Why not Colts? Chris Ballard, Jim Irsay should take big swing for Lamar Jackson

One transfer — a seismic transfer, thoughts you — and all the Indianapolis Colts’ long-term points at a very powerful place in all of sports activities will go away fully. One transfer, and the Colts, who haven’t received the AFC South through the entirety of the Chris Ballard Period, may change into related, a harmful staff with an opportunity to win the AFC South and earn a house playoff sport — on the very least.

One transfer.

One man.

Lamar Jackson.

You’re simply penning this for clicks. You’re simply penning this for eyeballs. That is outlandish. It can by no means occur.

You’re proper. It most likely received’t occur. Ballard will not be identified for taking massive swings. Extra of a banjo hitter.  The Rod Carew of the NFL.

However cease.

Think about the Colts’ scenario: They’ve been by six totally different Day 1 beginning quarterbacks in six years and this season will make seven. They’ve paid by the nostril for the likes of Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan, each of whom had been epic disappointments. Don’t wish to pay the Ravens two first-round picks in change for the 2019 MVP and a quarterback whose staff’s document is 45-16? Shoot, they gave the Eagles a primary and a 3rd for Wentz. Two 1s for Jackson is completely affordable, particularly in the event that they wait till after the upcoming draft and transfer their 2024 and 2025 first-rounders.

If this was a kind of drafts that featured a transparent No. 1 and even No. 2, I’d say, “Transfer up within the draft, get your man and by no means look again.” However that man doesn’t (appear to) exist.

Bryce Younger is undersized and sturdiness may change into a difficulty. Will Levis has the good arm and performed by accidents final season, however there are questions on his pocket consciousness. Anthony Richardson thrilled the scouts on the mix together with his arm, his legs and each different physique half, clearly distancing himself as probably the most athletic prospect within the group, however he’s uncooked and sure, he’s a challenge. If there’s one quarterback who appears to have probably the most to supply — and the Carolina Panthers, who’ve been wildly aggressive this offseason, appear enamored with him — is C.J. Stroud.

So it comes right down to this:

Would you like an unknown amount at quarterback who might or might not develop right into a franchise participant, or would you like a positive factor, a star participant, who could have an opportunity to proceed his development with established quarterback whisperer Shane Steichen? Take a look at what the Colts’ new head coach did with Jalen Hurts; now think about how artistic he can get with the most effective dual-threat quarterbacks within the league. Jackson is Hurts on steroids (not actually).

This must be a no brainer.

However there’s a cause a handful of quarterback-needy groups have aggressively gone public saying they don’t have any curiosity in one of many league’s greatest quarterbacks: They don’t wish to pay the freight.

Jackson, who represents himself with out assistance from an agent, desires a completely or principally assured contract, identical to the one Deshaun Watson received from the Cleveland Browns. (And let’s not overlook, Kirk Cousins received a completely assured 3-year, $84 million deal in 2018, and his newest extension is totally assured as nicely). NFL homeowners had been beside themselves when the Browns threw assured money at Watson. The league desires that deal to be seen as an anomaly.

I say Pandora’s Field has been opened.

Giving Lamar Jackson a completely assured contract could be a daring and costly transfer, however at the very least the Colts would know they had been getting a former MVP at quarterback. (Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA As we speak)

What’s going to occur when Joe Burrow comes up for a brand new deal? Or Patrick Mahomes? Or any of the elite AFC quarterbacks the Colts shall be competing in opposition to the following 10 years or so? Baseball, hockey and basketball have assured contracts. They’ve survived.

“This can be a pivotal second as a result of proper behind Lamar, as gifted as he’s, take into consideration the variety of quarterbacks developing proper behind him,” NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith advised a podcast in January. “So actually, the burden of whether or not we transfer ahead on assured contracts is now. You’ve received Watson’s contract that could possibly be bookended by Lamar’s contract.”

Let’s say Jackson desires $200 million (give or take). Does Jim Irsay have that form of money sitting round to place into escrow? This isn’t humorous cash. That is chilly, arduous money. That’s not an insignificant sum, by any measure, even for a person who spends tens of millions on Ringo Starr drum kits.

But when Irsay is basically about having “all chips in,” if he’s all about doing no matter it takes to make the Colts a contender as soon as once more, he must dig deep and think about what’s attainable. After a season during which Irsay meddled and usually made a large number of a misplaced season, he owes it to native followers to at the very least kick the tires on Jackson — and if the Ravens match and hold him, what’s the worst factor that may occur? Apart from getting the side-eye from different homeowners?

Actually, it feels, smells and appears like collusion.

How else do you clarify greater than a handful of groups closing the door on one of many high quarterbacks within the league?

No one can use a former MVP and a participant whose staff is 49-16 with him behind middle?

What? Did he kneel through the nationwide anthem?

There are questions on Jackson, affordable questions, however they shouldn’t give quarterback-desperate groups just like the Colts any pause.

He’s missed 11 video games the final two years with accidents, and his run-first model places him in damage peril. There’s a sturdiness query right here, at the very least primarily based on the final two years.

He’s struggled within the postseason, successful one out of 4 video games, however folks overlook, Peyton Manning didn’t win his first playoff sport till his sixth season (his fourth sport) and completed his profession 14-13 within the postseason.

Because it stands, the Colts are drafting the third-best quarterback within the draft — they’ll say, “Participant X was the man we needed all alongside” — and if a quarterback-needy staff strikes as much as Arizona’s spot at No. 3, Indianapolis will get the fourth choice.

Lamar Jackson or Will Levis?

Lamar Jackson or Anthony Richardson?

Did I point out Jackson is just 26? As Ballard stated on the mix, this isn’t a staff devoid of expertise. Jonathan Taylor is heading into his prime. Shaq Leonard, if he can keep wholesome. DeForest Buckner. Quenton Nelson. Have they got two, three, even 4 years to attend for a quarterback to turn into the form of participant who can compete for division titles?

It’s time for Irsay, Ballard and the Colts to take the massive swing.

(High photograph of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson throwing a landing go to Marquise Brown (not pictured) in opposition to the Colts in 2021: Geoff Burke / USA As we speak)