The Search For A Franchise QB

Apparently the Colts are big believers in learning by doing, rather than watching — whether he’s ready or not, the Anthony Richardson era in Indianapolis is officially here 😳

But as one electric talent enters the offense (I’m sure you’ve already seen this throw quite a few times), another could be on his way out the door. With the team giving Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade, it’s looking increasingly likely that he’s played his last game in a Colts’ uniform 👀

It remains to be seen if any team is willing to meet the Colts’ lofty asking price, especially after an injury-riddled 2022 season. But while the NFL has apparently turned its back on the running back position, make no mistake; losing a 24-year-old just a season removed from leading the league in rushing would be a pretty massive blow to any offense 😬

• And more importantly for Indy’s long-term plans, a trade also makes Richardson’s first taste of NFL action all the more difficult. After all, there’s no security blanket for a rookie QB quite like an All-Pro caliber running back

• Ahead of the draft, Richardson was seen as a bit of project who could use some seasoning on the bench before being thrown into the fire. So the Colts’ decision to start him immediately was already turning some heads… but doing so with a diminished supporting cast is even more questionable 🤔

I was quite high on Richardson pre-draft and I still am, but I’m admittedly worried he’s about to be thrown to the wolves. He’s played sparingly through the first two games, but there’s one last tune-up opportunity remaining, and he’s set to start as Week 3 of the preseason kicks off on Thursday night 👇

Week 3 Preseason Schedule

• 7:30PM EST: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Atlanta Falcons

• 8PM EST: Indianapolis Colts @ Philadelphia Eagles

Certainly no concerns at QB for the Colts opponent; we likely won’t even see Hurts take the field tomorrow night. But in the earlier matchup, there’s a pair of sophomore signal-callers who are both trying to cement themselves in their teams’ future plans 🔮

• While he didn’t light the league on fire in his rookie season by any means, Steelers’ QB Kenny Pickett had enough flashes to convince even Big Ben that he was Pittsburgh’s long-term guy. He’ll need to keep improving for that to be the case, but if the preseason is any indication, we could be in store for a big second-year leap 📈

Atlanta’s Desmond Ridder got a brief taste of the QB1 life as a rookie last season as well, and while he doesn’t have Pickett’s first round pedigree, he’s at least been put in a solid position to succeed 💪

• The Falcons have added an explosive weapon in each of the last three first rounds (Bijan/London/Pitts), now they just need a QB to utilize them. Ridder doesn’t have to be a superstar for this offense, he just has to avoid mistakes while getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers early and often ⚡️

If I’m a Colts or Steelers fan, I’m feeling pretty good about the future of the QB position. If I’m a Falcons fan, its still a wait-and-see approach. But man, am I tired of waiting — can Week 1 get here already?? 🙏

Trivia Question: How many QBs have attempted a pass for the Colts since Andrew Luck retired in 2019?

For My Parlay Gurus

Only one more week til we finally get to bet on actual games, but in the meantime, settling for preseason action ain’t too bad. I’m backing Richardson and the Colts tonight while also going with the Steelers to win their third straight. Check it out 👇

• Colts -4.5 vs. Eagles: -110

• Steelers -4.5 vs. Falcons: -110

$100 on this bet would win you $264 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

Want more sports content from Overtime? Check us out on TikTok 🗣

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Join thousands of other informed subscribers

Trivia Answer: 8 different QBs have attempted a pass for the Colts since the start of the 2019 season

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Many will enter, only some will win. Giveaway ends 12 hours after the completion of the final game references within the giveaway. The winner will be notified via the email address used to enter. Restrictions apply. See the General Conditions and Releases sections of Overtime's Terms of Use at https://overtime.tv/terms for additional giveaway terms

©2023 Overtime Sports, Inc. All rights reserved.