Who will the Indianapolis Colts select with the 4th-overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft now that Shane Steichen is the head coach?
With newly hired head coach Shane Steichen in Indianapolis, how much has the quarterback rankings shifted based on his coaching style? Shane has coached some well-recognized quarterbacks in recent years. The last three quarterbacks were Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert in Los Angeles and then Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia.
Three different playing styles, all of which succeeded, including a trip to Super Bowl LVII. What could Steichen bring to the table with a new playing style for a rookie QB? Having the ability to draft his own quarterback right out of the gate may be a big reason why he took the position. So who will he go for?
There are several different options out there that could be taken in the top five of the draft and even options available if the Colts elect to trade back into the first round. Does Shane go with a mobile QB like Hurts, a game manager like Rivers was late in his career, or a big-arm talent like Herbert?
As we approach draft season, it’s time to take a deeper dive into the top 5 QBs that best fit the Colts in this year’s draft.
Many things will need to fail for Hendon Hooker to be a Colt in 2023
We all know that Peyton Manning endorsed Hendon Hooker as one of the top quarterbacks before his ACL tear injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. His injury and age combined makes Hooker a risky project piece to add to a team that needs a quarterback now. Alas, someone had to make the fifth spot in the rankings, and I could not in good conscience put Max Duggan back in the top five after his horrible loss in the National Championship.
Hooker has the ability to extend plays by getting out of the pocket and can become a rusher. Maybe not quite as effective of a rusher as we saw in the Super Bowl with Jalen Hurts, but certainly much better than Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers.
Hooker could be a valuable addition in the later rounds if the Colts end up missing on the top four quarterbacks in this draft early. If a team jumps the Colts and a QB comes off in each of the first three picks again this year, the Colts could find themselves trading back to get more draft capital.
But there is still one option on the board if even the worst-case scenario happens, but is QB4 worth the 4th pick in the draft?