Colts 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft 3.0: Finding the answer at quarterback
By Brad Marr
The Indianapolis Colts traded away Carson Wentz so now they may be looking to put a new starter under center through the draft.
Entering the offseason, the Indianapolis Colts were just a few positional players away from building an elite-caliber team with minor upgrading to do. That sailed out the window when the Colts traded Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders, seemingly falling back into a rebuilding stage rather than a reloading stage.
There are some aspects of the trade that are enticing, adding more draft picks and moving up five spots in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft is definitely ideal. But the ever-longing need for a new franchise QB skyrockets to the top of the board.
Replicating a season where the QB posted top-15 caliber statistics is not an easy feat to achieve. Chris Ballard and Indy have to hit on every draft pick, while also hard-charging for improvements in free agency.
Indy gained a substantial amount of cap space in the Wentz deal, with Washington taking on the entirety of the $28.3 million hit. Indianapolis surfaced to the NFL’s highest rank with just over $69.8 million in cap room according to Over the Cap.
Sam Ehlinger, whom the Colts have high hopes for, is the only quarterback on the roster in Indianapolis. But is he the answer at the position?
Ehlinger was a sixth-round draft pick just one year ago and didn’t play any meaningful snaps this season. Far from promising.
The Colts still could make a move in free agency by signing one of the confounding available quarterbacks. Avoiding another experimental carousel should be a priority. Instead, Indy should go after its best fit in an extravagant QB class.
We’ll be using the mock draft simulator at Pro Football Network as we put on our GM caps to make all nine of the Colts’ picks ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft that takes place in late April.