2020 with Philip Rivers, 2021 with TBD ...... the Unenviable Dilemma of Chris Ballard

[Ironshaft]

I am also on the "average" QB train for the Colts in 2021.

I don't want us to trade away draft capital on players whom leadership does not believe has superstar potential (i.e. Buckner).

Ballard and staff are just too good at identifying players who become cornerstones of the franchise with those quality 1st/2nd/3rd/4th round picks. Those draft choices are just too valuable to not be in Ballard's hands.

So, IMO, I would rather use our quality draft picks to strengthen the team at almost any position besides: RB, Safety, Interior D-Line, Interior O-Line and special teams.

Then, I would rather use "big" free agency money to retain our studs (Xavier Rhodes, Anthony Walker, Autry/Muhammad most important IMO) and invest in positions with new veteran free agents like:

LT (Williams, Okung, Villanueva)
WR (Hilton, Robinson, Watkins, Perriman)
DE (Leonard Williams, Clowney, Ngakoue, Griffen, Houston, Okaor)
CB (Patrick Peterson, Mike Hilton, Michael Davis, Troy Hill)

Then, our QB would probably end up being one of: Trubisky, Fitzpatrick, Dalton or Newton none of whom will be big money (probably each for $10m or less per year for 2 years).

The only exception that I would make to trading away a draft pick or two for a QB would be if the Raiders make Derek Carr available. I would not overpay for him but he is a guy whom i think would come much, much cheaper than Stafford or Watson but can propel a team to the Superbowl with sane coaching and team leadership around him (which the Raiders do not have).