The Indianapolis Colts are now setting their sights on finding a new quarterback after trading Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders on Wednesday.
Getting the Commanders to give two third-round picks—one of which could turn into a second-rounder—while also eating Wentz’s contract is a major win for Chris Ballard and the front office.
That’s why Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic graded the Colts with praise when looking at this trade in isolation.
Trade grade (Colts): B+
Let’s be clear: Colts fans shouldn’t be throwing a parade tomorrow morning. The franchise is still stuck without a long-term answer at quarterback. But if we’re evaluating just this one move in isolation, they get high marks.
When I made predictions last month, I projected maybe a third- or a fourth-round pick for Wentz. Even then, I wondered whether a trade might have to include the Colts picking up some salary. Instead, the Colts got a pair of third-round picks and did not have to eat any salary. It’s hard to imagine anyone with realistic expectations thinking that the Colts would have made out better here.
Again, they’ve made their errors, taken swings and missed. But to get two picks back for Wentz and shed his entire salary, given how last season played out, is a win. The Colts now have more resources at their disposal as they figure out what to do next.
Ballard does deserve some grief for allowing Frank Reich to convince him of giving a first-round pick up for Wentz in the first place. That needs to be acknowledged.
But to be able to move up five spots in the second round, add a third-round pick and at worst a third-rounder in 2023 is a big deal. Then, we circle back to the Commanders taking on all of Wentz’s remaining deal. Those moves by themselves deserve praise.
But now Ballard is once again without a quarterback. He has the draft capital to take one in the second round or even move up into the first round if they truly like a prospect.
He could trade for players like Jimmy Garoppolo or Jordan Love. There are also a handful of veterans in free agency that may get some interest from the Colts next week.
We’ll see what happens with the future of the roster, but the Colts got out of the Wentz era as best as they possibly could.
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