2 no-brainer trades Colts must make to replace Carson Wentz

The Indianapolis Colts need to trade for one of these guys after the Carson Wentz injury.

With Carson Wentz being sidelined for the next five to 12 weeks, it would serve the Indianapolis Colts to go out and trade for a stop-gap quarterback before the start of the season.

Indianapolis dealt for the former Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback earlier this offseason with the hopes Wentz could help the Colts win their first division title since 2014. However, he will not be ready until the start of the regular season at the earlier or could be out as long as early October. Fortunately, these two backup quarterbacks would make a ton of sense in the meantime.

If Colts general manager Chris Ballard is keen on keeping his team’s season afloat while Wentz recovers from foot surgery, he should look at trading for one of these two backup quarterbacks.

Indianapolis Colts: 2 quarterbacks to trade for after Carson Wentz’s injury

With the Jacksonville Jaguars using the No. 1 overall pick in this past spring’s draft on former Clemson standout Trevor Lawrence, Gardner Minshew‘s days are numbered in Duval County. As a rookie in 2019, he went 6-6 on the Jaguars starter, but dealt with injuries and a myriad of disappointment last year in a bit of a sophomore slump. The good news is we knows he can play.

Minshew would already have two year’s worth of experience of competing in the AFC South, that should help Colts for when they take on the Houston Texans, the Tennessee Titans, and of course, Jacksonville. For all intents and purposes, Minshew will likely become his generation’s version of Ryan Fitzpatrick, but the Colts would be getting a lesser version of Baker Mayfield under center.

You cannot tell the story of Carson Wentz without mentioning Nick Foles. Yes, the quarterback who took over the 2017 Eagles late in the season for an injured Wentz is readily available as training camp is underway. The Super Bowl 52 MVP is currently the third-stringer on the Chicago Bears, backing up presumed Week 1 starter Andy Dalton and future NFL superstar Justin Fields.

Foles thinks the world of Colts head coach Frank Reich from their time together in Philadelphia. While he hasn’t talked to him this offseason, which would be illegal, Foles would only account for $4 million in base salary for 2021 and 2022. He also has $6 million in available incentives in the final two years of his contract with the Bears. Cheap and a proven commodity, what is not to love?

Here is what Foles said at the podium at Bears camp Monday after hearing the Wentz injury news.

While there are other options for the Colts to consider, whether that be in a trade or in free agency, if they are to deal for a quarterback while Wentz is in the mend, Foles and Minshew are the most logical choices in that order. Though neither is good enough to lead the Colts to the postseason in 16 games as the starter, they can surely win enough to help at least help Indianapolis tread water.

Indianapolis needs to act fast to be able to get either Minshew or Foles before it is too late.