Would Derek Carr be an upgrade over Carson Wentz after latest rumors?

Could the Indianapolis Colts‘ embarrassing late-season collapse end up being a blessing in disguise for their future?

For the sake of argument, let’s say they made the playoffs and beat whomever they got matched up with in the first round. Would Jim Irsay, Chris Ballard and Frank Reich really be incentivized to make wholesale changes?

Probably not.

Now, though, it feels like Irsay and Ballard finally got the hint. While the Colts no doubt have some pieces in place to contend, their shortages at premier positions like quarterback, pass rusher, cornerback and wide receiver simply aren’t enough to compete with the upper-echelon teams in the AFC.

Speaking strictly in terms of QB, both Reich and Ballard were noncommittal about Carson Wentz being the starter in 2022.

Amid this speculation, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport pegged the Colts as a team to watch if Derek Carr becomes available for trade this offseason.

Would Derek Carr be an upgrade at QB for the Colts?

While Carr has professed his allegiance to the Raiders, his future, per Rapoport, will be decided by the team’s head coaching hire. Las Vegas would be delusional to not involve him in that process, but this rumor makes it seem like the three-time Pro Bowler is leaving his options open heading into the offseason.

In a vacuum, Carr would be an instant upgrade over Wentz.

For starters, Carr brings a much lower volume of turnovers. While Wentz improved in that department this season, his lowlight moments were catastrophically low. Look no further than the fumble against Jacksonville when he tried to attempt a shuffle pass instead of just taking a sack.

Getting beyond Wentz’s susceptibility to the occasional improbable turnover, the passing game was inept over the final eight games (170.6 yards per game). Yes, the Colts leaned on Jonathan Taylor, but they couldn’t support him through the air, which is why his efficiency (and Indy’s season) imploded down the stretch.

Moreover, Wentz withered in the biggest moments this season. Carr, on the other hand, engineered six game-winning drives, the second-most of any quarterback, while playing with an inferior cast of characters.

Carr also understands the importance of the check down, whereas Wentz swings for the fences seemingly every time he drops back to pass. Remember when Wentz missed a wide-open Jonathan Taylor on the same play he tossed an interception to gift the Titans a win in overtime back in Week 8? Enough said.

And finally, we get to Carr’s leadership.

The fact he carried the Raiders into the playoffs with an interim head coach after Jon Gruden’s firing, Henry Ruggs’ arrest and Damon Arnette’s release after a video appeared to show him threatening someone with a gun might be the most impressive accomplishment of any player in the NFL this season.

It’s obviously easier said than done, but if a Carr trade presents itself — and a deal for Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson is off the table, obviously — the Colts need to be all in on the Raiders star and kick Wentz to the curb.

The Colts must address this problem to improve passing game

The Indianapolis Colts did something this season that no other team did this year in the passing game, and it wasn’t a good thing.