5 teams who could trade for and get Sam Darnold on the right track

2. Indianapolis Colts

In a funny twist looking back on it now, the Colts traded down with the Jets well before the 2018 draft, giving up the No. 3 overall pick that would become Darnold for No. 6 (which became guard Quenton Nelson) and multiple picks.

Of course that was with their assumption Andrew Luck wasn’t going anywhere for awhile, and an effort to add reinforcements around the franchie quarterback. Luck of course shockingly retired in late-August of 2019.

Now, Indianapolis has the aged Philip Rivers on a one-year deal this year and a question about who will be their quarterback after that (Rivers for a second year? Jacoby Brissett?, Jacob Eason?….Dak Prescott?).

Darnold would find a soft landing with the Colts under head coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni, even if it were initially in a backup role. They would be in good position to pick up his fifth-year option, about $24 million according to Schefter, if it came to that.

As a testament to the work of general manager Chris Ballard, the Colts can really go any direction with their quarterback situation looking toward 2021 (don’t dismiss a run at Prescott if he’s available). If Darnold is available, as inevitable as it feels right now, he’ll be worth a flier.