I would rather keep Nelson. Interesting take though. You have tremendous confidence that that first rounder would be a good player. I don't. Even if it was the first pick it still is 50-50 at best.

I agree, but right now, with our team needs, and lack of a competent QB...we need to pool as many assets as possible. Right now, the 1st round asset and lack of having to pay Nelson going forward is worth more than the chance that the 1st round pick returns with a poor player.
The thing that makes this plan suspect is only the fact that this upcoming draft lacks any QB depth whatsoever.
If Ballard doesn't make a move at QB and FAST he is going to find himself out of a job soon too. Reich hitched his wagon to Wentz and unfortunately will go as he goes, but Ballard has done more to earn himself another year or two to prove a positive trajectory.
Having a 20 million dollar guard who doesn't impact the game too much over a 7 million dollar guard is nonsensical when we have Stormy Daniels sized gaping holes at QB, WR, TE, EDGE, CB.
I want to stress that I love Nelson. He changes a lot of the mentality of our line. But not at his cost and with our needs. The good thing the rest of the league knows him, loves him and would give him a nice haul to get him. I would honestly be on the horn right now with the Eagles to give us a 1st back to us for Q and Minshew....its not like the Eagles don't plan to run the ball, their QB is cheap for a number of years, etc. The relationship with Balllard and their FO is there, we didn't bitch out of the Wentz starting %, etc.
Forgive me for going off on the rails with a hypothetical, but this is literally the only thing going forward that could be a positive for our team to dig ourselves out of the Wentz hole.

No heads will roll. When irsay extended grigson and pagano, I believe he talked about wanting to establish a consistent and sustained organization. Eventually it got to be too much and he realized they were not the right ones. I am guessing he doesn't feel that way (yet) about ballard and reich. I really dont think ballard is going anywhere soon. Reich is probably set for a bit. They invested too much into wentz trade to release him after this year especially with injury and covid issues. They will all be back next year but I would guess that if wentz doesnt improve then they move off him after next season.

Add: I bet irsay is plenty pissed though, and ballard and reich will be hearing about it. I would love to see some of that on the last hard knocks!

He was injured last year.

You know, they can resign Q and still do all the things you mentioned. They’ll have the cap space.

And if you’re looking to get rid of guys who don’t live up to their pay level, I’d suggest you start with the highest paid player on the team, Carson Wentz. He actually sucks.

Trading generational players for draft picks is never a good idea, for a million different reasons.

We are stuck with Wentz for another year. Unfortunately I think that is the reality unless Irsay says dump him no matter the cost.

With that in mind I think LT is the top priority. The engine of this team is the offensive line, and the engine of the offensive line is LT. The line fell apart every time the LT play was bad. Either draft or find a competent LT. Still shaking my head of going for an injured Fisher and not Leno.

Next is WR. They need a free agent and a draft pick. Guys that run good routes and can create separation. Wentz can’t throw into tight windows consistently, they need guys that can get open. The routes I saw yesterday were rounded off and lazy. Need some quality here.

Yet again, DE. Like I said at the beginning of the season this is still an issue. If you can’t pressure the QB in 3 seconds your defense won’t work. Invest in a speed rusher and put him on the team. Paye and Dayo show promise, but we need some more in there, can’t just have them. This will be going on year six of not enough pass rush.

Finally, an athletic TE. Doyle will likely retire. Need someone to run those seam routes and who can catch. Wentz loves to throw to the TE in the seam, so giving him another option might make him open up his check downs.


As for Nelson, you don’t trade an all pro for picks. You need more talent not less. The chance you draft someone as impactful is pretty low. If you didn’t intend to pay him, then you should not have drafted him.

But I really think I am making a case for the one in a million reasons that it may be a good idea. It's not the player, its the position. Would our team really be worse off than it currently is without Big Q?
Big Q with his contract vs No Big Q, No big Money to a guard, and an extra pick or two to work with?
Seems like a no brainer to me.
If Q played LT I may think differently. If Q played QB or EDGE or even WR OR CB, I would just pay him.
We have solid OL, solid depth and an all Pro RB. We will be just fine without paying Q 20 million to be a guard.

That may even give us just enough fire power to trade up in the next two drafts! Just because we can afford to pay Q what he is worth doesn't mean it is the best move for this franchise. Sorta like having to let Manning go. Makes sense for everyone involved. Besides, Q is starting to show a few signs of wear in tear.....while his value is at its highest, cash in...since we just pissed a few dollars down the drain with Wentz. We have a bandaid here and we should use it. just my two cents

So what your saying is that after next season the Colts will start over again! Can anyone in this can base tell me when the HELL the Colts stop with this fucking around with fuckin players that are almost good enough, and start the multiple championships run??

Unfortunately, those days might be gone. Most all of the former success was Bill Polian's doing. Ballard is a good GM, but he isn't Polian level. We might be in purgatory for another decade.

NO, just no. You do not get rid of Q. He is the heart and soul of this offensive line. He's the beast that nobody wants to face. Pay the man, he is worth it. Not willing to trade a proven all pro for some draft picks that may not even pan out. Having said that, I would trade Wentz for a combo meal at KFC. I was so fucking wrong about Wentz. He just fucking sucks. What was Wentz's QBR yesterday, around 4? He is a warrior, but he is not a good QB. I think the whole team knows that. He's no Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck which I didn't expect. But hell, he's not even as good as an old Philip Rivers, not even close.