Colts: Jacob Eason impressing in training camp builds his case for future franchise QB

Colts rookie QB Jacob Eason has been impressing in training camp.

The Indianapolis Colts will have a ton of questions to address next offseason, the most notable of which pertains to the quarterback position, where they currently have no future plan in place. Veteran free agent Philip Rivers signed with the franchise back in March, but — as evidenced by his one-year deal — it’s clear Indianapolis only views him as a stopgap.

Luckily for the Colts, there will be no shortage of options for them to address this dilemma. Their projected cap space suggests they could sign an impending free agent. Indy also has the assets to pull off a blockbuster trade.

However, what so many fans in Indianapolis aren’t considering as a potential course of action is turning to rookie gunslinger Jacob Eason, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. The latest buzz indicates that young signal caller has been impressing thus far at Colts training camp.

"“It took 90 minutes into practice, but Jacob Eason got his most 11-on-11 throwing work of camp on Monday,” wrote Kevin Bowen of 1075thefan.com. “Eason went 5-of-9 on the afternoon (with 2 drops), but those numbers don’t tell the full story in how well the rookie threw the ball. Eason’s pass catchers struggled to create separation, yet he delivered the ball on target on 8 of the 9 balls. There’s just an ease in the rookie’s throwing motion, with a velocity and accuracy. Frank Reich liked what he saw from Eason on Monday, particularly in throwing outside the numbers.”"

That’s what we like to hear.

After being projected to be a second- or third-round selection this year, Eason endured arguably the biggest fall of any QB in the Draft. It’s clear the Washington product is using that as motivation to stick it to the number of teams that passed on him in favor of other prospects.

In his first season as the Huskies starter after transferring from Georgia, he completed over 64% of his passes for 3,132 yards and 23 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions, leading the team to an 8-5 record and a win in the Las Vegas Bowl.

We certainly don’t want to overreact to just nine pass attempts and a few weeks of practices, but there’s something to be said about Eason embracing the moment, taking the 2020 season to learn under Rivers, and not faltering under pressure.

Nobody’s crowning him as the Colts’ future QB just yet, but if this is a sign of things to come from the 22-year-old, the front office might not have to look outside the organization for its long-term solution under center.