Anyone who thinks that the Colts just drafted their quarterback of the future needs to temper expectations, at least for now. He has a lot of work to do.
The Colts drafted Jacob Eason in the fourth round this past weekend. Everyone who reads us on a regular basis knows how much I love Eason’s potential. They got a second-round talent in the fourth round. Eason is someone who could be the quarterback of the future.
Chris Ballard wanted to temper expectations immediately. He did that, saying that Eason still needs to battle it out with Chad Kelly for the third-string job, let alone the backup job. He made it clear that the quarterback has a long way to go before he can do anything.
Ballard is just doing what he has to do. He has to temper expectations so that Eason has a better chance to succeed. Everyone knows he is going to sit a year or two behind Philip Rivers. But Ballard wants to make sure that his QB has all the time he needs in order to succeed.
Ballard does think that Eason has the potential to be the quarterback of the future. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have drafted him at all. But Ballard was right to temper expectations other than because he had to. It’s because expectations should be tempered with him.
Eason has a big, strong arm. That arm will allow him to make all the throws needed in the NFL. But even the biggest, strongest of arms doesn’t matter if you can’t make the proper decisions. He has had some issues with that in his college career.
Sitting and learning for a couple of years should certainly help that. NFL coaching will help that as well. Frank Reich is a great offensive mind and will be a great coach to teach him everything he needs. Eason might have to spend a year on the practice squad though.
Jacoby Brissett has one more year left on his deal. He will probably spend that year as a backup to Rivers. After that, he will probably move on and Eason will either be the backup or the new starter depending on what happens to Rivers. Kelly no longer has a future with this organization.
Eason has all the potential to be a great quarterback in this league. Only time will tell if he can put it all together.