Indianapolis Colts: Philip Rivers can win now and set stage for Jacob Eason
The Indianapolis Colts believe that Philip Rivers is more than just a one-year rental, meaning the quarterback can help the team win now but also more.
No one is mistaking the intentions of the Indianapolis Colts for the 2020 season. By signing quarterback Philip Rivers in free agency, the franchise is clearly prepared to try and compete atop the AFC and perhaps for their first Super Bowl appearance since Peyton Manning. They have the roster and now they have the veteran quarterback able to get them there.
Though some may question the merits of Rivers after a year of struggling with the Chargers in 2019, he’s in perhaps the best situation of his career. Playing behind an elite offensive line with a great running game with Marlon Mack and Jonathan Taylor, and now a strengthened wide receiver group. He could bounce back in a major way and take the Colts to new heights.
One of the major questions about Rivers in Indianapolis, however, has been about how long he’ll be around. After signing a one-year, $25 million deal this offseason, the Colts then selected quarterback Jacob Eason in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. That only added to speculation about Rivers’ future.
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Colts head coach Frank Reich, who coached Rivers with the Chargers previously, believes this is more than just a one-year rental with the quarterback. He said the following to ESPN’s Mike Wells:
"“The spirit of [negotiations] was, we’re in this together and as long as Philip wants to play, wants to be here,” Reich said Monday. “It’s the NFL — we know he has to prove it. We have to prove it as a team to keep him wanting to play. I can just tell you from the previous relationship [with the Chargers], I really believe it’s Philip’s intent to play multiple years. I personally believe he’s more than capable of multiple years.”"
Rivers iterated a similar sentiment back in March, saying that he wasn’t going to play until the Tom Brady years but still had enough to help a team win a title. Even on a one-year contract, it seems that Rivers and the Colts are on the same page.
As that’s the case, it’s clear that signing Rivers, assuming his form isn’t completely diminished, is the best-case scenario for Indianapolis. Not only can they potentially compete for a Super Bowl in the 2020 season and as long as the veteran quarterback is in tow but they can set themselves up best for life after Rivers as well.
Eason enters the league as a developmental quarterback with all the tools in the world. The Washington product has a monster arm but struggles with decision-making, accuracy and the mental aspects of the position. If he’s going to work out, he needs time to learn those things at the NFL level.
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Having Rivers affords the Colts time to work with Eason. In the best-case scenario, the rookie can grow and become a viable option to take over once Rivers’ career is done. In the worst-case scenario, they realize Eason isn’t the right guy for the future and can take another swing in the draft before Rivers walks.
In any case, the Colts and Philip Rivers are sitting pretty. They get the best of both worlds in the quarterback as he’s likely to stay more than one year as they have a possible title window and a strong path into the future of the organization.