Colts 3 most likely options at QB after Carson Wentz trade

The Indianapolis Colts have moved on from Carson Wentz after just one season with the team. Now that he’s been traded, who is up next at QB?

The Indianapolis Colts made as much sense as any team for a landing spot for former second overall pick Carson Wentz in the 2021 offseason. Wentz had connections on the Colts’ coaching staff, including head coach Frank Reich, from his time with the Eagles. The Colts had to deal with the retirement and aftermath of losing Philip Rivers.

After just one season with Wentz as the team’s QB1, the Colts are moving on, which says about everything, doesn’t it?

Apparently, the Washington Commanders say otherwise. They have given up quite a bit to get Wentz, and they’ve taken on his entire contract in a trade.

The Colts are moving up in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft and now have additional third-round picks (maybe another second-round pick in 2023) to work with.

Those picks can be used in another trade now, or the Colts could go out and sign a quarterback to now replace Wentz as their QB1. Who are the likeliest options to do exactly that?

Colts QB option post-Carson Wentz no. 1: Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (trade)

The situation surrounding Jimmy Garoppolo got a bit murky in recent weeks as it was revealed he would be having shoulder surgery and would be out into the Summer months as a result.

That won’t prevent teams from trading for him though, apparently. The Colts are reportedly expected to be in on Garoppolo, who has helped the 49ers get to two NFC Championship games in the last three seasons.

Garoppolo has outstanding leadership qualities and is unanimously beloved by his coaches and teammates. The same could not be said of Carson Wentz dating back to his time with the Eagles and now it’s hard to believe he was overly beloved by the Colts.

Wentz is the scapegoat — perhaps rightfully so — for the Colts’ ineptitude over the final two games of the season where their 98 percent chance at the playoffs vanished into thin air.

Garoppolo, on the flip side, has proven to be a rather efficient QB when healthy and could be the facilitator and efficient “point guard” type of QB the Colts need by comparison to Wentz, who is a bit more of a gunslinger.

Colts QB options post-Carson Wentz: Teddy Bridgewater (free agent)

The Indianapolis Colts are in quarterback purgatory.

You hate to see it, you hate to say it — it just is what it is.

Since Andrew Luck retired, the Colts have been in the same position as many teams around the NFL — in desperate search of a long-term solution at the game’s most important position.

One wise move the Colts could make? Hang onto this new NFL Draft capital, take your chances with a decent veteran in 2022, and go aggressive in the 2023 NFL Draft where the QB class is expected to be much better.

There might even be some dart throws in the 2022 NFL Draft the Colts could take, but they do not have a first-round pick in 2022 because of their own Carson Wentz trade last year.

Ouch.

The Colts have to take the “L” on Wentz but they at least got something in return for him. Now, would it be wise to trade all of that for a guy like Jimmy Garoppolo who might not be on the team a year from now either?

I am not so sure.

The Colts could sign a guy like Teddy Bridgewater, who might give you comparable production to Garoppolo, but without surrendering any draft picks to get him.

Bridgewater’s health is a concern (as is Garoppolo’s, to be fair) after missing the final three games of the 2021 season due to a concussion and other dings.

Bridgewater is a conservative player at the QB position who has obvious physical limitations, but he could be a decent bridge option for the Colts.

Colts QB option post-Carson Wentz: Marcus Mariota (free agent)

Although there’s been a ton of buzz about Mitchell Trubisky (likely signing with the Giants to compete with Daniel Jones?) this offseason, there has not been nearly enough about Marcus Mariota.

Mariota was taken second overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, just one year before Carson Wentz was taken second overall by the Eagles and two years before Mitchell Trubisky was taken second overall by the Chicago Bears.

All three are available this offseason (or were) and all have varying levels of intrigue heading to their next NFL teams.

Marcus Mariota has plenty of intrigue himself, although he’s much more of a reclamation project maybe than either Trubisky or Wentz at this point.

The Colts know Mariota well as he was once the QB of the future for the Tennessee Titans, and more recently, he’s been the backup to Derek Carr for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Mariota hasn’t had to play much, but he’s shown in spurts that his outstanding speed hasn’t gone anywhere, and having a couple of years to really just hone his craft in the film room and on the practice field, maybe he’s ready for another shot at starting.

Frank Reich is something of a QB whisperer and even though things didn’t work out with Carson Wentz, Wentz still threw 27 touchdown passes last year and was vastly improved compared to the previous year with the Eagles.

Mariota could come in and give the Colts a unique dual-threat with one of the best running backs in the league — Jonathan Taylor — to lean on.