The Indianapolis Colts were named an offseason match for current New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr.
Recently, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports played ‘QB Matchmaker’ and selected the best team fit for 15 different quarterbacks this offseason.
For the Colts, Benjamin selected Carr to provide some needed stability at that position for Indianapolis–although Carr, as of now, is not set to be a free agent this offseason.
“Carr is technically under contract with the New Orleans Saints,” wrote Benjamin, “but the team can save tens of millions by saying goodbye, then pursuing a younger alternative (like, say, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe) in the draft. Indianapolis, meanwhile, needs proven competition for the athletic but erratic Anthony Richardson.”
Carr has played 11 NFL seasons, including the last two with New Orleans. For his career, he has a completion rate of 65% and is averaging 7.1 yards per attempt.
In 2024 specifically, Carr completed 68% of his throws at 7.7 yards per attempt with 15 touchdowns to five interceptions over 10 games. He would miss Weeks 15-18 with a hand injury and concussion.
The Colts are not ready to move on from Anthony Richardson, but GM Chris Ballard did say that competition will be needed at the quarterback this summer, given Richardson’s injury history and the need for more consistent play from that position.
“We knew when we took him it was going to be a roller coaster,” Ballard said of Richardson. “The number one thing we have to figure out and have to work through is he’s got to stay healthy. That, to me, is the biggest question.
“We have to have competition at the position because competition makes you better and because he’s not proven he can stay healthy for 17 games.”
Now, to what extent Ballard tends to add that competition remains to be seen. Is that an early round draft pick? Is it with a veteran addition in free agency? How much are they willing to push Richardson and are they okay with making him the permanent backup for someone else?
In addition to quarterback, there are a number of other positions on the roster that the Colts can justify adding to. So how Ballard navigates accomplishing that with spending power that ranks in the middle of the NFL will be one of the hurdles he will have to navigate this offseason.
