Indianapolis Colts: Do They Draft Andrew Luck No. 1 Overall

What do you do when your MVP quarterback is out for the season and you are "rewarded" with the first selection in the NFL draft? The Indianapolis Colts could be asked this question soon. 

The Colts can't buy a win with Peyton Manning standing injured on the sidelines. They are now one of three winless teams in the NFL, but are the only team with five losses. Kerry Collins was not the answer. Curtis Painter is currently not the answer. Is Andrew Luck the answer?

No one is really sure how injured Peyton Manning really is, and we may never now. To say that he will never play again is stupid. He will play again after his injury heals, but what team will he be playing for? 

Manning just signed a new five-year, $90 million deal this summer. Although it may sound unlikely that Manning could be traded, it is a possibility.

Assume that the Colts get the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and they can get Luck; what do they do?

When draft day comes, the Colts can:

• Draft Andrew Luck, trade Peyton Manning
• Trade the No. 1 overall pick
• Draft someone other than Luck
• Let Luck learn from Manning

Andrew Luck is by far the best player in the draft thus far. He had great numbers in 2009. He had great numbers in 2010. He will have great numbers in 2011. Would it be stupid to trade away Manning? Only time will tell. The Colts could get plenty of money, players or draft picks for Manning and improve their team in that sense.

So how do you not take the best player in the draft? From the Colts' point of view, they have arguably one of the best quarterbacks of all-time for four more seasons. The Colts could decide that they want to stay with Manning and take their chances without Luck. That being said, they could easily trade away their draft pick to another team and receive players or other draft picks.

Keeping Manning and just drafting another outstanding prospect could also work out nicely for the Colts. If Manning is completely healthy by the start of next season, they could be more dangerous than ever with Oregon RB LaMichael James in the backfield or Oklahoma St. WR Justin Blackmon going downfield for a perfect pass.

The final approach is to let Andrew Luck learn from Manning. The Green Bay Packers took this approach when they drafted Aaron Rodgers to learn from Brett Favre. This technique worked in their favor as Rodgers brought the team to a Super Bowl victory last season.

The Colts will be a playoff presence next season. The only question is who their quarterback will be: Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck.