The Indianapolis Colts have made a choice in their quarterback competition. Daniel Jones will begin Week 1 as the starter, with 2023 No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson being his primary backup.
For Richardson, this could be the beginning of the end for his time with the Colts.
With that being said, Indianapolis does not have a great long-term franchise quarterback option. Jones could be a solid starter in 2025, but Chris Ballard and the front office will need to figure out a plan for years to come.
Keeping that in mind, could a trade materialize for the Colts to bring in a young quarterback? How about Cleveland Browns' rookie fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders?
Sanders has received a lot of hype since being drafted by the Browns. However, he is facing a major uphill battle to find playing time in Cleveland. Joe Flacco has won the starting job there, while Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel are also on the roster.
Andy Quach of Cleveland Browns on SI has taken a look at which NFL teams should trade for Sanders. At the top of the list was Indianapolis.
"Shedeur Sanders would instantly be the most promising quarterback in the room for Indianapolis. He could do quite a bit of damage alongside Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., and Josh Downs," Quach wrote.
In his NFL debut as the starter for the Browns in the preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, Sanders looked sharp. He completed 14 of his 23 pass attempts for 138 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, while also running for 19 yards on four attempts.
Unfortunately, he was unable to play in the team's second preseason game due to an oblique injury. He will be playing in the third week of preseason action.
While it's unlikely that Sanders will be placed on the trade block, the Colts should monitor his situation. Richardson is clearly not the guy for Indianapolis long-term. Making a move for Sanders would make a lot of sense.
No one should expect this trade idea to come to fruition, but it's food for thought.
There is no question that Sanders would immediately bring some life to the Colts. It's even possible that he could work his way onto the field during the 2025 season.
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