know, Sam Darnold hits the open market, which it looks like he might. I know the Vikings are trying to find ways to bring him back, but that the Colts are a logical choice because they are a team that needs to win now. And I wrote a little piece on that, just throwing out some analysis on it and giving my opinion

Starting point is 00:15:17 on it. And, you know, people kind of took the win now thing running. I think they thought it to mean that the Colts are like built to win now. I don't think that's the case. I feel like Jeremiah was more intimating that like Chris Ballard and Shane Stiken need to win right now, regardless of what that roster looks like. It doesn't matter. They need to start winning games now and they need kind of a Hail Mary desperation move.

Starting point is 00:15:44 That's how I read it at least and if that's the case, then sure Sam Darnold makes sense. But then again, what goes on with the Anthony Richardson thing? I don't think there's any scenario where this makes sense. If the Colts do value Anthony Richardson whatsoever, because if you signed on it, let's say Darnold agrees to just this makes sense if the Colts do value Anthony Richardson whatsoever, because if you signed on, let's say, Donald agrees to just come here for a year. I don't know why he would do that. He's coming off the season of his lifetime

Starting point is 00:16:14 and has an opportunity to parlay that into a huge deal for at least two, three years. But let's say it's just one year. So now you're kicking Richardson to the bench for a year now already stunting. The development that happened last year. I just don't think that makes any sense whatsoever. So for any number of reasons you guys take your pick whether it's the financial stuff, whether it's the Anthony stuff, whether it's you don't trust that Donald is going to stay the player that he was last year with Minnesota. I don't I don't think there's any reason to roll with that.

Starting point is 00:16:49 It just really doesn't make a whole lot of sense whatsoever. So coming up in a moment guys, we're going to talk about some of the moves that maybe do make a little bit of sense what I would maybe do some realistic options and I'd love for you guys to drop in yours as well. some realistic options and I'd love for you guys to drop in yours as well. All right, so what is realistic for the Colts in this whole thing? I'm going to start with, you know, some kind of name popular names we hear now and then that I just either pretty unlikely or just I'm going to put them in the no category.

Starting point is 00:17:19 So obviously by now, you know, Sam Darnold, you can put that in no or unlikely. Russell Wilson, kind of the same situation, not going to be as expensive, Sam Darnold, you could put that in no or unlikely. Russell Wilson, kind of the same situation, not going to be as expensive as Sam Darnold. But I think Russell is still in a position in the league where he has a couple of different places he could go to not necessarily have to compete for the starting job at the level he would with the Colts, because the Colts, again, they want Anthony Richardson to win this thing. Whoever comes in,

Starting point is 00:17:48 they're going to have an uphill battle to dethrone Richardson. They could do it, but it's going to be kind of dependent on Richardson if they win or not. So Wilson I think would probably view the Colts situation still beneath his, his purview, you know, and then a couple straight up knows Zach Wilson and Carson Wentz Carson Wentz ain't stepping foot in the in the Colts building again guys, I could tell you that much and then Zach Wilson. I do not imagine the Colts would like that situation whatsoever either again, you know

Starting point is 00:18:21 that that's someone they they had to scout a good bit when he was coming into the draft. I don't see it happening. So let's talk about ideal situations. So you've got Justin Fields, I think, is top priority. That's a guy who could come in and compete with Anthony and is talented enough to win the competition stylistically. Obviously, he is the most similar to Anthony out there. Great rushing quarterback.

Starting point is 00:18:47 He has a season of over a thousand rushing yards has been pretty durable is God probably at the same level passing as Anthony. It's hard to really trust either of them as like you're probably not going to make any of either of them 40 past 10 per game guys right now. But the most similar player to Anthony, while having the capability to be a little better is Fields for certain and Chris Ballard, you know, was high on Fields during that draft class. James Swenson is going to be another polarizing one. With his past, I'm kind of out on him,

Starting point is 00:19:23 but I'm just trying to view this through a Colts lens. They did have interest in him at one point back in 2022. I think he was kind of one of the fallback options if they weren't able to land Matt Ryan. So as a player on the field, I think Winston is capable. I mean, he's going to be very chaotic. He's willing to push the ball down the field. He's willing to make all the throws, but obviously that means a lot of turnovers as well. He might have a couple of games where he's just kind of a no show

Starting point is 00:19:52 if the things around him aren't working well. But I think you always have a chance to have a productive passing game when Winston is out there. So fields and Winston are probably your two maybe best options among realistic options, although I think fields. There are kind of conflictive reports coming out of Pittsburgh, but it sounds like the Steelers would really prefer to get fields back in the building. And they'd probably be willing to pay more than the Colts would be.

Starting point is 00:20:20 My next section is kind of guys you'll live with if the Colts bring them in not great, but you'll live with it because again, like I said at the top of the show. This is not a great offseason to have to go QB hunting, but the Colts have to do it. Anthony and Jason Bean are the only quarterbacks under contract for next year. Obviously, they have got to bring in one or two more bodies to compete because Joe Flacco and Sam Ellinger are both free agents. Obviously you know bringing Ellinger back on a cheap deal to be like your QB3 would be okay just for the sake of him you know really mashing well with Anthony Richardson but you still need that bonafide QB2 who can either again beat Anthony in a competition or help win the Colts games if if Anthony is out.

Starting point is 00:21:07 So let's go over this list. Jacobi Burset, obviously the longest tenure of his NFL career was with the Colts from 2017 to 2020. So he was here a while, pretty much spent out the majority of the duration of his rookie contract here. He's kind of along the same vein of a Gardner, Mentsch, you were even Daniel Jones, to be honest with you. They can move around the pocket a little bit.

Starting point is 00:21:34 They're they're not burners. I mean, Daniel Jones is probably the most mobile of that bunch. None of them are going to be super eager to push the ball down the field, but they can they could do some things in short and intermediate to move the ball. Again, not great options, but it is where it is. If you're looking for another high upside one, there's always the Trey Lance of it all. Again, Lance was mentioned in Jeremy Fowler's piece about four guys that he thinks are on the Colts radar. Trillants, I think is still just like 24 years old, super young still.

Starting point is 00:22:09 He's he was kind of Anthony Richardson before before Anthony's super limited experience in college, had less than 20 starts there, has only had a handful of starts in the NFL, has had injury issues, but lots of talent. He's mobile. He's got great arm talent, but it's like, can he put it all together to be consistent? I think that is, Lance is kind of a fallback to me unless the Colts are super confident

Starting point is 00:22:35 that they can get him to scratch any of the surface of his potential when the Niners drafted him out of North Dakota State. I don't know how I feel about that one. I've talked myself into it a little more after I looked at kind of his grades and stats. He has gotten better each year a little bit when he's seen the field, but he's seen the field so little

Starting point is 00:22:58 that it's hard to make a good judgment on that. There's just not enough of a sample size. Mack Jones, which I'm not gonna lie, I would kind of hate that. There's just not enough of a sample size. Uh, Mac Jones, which I'm not gonna lie. I would kind of hate that. There's just not much about Mac Jones and that situation that I love. He flamed out in new England. He did not look good last year with the Jags. What's going to change here in Indy?

Starting point is 00:23:18 I mean, he's of that caliber guys were looking at. I wouldn't love it. Taylor Heinecke kind of a chaotic little guy that has that caliber of guys we're looking at, I wouldn't love it. Taylor Heinecke, kind of a chaotic little guy that has that kind of magic playmaking to him throughout his career, especially when he was with the commanders. He could be super unproductive for 55 minutes of a game, but do some crazy stuff in the last five minutes that helps you win. He's obviously undefeated against the Colts. He's beat him with the Falcons, he's beat him with the Falcons.

Starting point is 00:23:46 He's beat him with the commanders. Marcus Mariota, not a great one. That's a guy who's been kind of hurt a lot of points throughout his career, but he's been a good mentor throughout his career, obviously was big for Jaden Daniels last year with the commanders. Obviously has some mobility, has some accuracy, but uh kind of limited as a passer, kind of very much locked in to certain areas of the field. Drew Lock,

Starting point is 00:24:13 if you're getting the Drew Lock that killed the Colts late in the season, that's great. But you look at like Drew Lock and Jarrett Stidham or just a couple of kind of journeyman guys who they're just veterans who aren't real threats to be Anthony, but they've played on the field before and if you have to get them into a game, they at least kind of know what they're doing. And then this last section is players from the draft to I like enough as players and think the Colts either I know the Colts like them or think that they would like them.

Starting point is 00:24:45 Jackson Dart, I don't really know what to make of his draft stock. I think we've all kind of heard at any point in this whole thing, he could have been taking in the fourth or the third. Now we're looking at people talking about him going in the top 10, which I don't really buy. This feels a lot more like a Will Levis thing to me.

Starting point is 00:25:03 Like, everyone seemed convinced that Will Levis was going to the Colts at number four a couple years ago and then boom there is at the top of the second. Darts proper range really to me is day to route round to round three. It like that's something that drives like Zach for for example, nuts like Zach loves Jackson Dart if you're going fourth or fifth round. But because people are driving up the value and saying he's top 10, you know, first round and everything, it kind of makes you scrutinize him a little more. I like Dart more than Zach does. But you know, if the Colts took Dart in the second round, if he was there, I wouldn't love it because I think you need a premium pick like that on anywhere else on the holes on your roster. But I would understand

Starting point is 00:25:48 where they're going with that. But at the same time, that's kind of another thing where you're pulling the plug on the Anthony Richardson thing because you don't draft a quarterback in the second round not to eventually play. Jalen Milro. He's another guy who I think that the NFL sees very highly. They love the upside and they love the work ethic. Again, no row is. Kind of just as chaotic as Anthony was coming out, but he's got more experience. He is older, obviously. But, you know, he's he's got the arm talent.

Starting point is 00:26:23 He's got the mobility. But I really like his mentality and his work ethic, above all else, like he's obsessed with working on his craft and getting better. And he's like the true definition of someone who's trying to get one percent better every day, as corny as that is. Will Howard, I know, had a really kind of shaky combine, but I mean on the field, I think he can move around a bit. He has a decent arm.

Starting point is 00:26:54 It is where it is Brady cook from Missouri is another guy athletic decent arm. I could see the Colts liking in there. So you guys let me know what you think looks like the comments are kind of popping off. If you're watching this after it goes live, drop your comments in their Spotify Apple. You could do it all there as well. Again, thank you guys for making us your first listen of the day.

Starting point is 00:27:15 Now for your second listen, go check out the Lockdown NFL Draft podcast with Damian Parson and Keith Sanchez. Now that the season's over, get the latest draft rankings, rumors and news every day. Find the locked on NFL draft podcast on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you guys want to become a locked on Colts insider and chat with us directly and get the inside scoop, follow the link in our show notes. If you don't already follow at locked on Colts at Jake Arthur NFL and at Zach

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Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: What's Going On with Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones Rumors?

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