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5 candidates to be Indianapolis Colts starting QB in 2020

By Brad Berreman

WESTFIELD, INDIANA - AUGUST 5: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts in action during the Colts training camp at Grand Park on August 5, 2019 in Westfield, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
WESTFIELD, INDIANA - AUGUST 5: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts in action during the Colts training camp at Grand Park on August 5, 2019 in Westfield, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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After Andrew Luck’s surprising retirement, who will be under center for the Indianapolis Colts in 2020?

Citing the string of injuries that have hampered him over the last few years, including a lower leg issue that has kept him virtually off the practice field since April, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck shocked the NFL world by announcing his retirement Saturday night.

Nearing his 30th birthday on Sept. 12, Luck had three years left on his contract. Even with Luck’s durability concerns, the Colts surely didn’t expect to be searching for their next quarterback in earnest for a little while yet.

For the coming season, Jacoby Brissett will step in and start for Indianapolis in Luck’s place. When Luck missed the entire 2017 campaign amid a prolonged recovery from shoulder surgery, Brissett started 15 games and acquitted himself fairly well with a bare talent cupboard around him (3,098 passing yards, 240 rushing yards). With the talent upgrade Colts general manager Chris Ballard has authored since taking over, Brissett is set up to succeed in his second significant run as the starter.

But from here looking toward the 2020 season, with a roster otherwise set up to succeed long-term, the biggest question for the Colts is who their starting quarterback will be.

With that in mind, here are five candidates to be the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback in 2020.

5. Tua Tagovailoa/Justin Herbert

In the wake of Luck’s retirement, the Colts are no longer a top contender to reach the Super Bowl out of the AFC this year. However, they should be fine and make the playoffs with Brissett if he is healthy for all 16 games.

But let’s imagine a scenario where things really go off the rails for the Colts this year. Let’s say less than six wins, and a top-10 pick in the 2020 draft. That would put them in line to take one of the top options in a quarterback draft class currently headed by Tagovailoa and Herbert, or maybe they’d be within range to trade up a few picks to get one or the other if they wanted to.

After Peyton Manning lost a season to a neck injury in 2011, the Colts got the No. 1 pick and landed Luck in the 2012 draft. Being bad enough to land the No. 1 pick next spring is at the extreme low end of probable outcomes for the 2019 season, but a top rookie getting the nod from the start in 2020 is a possibility.

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