Should the Indianapolis Colts acquire Derek Carr?
The Indianapolis Colts need a quarterback, and Derek Carr needs a change of scenery. With that said, should the Colts go out and bring the three-time Pro Bowler to the Hoosier State?
Unless you've been living under a rock for a couple of days, you've heard that Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels recently benched Carr for the remaining two games of the season. Now, backup Jarrett Stidham is the starter. The move indicates that Carr might be traded or outright released this offseason.
The Raiders are benching quarterback Derek Carr and will start backup Jarrett Stidham the final two games of the regular season, coach Josh McDaniels said Wednesday. fal.cn/3uJTQ
If he does become available, several teams like the New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (if Tom Brady leaves) and Carolina Panthers should show interest in acquiring him. And you know the Colts, who employ a new starting QB every season, will be in the mix.
Should the Indianapolis Colts draft a quarterback or continue the veteran route?
The Colts are expected to pick up a quarterback at some point in the 2023 NFL Draft. They’ll have a top-5 pick that they can use on someone like Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis or Anthony Richardson. Later on in the draft, there will be guys available like Hendon Hooker and Max Duggan.
And with the 4th pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts select...Will Levis, QB, Kentucky https://t.co/gRbSiPx8VF
But ever since Andrew Luck retired right before the 2019 season, Indy has continuously opted for veteran quarterbacks instead. We’ve seen Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan brought in over the last few years. Rivers, though, who played just one season in Indy, was the only one of the three who actually took the team to the playoffs.
While drafting a young quarterback to build around makes sense, it would be difficult to pass on a proven player like Carr, even though he’ll be 32 years old when next season begins.
Derek Carr could bounce back in Indianapolis
It’s no secret that the Colts really need a quarterback badly. This season, the team has started three signal-callers in Ryan (who has been benched twice), Sam Ehlinger and current starter Nick Foles.
Without a doubt, Carr would be a monumental upgrade over all three of those guys. His numbers this year (3,522 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and a league-leading 14 interceptions) haven't been the best of his career, but when he's at his best, he’s definitely one of the top QBs in the league.
Sometimes when a player changes teams, they end up resurrecting their careers. That could turn out to be the case for Carr if he lands with the Colts.