2023 NFL Draft: Colts Owner Jim Irsay Hints Interest in Alabama QB Bryce Young
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After a tough 2022 season, the Indianapolis Colts are picking fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Colts go into the offseason with a variety of needs, with the quarterback position comfortably at the top of the list. Now, with new head coach Shane Steichen—the former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator—in tow, the team is undoubtedly doing its homework on the premier quarterback prospects in this year’s draft class.
At a recent press conference, Colts owner Jim Irsay spoke about the importance of finding a franchise quarterback, mentioning the possibility of selecting a passer in the draft. On bringing in an offensive-minded head coach, Irsay explained, “Offense, in my mind, can be a little more complex. It takes a lot more time to develop, knowing we’re going to have to find a young quarterback to develop, that’s a key factor.” He then quipped, “[T]he Alabama guy doesn’t look bad, I’ll tell ya.”
The "Alabama guy," of course, is Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young, who is widely projected to be a Top Five selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Young is battling with Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Kentucky’s Will Levis for the vaunted QB1 distinction. And with a few quarterback-needy teams at the top of the draft, Young falling to the fourth overall pick is no guarantee.
Some are reading these comments as Irsay “tipping his hand” ahead of the draft. That is one possible interpretation. Another possibility is that Irsay is bluffing—either the Colts simply prefer a different quarterback (and are creating a smokescreen) or the team is attempting to ratchet up the pressure on its quarterback-hungry division rival, the Houston Texans, to part ways with a big package of assets to trade up from No. 2 to No. 1 overall. (The Chicago Bears own the No. 1 overall pick—more than likely, they will not select a quarterback and would probably be best served trading the pick.)
To be sure, Young is quite impressive. The Alabama standout has tremendous pocket poise, an NFL-caliber arm, and just enough athleticism to make a true difference with his legs in the pros. When paired with an offensive whiz like Steichen, Young could probably lead a team to the playoffs. Moreover, Steichen just had great success with another former Alabama quarterback—Jalen Hurts—whose play style is not too dissimilar to that of Young.
Still, Young’s size is a big knock on him; the fact remains that Young is something like a full standard deviation below the median height for an NFL quarterback, which gives rise to durability concerns, questions about whether he can see over the line of scrimmage consistently, and other issues (breaking out of sacks, finding throwing lanes without having to manipulate his arm angle too dramatically, etc.).
By contrast, Stroud is about as pro-ready as they come. He can make all the throws, is a scheme-diverse quarterback who can run a number of different offenses, and boasts NFL size. A safer bet than Young or Levis, Stroud may not have the highest ceiling of the bunch. But for a team like the Colts that already has a significant number of All-Pro caliber starters, Stroud seems like the best option if Indianapolis has its pick of the group.
However it shakes out, it’s safe to say that the Colts have the quarterback position on their mind as we approach the final couple of months before the draft. Don’t be surprised if we see some jockeying in the Top Five picks as a variety of teams attempt to land their next franchise quarterback.
