Athletic Mock Draft has Colts drafting Carson Wentz replacement in second round

The Indianapolis Colts mock drafts are starting to crop up after their disappointing finish to the season. While the Colts have issues in the secondary and at wide receiver, Carson Wentz’s performance near the end of the season has prompted questions about his ceiling as a starter.

While Wentz had his best statistical season in years for the Colts, he stunk it up in a must-win Week 18 game against a poor Jaguars team. With Sam Ehlinger the backup for an inconsistent, injury-prone quarterback, Chris Ballard would be wise to add a more experienced backup.

Despite the fact that the Philadelphia Eagles own Indianapolis’ first-round pick due to the Wentz trade, an impact player could still be added with their second-round pick. Some prognosticators believe that Indy will try to get their post-Wentz plan secured by taking a quarterback.

Dane Brugler’s mock draft for The Athletic (subscription required) has the Colts selecting Nevada quarterback Carson Strong in the second round. This selection would start the countdown on Wentz’s career in Indianapolis, as he has the talent to eventually take over the starting job.

Colts mock draft: Could Carson Strong replace Carson Wentz?

In Jay Norvell’s Air Raid, Strong completed 70% of his passes and threw 36 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. In terms of pure arm talent, Strong might be the best quarterback in this class, as he combines a feathery touch down the field with a howitzer that can make every professional throw in the book.

Strong is an advanced pre-snap quarterback, as Norvell gave him a ton of freedom at the line. Strong won’t win any 40-yard dash competitions, but he is a tremendous pocket navigator that is able to deliver the ball accurately under pressure. This gives hope that his college production will translate.

Strong has some medical questions that need to be answered due to his knee issues in college. While he is a great pocket navigator, he won’t test as a great athlete and likely will never be a threat with his legs. With the way the game is moving, will Indianapolis put up with that?

Colts fans nervous about Strong turning into Jacob Eason should be comforted by the fact that the Wolf Pack gunslinger had more command of the offense and is a much more accurate passer. The Colts may have more pressing needs than quarterback, but if they have soured on Wentz, adding Strong would be a very prudent move.

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The Indianapolis Colts will have a big decision to make this offseason about Carson Wentz and his future with the franchise.