2012 NFL Draft: Trades That Would Solve the Indianapolis Colts' QB Dilemma

To say that it will be an interesting offseason for Indianapolis Colts fans would be a massive understatement.

After appearing in the playoffs for nine straight seasons and never having to imagine anyone other than Peyton Manning taking snaps behind center, Indy fans, like myself, have been spoiled with the success of this franchise over the past decade. That all came crashing down this year when the unthinkable happened and Manning was forced to miss the entire season due to neck surgery, which resulted in a 2-14 season.

Now that the horror season is over there are significant question marks that must be addressed for the Colts and owner Jim Irsay. With the firing of Chris and Bill Polian, it is clear that more changes are on the way and one area that obviously stands out is the quarterback position. 

Irsay made it pretty clear in several interviews that he would select a quarterback with their first-round pick if the right guy is there. Well, if Andrew Luck isn't the right guy for Mr. Irsay, he may be waiting a long time for someone else to come along.

Almost every NFL expert, scout and executive has declared Luck as the best QB prospect to enter the draft since Manning himself was chosen by the Colts in 1998. Some have even declared him the best quarterback prospect ever. Irsay has also said that if Manning is healthy, he does expect him to start in 2012, meaning Luck will sit on the bench for a few years. 

There is a glaring issue with the idea of a Manning/Luck combo which leads me to believe something has to give. If the Colts are going to strip this franchise down and rebuild, is Peyton really going to want to be part of that?

I understand there is an enormous amount of loyalty between Manning, the city and ownership, but if he is going to risk his health and play a few more years, a Super Bowl has to be part of the equation. And even if he decides to stay and the Colts select Luck, Manning is signed for four more years and there is no way Luck is going to wait four years to see the field.

There is plenty of talk about the amount of draft picks the Colts could receive in return for the No. 1 overall selection but if they are going to trade away Luck and keep Peyton, it makes absolutely no sense to trade for draft picks. By the time the picks pan out, Peyton will be set to retire and the Colts will be without a replacement for the Hall of Famer.

If Manning is going to stay, and a trade is made involving their top draft pick, it has to be for proven players that can make an impact from Day 1. The only scenario in which trading for picks makes sense is if the Colts have their eyes on a replacement other than Luck, like Robert Griffin III.

Whether it be a trade involving Manning or Luck remains to be seen, but at some point, something has to give and it makes more sense for the franchise to make that decision now before the value of either asset decreases. While the trade scenarios on this list are strictly fantasy, in my opinion they are deals that make sense for both parties involved. 

Andrew Luck to the Cardinals for Patrick Peterson, Kevin Kolb and a 1st Rounder

The Deal:

Andrew Luck for Patrick Peterson, Kevin Kolb and the Cards 2012 1st Round Pick

Evaluation:

This deal makes a lot of sense for both teams as the Cards get the franchise QB that they were looking for when they signed Kolb and the Colts get a stud in Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate Patrick Peterson.

Peterson would not only step in and make an immediate impact on defense but he would also significantly improve Indy's awful special teams unit that hasn't had more than one kick/punt return touchdown in a single season since 2001.

In fact, Peterson has as many punt return touchdowns this season alone (four) as the Colts have in total over the past 13 seasons. Peyton Manning is dangerous enough; imagine Peterson giving him a short field on a more regular basis.

In addition, the Colts receive Kolb, who would not only be a huge upgrade at the backup position but he is also only 27 years old and, if put in the right situation, I believe he could be a top quarterback in the NFL. The first-round pick (13th overall), would leave Indy with a selection they could use to upgrade at a number of positions.

Andrew Luck and a 2nd to the Redskins for Brian Orakpo, LaRon Landry & a 1st

The Deal:

The Colts' first and second-round picks in this year's draft to the Washington Redskins for Brian Orakpo, LaRon Landry and Washington's first-round pick in 2012.

The Evaluation:

I know, this is a lot for Washington to give up for a guy who hasn't even proven himself at the top level but it appears that a reasonable asking price for Indy's first-rounder is three first-round draft picks and that is essentially what they are getting in this deal. Since the Colts are getting two proven players in the deal, the second-round pick would probably be necessary to complete such a deal.

If the Colts are going to keep Manning around and trade away the potential future of their franchise, they will do so because they want to take a run at another Super Bowl in the next 4-5 years. Adding proven players on defense like Orakpo and Landry would improve the defense beyond explanation and give them a shot at another title.

A new GM will be entering the scene for the Colts and with him, most likely a new defensive scheme. That means there will be many personnel changes on that side of the ball. Bill Polian built the defense based on a Cover 2 scheme, which allowed him to draft speedy, undersized players in the later rounds of the draft. Therefore, a new scheme will relate to new faces in Indy.

For Washington, they get the prize of the draft and the franchise quarterback they have been searching for since, well, before I was born. The price tag is hefty, but if Andrew Luck is what everyone says he is, it will be well worth it.

Peyton Manning to the Redskins for LaRon Landry and Brian Orakpo

The Deal:

Peyton Manning to the Washington Redskins for Brian Orakpo and LaRon Landry.

The Evaluation:

So basically the same deal as the last, except this time it's Peyton Manning on the move. I truly believe that Manning will be a Colt next year unless he decides he wants out. If he demands to be moved, Jim Irsay will accommodate his demands but I guarantee it wont be to an AFC rival like New York (sorry Jets fans). I believe the 'Skins would be the first NFC team in line for the Hall of Famer's services. 

In return the Colts once again get the two young defensive stars and use them to rebuild a defense that has been terrible for years.

Now, I'm sure someone will point out the fact that LaRon Landry has battled injuries the past two seasons and the last thing the Colts need is another injury-plagued star at the safety position, a la Bob Sanders. I tend to agree with you, but when Landry is healthy he is arguably one of the top safeties in the league and at age 27, there is lots of life left in that body and I believe he is worth the risk.

Peyton Manning to the 49ers for Aldon Smith and Michael Crabtree

The Deal: 

Peyton Manning to the San Francisco 49ers for Aldon Smith and Michael Crabtree.

The Evaluation:

Many expect the 49ers to offer an extension to Alex Smith and retain him as "their guy" for at least two or three more years. Smith enjoyed his best season as a pro this year, tossing for over 3,000 yards, 17 TDs and only fiveinterceptions.

But do you think anyone will remember that season if he goes out and lays an egg in two weeks when the 49ers host one of the two divisional round playoff games? I have a funny feeling the Alex Smith Bandwagon will be short more than a few passengers if that happens.

Peyton Manning would make this team an absolute powerhouse with plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, and with one of the top defenses in the league, they would challenge the Packers for the next four to five years in the NFC and, I believe, win at least one Super Bowl.

They would give up a budding star in Aldon Smith, but he is a player they could replace for the time being and Crabtree, a player that is finally starting to show his full potential, gets a fresh start with the Colts. Reggie Wayne and Robert Mathis will likely to move on this offseason and this trade would immediately fill the void with more-than-capable (and younger) players.

Andrew Luck to the Cleveland Browns for RG3, 2012 3rd Rounder and 2013 1st

The Deal:

The Indianapolis Colts select Andrew Luck and the Cleveland Browns select Robert Griffin III in the first round. The teams then swap the two quarterbacks with the Colts also receiving Cleveland's third-round pick in 2012 and first-round pick in 2013.

The Evaluation:

As I stated in the opening to this article, I believe it makes no sense for the Colts to trade away the first overall pick for a bundle of draft picks unless they use one of those picks to select a replacement for Peyton Manning other than Andrew Luck. Well, the only other QB in the draft that deserves to be mentioned in the same conversation as Luck is Robert Griffin III. 

The Heisman Trophy winner had a monster season in which he threw for almost 4,000 yards and 36 touchdowns with only six interceptions. On top of that, he rushed for over 600 yards and picked up nine TDs on the ground.

This kid is oozing with raw talent and has the potential to be a star in the NFL but he would really benefit from a more gradual learning curve, which is exactly what the Colts could give him if he lands in Indianapolis. Did I mention that he would be learning behind one of the best of all time?

The Browns give up almost exactly what it cost the Giants to land Eli Manning in 2004, only Cleveland is getting a prospect that is much more hyped than little brother Eli was. Colt McCoy is not the long-term answer in Cleveland and Luck would reward one of the most loyal fan bases with the franchise quarterback they deserve.