Colts GM Chris Ballard was brutally honest when asked about drafting a quarterback in the first round.
The Indianapolis Colts were fortunate enough to have stability at the quarterback position for the better part of the last two decades, so they’re really entering uncharted territory this offseason.
That impossibly long streak can be tied to the selections of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck with a few different No. 1 overall picks in the draft. When you consider that those picks turned out to be home runs and that they don’t currently have a starter lined up for next season, it would be reasonable to assume that the Colts would pounce on a quarterback with the No. 21 selection this year, right?
Not so fast. While speaking to reporters in what turned out to be an offseason preview of sorts, general manager Chris Ballard went semi-scorched earth when asked about the growing pressure to select a quarterback with that pick.
Colts GM Chris Ballard on his search for his franchise QB: "Taking one will get y’all off my ass for a little bit, but the second that guy doesn’t play well? I’m gonna be the first one run out of the building ... I promise you that position never leaves my mind." pic.twitter.com/KWyaXhdGOH
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 14, 2021
Ballard has established a reputation for being brutally honest during press conferences and this savage quote proves that. More importantly, however, his response should reassure the fan base that he’s the perfect man for the job.
After all, drafting a quarterback for the sake of doing so would be franchise malpractice. It’s duly noted that the upcoming class has received rave reviews from scouts and analysts, but most of the top prospects will likely be off the board by the time Indianapolis is slated to pick at No. 21.
Who’s to say he shouldn’t use that pick on a safety or a cornerback? As he implied multiple times during his presser, Ballard is fully aware that the Colts are a franchise QB away from becoming a championship contender. He has to get this right and, given the lack of intriguing options set to hit free agency, orchestrating a trade might be his best option.
#Colts GM Chris Ballard on drafting a QB in the first round: "Taking one in the first round will get y'all off my a** for a little bit, but the moment he doesn't play well, I'm getting run out the door. There's a difference between taking one and taking the right one."
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 14, 2021
If that doesn’t work out, the fourth-year GM would probably be better off re-signing Philip Rivers, assuming he doesn’t retire and decides to run it back for another season.
Let’s also not forget that he spent a fourth-round pick on Jacob Eason last year. In a perfect world, he would serve as the backup for whomever they bring in to be the starter. Drafting a quarterback in back-to-back years is an extreme rarity, especially when there are question marks surrounding the player you would (in this case) use a first-rounder on.
Given his impeccable drafting track record, it might be time for the fan base to let their concerns fall by the wayside and trust Ballard to do what he does best: identify talent and select the best player available who will hopefully fill a position of need.
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