The Indianapolis Colts weren’t the only team to have a muddled quarterback situation this offseason, as Urban Meyer and the rival Jacksonville Jaguars did almost everything in their power to mess up a solid quarterback room in No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence and backup Gardner Minshew.
Minshew put up some very respectable numbers, many of which compare favorably to other 2019 draft class quarterbacks, on Jaguars teams without a ton of talent in the last few years, but the idea of drafting Lawrence was too good to pass up. However, in true Jaguars fashion, they’ve bungled this.
Lawrence appears to be a star in the making, but the Jaguars tried to insist that he was in direct competition with Minshew for the starting job. Not only did Minshew fail to win the starting job, but he didn’t even end up making the final roster.
Minshew was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for a sixth-round pick that could become a fifth-rounder. He is expected to backup Jalen Hurts, who apparently doesn’t have a long leash. Between the poor compensation and puzzling plan with him in camp, Colts fans should be thrilled the Jags managed to mess this up.
Trade: Jaguars are sending QB Gardner Minshew II to the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional 2022 sixth-round pick, per sources. The 6th-round pick could go to a 5th if Minshew plays in 50 percent of the plays in three games this season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 28, 2021
The Colts should be thankful the Jaguars mismanaged Gardner Minshew.
The Jaguars had a quarterback that has clearly proven he is a starter in this league in Minshew, who was a steal of a sixth-round pick, and they only managed to get another sixth-round pick in exchange despite the fact that quality backup quarterback play has never been more valuable. What a misfire.
The Jaguars also didn’t give their rookie cornerstone all of the first-team reps, instead choosing to split them with Minshew, who isn’t even on the roster anymore. The Colts had their own battle between Jacob Eason and Sam Ehlinger for the backup spot, but Carson Wentz was unequivocally the starter.
https://twitter.com/_John_Shipley/status/1420455578011320327
While the Colts and Titans are expected to compete for a division title while the Jaguars and Texans begin rebuilds, Jacksonville has the quarterback to eventually challenge Indy in Lawrence. However, moves like what happened with Minshew show that there is complete confusion on the sideline and in the front office.
The Jaguars have a generational talent at quarterback and a guy who threw 37 TDs and 11 INTs in two seasons, and they managed to limit Lawrence’s workload in order to get Minshew reps before…trading him for a sixth-rounder that could be lower in the draft order than the pick they used to originally select him?
What has Urban gotten himself into?
Colts: Eric Fisher’s latest setback continues to complicate LT situation
Colts free agent signing Eric Fisher landing on the COVID-19 reserve list further complicates the team's left tackle situation.