Should the Indianapolis Colts sign Gardner Minshew?
Gardner Minshew is set to become a free agent this offseason. Would signing him be a good move for the quarterback-needy Indianapolis Colts?
Yes, signing Minshew would be a solid move for the Colts.
The Colts were one of the NFL's worst teams this past season, finishing with a 4-12-1 record. When you lack a franchise quarterback, it's extremely difficult to win in today's NFL. Take a look around the league. The top teams possess a superstar signal-caller like Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts or Joe Burrow.
REPORT: @Colts to make a QB change for Week 8. Sam Ehlinger will replace veteran Matt Ryan as the starter. Nick Foles will remain the backup https://t.co/IUJxyNlAgE
Indianapolis started three quarterbacks during the 2022-23 campaign: Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger and Nick Foles. Sorry, but you can't call any of those guys elite. Ryan was benched twice, and the backup duo of Ehlinger and Foles didn't impress much either.
Who is Gardner Minshew?
Minshew was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round (178th overall pick) of the 2019 NFL Draft. He ended up starting 12 games as a rookie, throwing for 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions.
After starting eight games for the Jaguars the following season, Minshew was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in August 2021 as he became a backup.
Gardner Minshew was the only quarterback made available to reporters today. He didn’t want to dive into hypotheticals on whether or not he’s starting vs. Saints on Sunday.
Minshew said there’s a lot to improve on from his performance against the Cowboys: 355 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT https://t.co/aNTs3FvwYT
Minshew had an outstanding performance against the Dallas Cowboys this past Christmas Eve, replacing injured starter Jalen Hurts. He threw for 355 yards and two touchdowns although the Eagles lost 40-34.
In his career thus far, Minshew has started 24 of 32 games, producing 6,632 passing yards, 44 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Ever since Andrew Luck retired in 2019, the Colts have gone the veteran quarterback route, acquiring players like Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan.
This year should be different, though, as the Colts are expected to draft a quarterback. The team owns the fourth overall pick in the draft and will likely select Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud or Kentucky's Will Levis.
If that happens, a bridge quarterback could be acquired to fill in until the youngster is ready to start. Minshew would be perfect for that role. He played for new Colts head coach Shane Steichen, who served as the Eagles' offensive coordinator. Plus, if the rookie quarterback struggles mightily, Minshew could take over as the starter.