The Indianapolis Colts will add a quarterback at some point this offseason. Will it be Sam Darnold?
On a recent appearance on ESPN’s ‘Get Up,’ Adam Schefter was asked about Darnold and the Colts.
“I wouldn’t rule them out,” Schefter said. “They are lurking in the background. I think they’re going to make a quarterback move. I’ve always thought Daniel Jones would be in play, but Daniel Jones is also going to have multiple options. I could see Darnold, I could see Jones, and we’re going to see how it plays out.”
Sam Darnold is the top quarterback on the free-agent market. With the Seattle Seahawks recently trading quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle could be Darnold’s next destination. But what about Indianapolis?
Should the Indianapolis Colts Sign Sam Darnold?
Looking Back At His Career
Sam Darnold played college football at USC. During his final season with the Trojans, he threw for 4,143 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also recorded five touchdowns on the ground.
The New York Jets selected Darnold third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He would only play three seasons in New York before being traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021.
After two seasons in Carolina and one with the San Francisco 49ers, Darnold signed a deal with the Minnesota Vikings last offseason. He was expected to hold down the fort until rookie J.J. McCarthy was ready to take over. However, McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus, forcing him to miss the entire year.
Sam Darnold went on to have a great 2024 season. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time after passing for a career-high 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. He led Minnesota to a 14-3 record although they lost to the Los Angeles Rams during the playoffs.
No, Indy Shouldn’t Pursue Sam Darnold
Paul Bretl of Colts Wire made some valid points about Darnold going to Indy:
“Everything about the Colts signing Darnold would contradict what GM Chris Ballard has said he wants to accomplish this offseason at quarterback. While, yes, Ballard does want real competition for Anthony Richardson, that isn’t accomplished by signing Darnold. In that instance, Darnold is the starter, and there is no competition, which makes Richardson the backup. If the hope is that competition will help Richardson elevate his game by pushing him, then that’s not going to be accomplished in that scenario.”
As Bretl noted, Colts general manager Chris Ballard wants to bring in competition for quarterback Anthony Richardson. Richardson, whom the team drafted fourth overall in 2023, hasn’t gotten off to a great start. He’s been bitten hard by the injury bug and has had accuracy issues.
Like Bretl said, if the Colts sign Sam Darnold, he’ll immediately be the starter and Richardson will head to the bench. That scenario would certainly not help Richardson’s development at all. Instead, the Colts need to sign someone like Daniel Jones or Jacoby Brissett. The team needs someone who can push Richardson to be better, and that’s not what Darnold would be in Indianapolis.