It’s Draft week, and teams across the league are finalizing their plans for Thursday night’s opening round – plans that almost certainly will change.
Kevin Bowen stopped by The Fan Morning Show with Jeff & Big Joe to talk about some of the options Colts GM Chris Ballard might be thinking about, particularly with the quarterback situation:
“If you’re gonna start thinking about long term quarterback and all of that, trading back and not necessarily acquiring draft capital for this year, [but] acquiring draft capital for next year, and then formulating a potential trade package in 2021, that’s something I think you have to be very honest with yourself and just look into some of those conversations,” Bowen said.
That would be a different approach than what we’ve heard at times this offseason. Many people think that Indy will choose someone to be their QB of the future this year. There are, however, limitations.
“Now when you’re drafting at number 34 and you move back, there’s only so much you can get in return,” Bowen said. “But that’s something I think to keep at the forefront of our minds as we get into Thursday, and Friday night as well.”
So what about the 2021 class? Barring injury or something unforeseen, Trevor Lawrence will likely by the #1 pick next April.
Justin Fields figures to be in the mix, as does Jamie Newman. If Chris Ballard sees something in these prospects that he doesn’t see in this year’s group, maybe he’ll wait to pull the trigger.
Big Joe asked Kevin his thoughts on Ballard using the words “no reach” to indicate a potential lack of interest in trading up for a quarterback.
“I just think if you’re going to trade up for quarterback, you want to keep that as secretive as possible,” Bowen responded. “You don’t want to tip your hand whatsoever, and you are willing to lie in a public setting to do that. I still am not holding my breath on them trading up for a quarterback…I still think it’d be malpractice for them not to take a quarterback at all, but maybe it just doesn’t happen in the first two picks of that second round.”
Ballard has made it known that he would like more than seven picks this year, so don’t be surprised if Indianapolis makes some noise come Thursday.
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