Here are three big moves the Colts could have made had Andrew Luck not retired.
The untimely retirement of Andrew Luck should have set the Indianapolis Colts back a few years. However, thanks to their front office stability — led by general manager Chris Ballard — the franchise appears to be ready to win again.
Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t reminisce and think about what could have been had the Pro Bowl quarterback not decided to call it a career at just 29 years old, albeit after a rash of injuries. If Luck was still kicking in the NFL, there’s no telling what sort of blockbuster moves that Ballard would’ve pulled off to bolster the team’s Super Bowl odds.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at three major transactions that the Colts could have made to help them win a championship with Luck under center.
3. Sign Todd Gurley
The prospect of the Colts signing another running back is pretty suspect on the heels of them drafting Wisconsin stud Jordan Taylor in the second-round back in April. However, if Luck was still around, throwing a flier on Todd Gurley, who was surprisingly cut by the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, definitely would have been in the cards for Indianapolis.
Despite his concerning injury history, the three-time Pro Bowler would give the Colts something they simply haven’t had in the backfield since Luck was drafted in 2012, and that is a game-breaker. Not only is Gurley motivated to stick it to the Rams, but he’s an excellent pass-catcher and a seasoned veteran that knows what it takes to win.
You can’t sit there and tell us that the Georgia product wouldn’t give Indy a better chance to win than what the team currently has at the running back position.
2. Trade for DeAndre Hopkins
Had league executives known hat Houston Texans de facto GM Bill O’Brien was willing to sell DeAndre Hopkins for pennies on the dollar, the rest of the NFL would absolutely have made a bid for the All-Pro wide receiver.
As we know, Hopkins was dealt to the Arizona Cardinals for a minimal return package and something tell us that the Colts would’ve been all over the 28-year-old superstar had Luck not retired in the middle of his prime.
Outside of TY Hilton, the Stanford Product didn’t always have elite perimeter weapons to work with in Indy, and trading for Hopkins would’ve changed the entire complexion of the Colts offense. As good as Hilton is — he’s led them in receiving in six of the last seven seasons — he just isn’t on the same level as his Cardinals counterpart.
Not many receivers are and that’s precisely why Indianapolis if Luck was still around, would’ve been all-in on the Hopkins sweepstakes the minute he first publicized his frustration with the Texans.
1. Trade for Trent Williams
Colts fans may never forgive former GM Ryan Grigson for ignoring the importance of an offensive line. During his stint in the front office, Luck was one of the most pressured quarterbacks in the NFL, and, more often than not, he found himself getting walloped by opposing pass rushers several times on a weekly basis.
With Ballard emphasizing rebuilding the OL in the draft over the last three years, he would’ve been fully committed to protecting Luck’s blindside at left tackle. There obviously hasn’t been many elite players at that position available in recent times, but former Washington Redskins stud Trent Williams — who was traded to San Francisco this offseason — used to be one of them.
The seven-time Pro Bowler wanted out of Washington for a multitude of reasons, and we don’t doubt that Ballard and the Colts would’ve jumped all over his availability if Luck didn’t retire. Just imagine the havoc that Williams and Quenton Nelson could wreak upfront.
Luck may never have gotten sacked again.