Colts now look like geniuses for Quenton Nelson-Sam Darnold trade

The Indianapolis Colts traded the rights to Sam Darnold for Quenton Nelson, ostensibly, and it worked.

Imagine dealing pick No. 3 for No. 6, giving up the rights to a top quarterback, losing Andrew Luck unexpectedly, and still coming out on top? Such is the amazing reality that Colts fans are living through right about now.

In the wake of that much-ballyhooed 2018 draft swap, the Jets rocketed up three slots with their pick of the litter lingering ahead of them. The Giants, slotted at No. 2, were determined to take Saquon Barkley — no matter how you feel about drafting running backs that high, it was a done deal. That would give the Jets a shot at some impressive QB prospect, and honestly, the same logic applied to the Colts, with a deep pool of quarterback talent unveiling itself.

When the Browns shocked the world by taking Baker Mayfield first overall, both the Jets and Colts had to be shivering. The options opened wide up for Indianapolis, and New York suddenly seemed poised to land the consensus top signal caller several slots down in the draft order.

And yet, two years later … uh …

Darnold’s development has been far from linear. Surrounded by a talent void and a head coaching crater named Adam Gase, the third-year QB has become far more famous for “seeing ghosts” than delivering touchdowns.

Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, the Colts managed to snap up a road-grader through the ages in Quenton Nelson, who has defined their next several years without a franchise QB in place, and seems poised to be the face of the franchise as they ascend to greatness once more.

And, perhaps most stunning of all, Darnold’s talent may be ignored in New York to the point where he could be … available once more in the coming years, giving the Colts a chance to fill their most important position with the man they passed on two years ago anyway. We’re far from the only source to connect Darnold to the role as Philip Rivers’ successor. Amazing.

So, Darnold is a Jet with a lot to prove against his once-and-future (?) team on Sunday, and Indy has Nelson, Rock Ya-Sin, and Jordan Wilkins, thanks to some deft Draft Day work.

For a team that ostensibly had no idea they were about to lose Andrew Luck and were only trying to better protect him, we’re still fairly confident Indy would make the same maneuver.

And with Darnold being dangled, the ending here remains unwritten.

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