The Indianapolis Colts reached an agreement on a one-year deal with free-agent quarterback Gardner Minshew, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network on Thursday.
It was reported earlier that the Colts were looking into Minshew as an addition following the release of veteran Matt Ryan, and it’s expected he will be the backup to whichever rookie quarterback they select in the 2023 NFL draft.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the deal is for one-year worth $3.5 million fully guaranteed with incentives that can bump it up to $5.5 million.
It’s expected to be a one-year, $3.5 million deal with upside for Gardner Minshew in Indianapolis. https://t.co/JCtw1NbsJ9
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2023
A sixth-round pick with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2019 NFL draft, Minshew is thought to be one of the best bridge options available on the market.
The main appeal here is that Minshew is talented enough to keep the offense running efficiently in case he needs to step, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s had two seasons of working in Shane Steichen’s offense.
With Minshew on the roster, the Colts are still expected to draft a quarterback in the first round. Which quarterback that will be remains to be seen, but they have their bridge/backup in place to further the development of that player.
Keep up to date with the latest news, signings and rumors through our free agency tracker for the Colts.
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