Could Lamar Jackson wear the Indianapolis Colts’ Horseshoe in the 2023 NFL season and beyond?

That’s an exciting possibility for the Colts’ fan base, a group that hasn’t sniffed postseason football in six of the past eight seasons.

News of Jackson bolting the Baltimore Ravens went viral on March 28. The 2019 NFL MVP tweeted on Monday he requested a trade from the Ravens almost one month ago.

New Colts wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, who Indianapolis signed on March 22, made his sales pitch to Jackson on Tuesday morning:

The Colts’ chances of acquiring the highly-touted Jackson became more realistic after general manager Chris Ballard confirmed the team’s interest in acquiring his services to ESPN’s Stephen Holder during the yearly league meeting in Phoenix, AZ, on March 28.

For its part, Indy hopes the interest is mutual. Let’s weigh the pros and cons of the Colts signing Lamar Jackson.

 

Weighing the Pros of the Colts Pursuing Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson represents a serious upgrade at the quarterback position for the Colts. Indianapolis has been on a maddening quarterback roller-coaster ride since Andrew Luck’s shocking retirement in the summer of 2019.

Since Luck hung up his cleats, the Colts have had four starting quarterbacks in the past four seasons: Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan.

Indy has averaged just eight wins per year and made the postseason just once since 2019. That trend will change if Jackson becomes their new franchise signal caller.

Provided Jackson remains healthy, he brings stability at quarterback. Jackson, who has 11,008 passing yards, 95 passing touchdowns, 3,742 rushing yards, and 19 rushing touchdowns over the past four seasons, will help stabilize a putrid Colts offense that ranked 30th in the NFL in 2022.

Although Jackson remains one of the elite dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL, the Colts still have to shore up their leaky offensive line (particularly left tackle) so he could rack up some serious yardage.

Speaking of dual-threat quarterbacks, Jackson will become the most exciting player made in that mold since the franchise relocated to Indianapolis in the spring of 1984.

In terms of the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, three quarterback-needy teams – the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts – represent three of the first four selections.

Many draft boards are predicting former Ohio State Buckeyes gunslinger C.J. Stroud, arguably the most highly-touted of this year’s quarterback crop, going to the Panthers with the first overall selection.

Sure, other big-name rookie quarterback prospects such as Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis certainly have their upsides. However, unless you’re drafting somebody like Peyton Manning, plucking a rookie quarterback from the draft pool is the proverbial roll of the dice.

Lamar Jackson playing quarterback will put fans of the Horseshoe at ease. According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Jackson’s career 45-16 (.738) win-loss record ranks fourth behind Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, and Roger Staubach. That is some elite company, for sure.

If Jackson continues that torrid pace for the Colts, he will earn a gold jacket and bust in Canton, OH, someday.

 

Weighing the Cons of the Colts Pursuing Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson won’t come cheap for the Horseshoe – Colts owner Jim Irsay must dig deep into his pockets if he plans to sign him.

Bear in mind Jackson turned down $200 million in guaranteed money from the Ravens six months ago. He also made it clear he wants a paycheck similar to Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who signed a five-year deal with $230 million in guaranteed money last year.

Not only that, but the Colts must also give up two first-round draft picks to the Ravens for Jackson’s services.

Lamar Jackson’s biggest question mark is his health – he missed a combined twelve games over the past two seasons due to ankle and PCL injuries.

That is a risk the Colts must take, considering Jackson’s running style makes him susceptible to those issues.

Jackson’s accuracy has also slipped over the past two years. His 33 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions from 2021 to 2022 pale in comparison to his 62 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions from 2019 to 2020.

Jackson’s rushing numbers have also dwindled in his fourth and fifth pro seasons – he racked up a combined 1,531 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns from 2021 to 2022.

In sharp contrast, Lamar ran for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns when he earned NFL MVP honors in 2019.

The good news is Lamar Jackson is just 26 years old. He has plenty of football left in him. Pair him up with a healthy Jonathan Taylor and you get a duo that can rack up some serious yardage on the ground for Indy in 2023.

 

The Final Verdict

All things considered, yes, the Colts should pursue Lamar Jackson.

For one, the Panthers trading up for the first overall selection changes the trajectory of the 2023 NFL draft dramatically. Among the rookie quarterbacks, C.J. Stroud has the biggest upside.

Unfortunately, it seems Stroud is a sure bet for Carolina with the way things are playing out.

For Lamar Jackson to ask for more than $200 million in guaranteed money means he’s confident he remains one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

That bodes well for the Colts’ quarterback aspirations. Once they sign him to a guaranteed deal, they will end their quarterback miseries and give the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans stiff competition in the AFC South for years on end.

It won’t happen at the snap of a finger, though. Indy still has to fix its offensive line woes and shore up its cornerback depth, among other things. Nevertheless, there’s no better time than now to pursue the 2019 NFL MVP.

Go ahead, Chris Ballard. Pull the trigger and sign Lamar Jackson.

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