PALM BEACH, Fla. — When the Colts decided to cut short Carson Wentz’s tenure after only one season in Indianapolis, they did not have a hard and fast plan to replace him at quarterback.
But the Colts were determined to explore every opportunity.
At least one of those possibilities was a blockbuster trade for a young quarterback, Indianapolis owner Jim Irsay revealed Tuesday at the NFL’s annual owners meetings, that would have required the Colts to give up at least two first-round picks.
“It would have been a trade scenario for a younger guy,” Irsay said. “At least two ones, probably.”
Instead, Indianapolis acquired veteran Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round selection.
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Irsay didn’t reveal the quarterback’s name, but he did say that Indianapolis discussed the possibility of more than one young quarterback.
Ultimately, only one of those players seemed like a real possibility, at least briefly, for the Colts to make the sort of trade that the Los Angeles Rams made for Matthew Stafford in 2021 and that the Denver Broncos made for Russell Wilson this offseason.
“You know we looked at a young guy or two, it was probably one, but really, in the end, he wasn’t available, after all was said and done,” Irsay said. “For a number of other things happening, reasons, it would have had to been something else happening to make him available.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts explored blockbuster trade for ‘young’ QB earlier this year