The not so simple, yet fan-desired option, is to make a trade for a star player. Who’s really available to be traded, though? There are certain players that are rumored to move onto new teams this offseason, but those players aren’t free agents.
Colts fans continue to tie themselves to getting Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr, or Russell Wilson. Two of those three are not super realistic and one of them is just a lateral move.
Aaron Rodgers to Indianapolis
Rodgers recently said, “I don’t want to be a part of a rebuild if I’m going to keep playing.” With the current state of the Green Bay Packers cap space, which is second-worst in the NFL, it is likely the Packers are going to have to let a few players walk this offseason.
Aaron Rodgers weighs in on his future with the Packers. pic.twitter.com/fBsMFiXnrb
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 23, 2022
The Packers and Rodgers both agreed that if Rodgers would still want out in 2022, the team will need to trade him. So fans can’t get hopeful that the Packers will cut Rodgers right away.
Rodgers wants to compete for a championship, but it’s going to take a lot of assets away from the team that is ready to compete. The Colts have a roster that’s built and ready to go, but will they need to trade valuable assets like star players just to acquire a quarterback that might retire in 1-3 years?
This is not a move that I would anticipate Chris Ballard to make. At the end of the season, Ballard stated he wants a quarterback for 10-12 years. If Rodgers ends up in Indianapolis this summer, this is pushing all of your chips in for a championship this year.
Russell Wilson to Indianapolis
I could get behind Russell Wilson coming to Indianapolis for a chance to win several super bowls. This season, Wilson brought his team back from the dead to win seven games in the toughest division in football.
We know what Wilson is capable of, as well. When he was drafted to the Seahawks, the team had the league’s best defense, and a rising star running back with Marshawn Lynch. Seems familiar with the Colts’ situation right now.
Inserting Wilson onto the Colts roster would be very similar, except he comes with wisdom and experience. He’s not going to make the rookie mistakes. This team would be ready to win several championships over the next ten years.
Would it take too much to get Wilson, though? Unlike Rodgers, Wilson has several years left on his playing career. The Seahawks would likely not just request draft picks, but a player, too. Would the Colts risk trading away a player like Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, Ryan Kelly, or Darius Leonard to push their leverage in the AFC?
The more I continue to think about Wilson being in Indianapolis, the more I love the idea. It might just be a hard pill to swallow to give up one of the best positional All-Pros in the process.
Derek Carr to Indianapolis
This one is more simple than the other two. Derek Carr is a lateral move for the Colts and does not push the needle to be great. There is a reason that Carr played in his first career playoff game this season.
Carr is a lateral play at the position that might only increase your odds of winning slightly. His decision-making is still not the greatest, but his pocket presence is far superior. Behind the Colts O-Line, that could be a match made in heaven.
Carr is committed to remaining in Las Vegas, but if he were to make himself available via trade, he could work out for the Colts. This is not my favorite option and would rather pursue a different approach.