2012 NFL Draft: Colts Can't Afford to Hold Andrew Luck as Second QB

The Indianapolis Colts are in a situation almost every team would like to be in right now. They are the front-runners for Mr. Andrew Luck himself. 

But things aren't so cut-and-dry as the Colts already have a pretty decent quarterback in Peyton Manning. The former MVP's health is a little up in the air, but the general consensus seems to be he will return to full form next year.

So the question comes down to this: Do the Colts really want to have two stud quarterbacks on the same roster? 

Is Andrew Luck, the best thing since sliced bread, really willing to take a back-seat to Manning? Will Manning be OK with seeing his replacement brought in while he's still just 35 years old?

Luck cleared things up a little bit when he told the Baltimore Sun he would be OK with an understudy role.

"I'm sure it would be a positive," Luck said. "I'm sure it would all work out, whatever the situation is."

Alright, well that's great. But even if that's true and even if that quote really means Luck is ready for an understudy role (which I'm not quite prepared to accept), I'm guessing he would only want to play that role for one year, tops.

If Manning returns next year, and plays out the year with full health, I'm guessing he won't want to be replaced after that year is done.

Essentially, if the Colts draft Luck, and the Stanford QB is indeed OK with learning from the sidelines, things will be fine and dandy for one year.

Manning will play like it's 2009 again and Luck will learn from one of the best ever. But then what? They continue to do the same thing for two or three more years?

I don't think so. 

The Colts simply can't afford to hold so much talent at one position. Especially when a trade of this year's No. 1 pick could possibly land them another team's whole draft. 

Heck, even a trade of Manning could upgrade several other positions.

The Colts have shown that a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback can make up for weaknesses at other positions, and that might lead them to think they can hold on to both quarterbacks and still be successful. 

I just don't see the point of holding on to both talents. When you have so many holes in your team and you have a way to fix those holes, why not do it?

Andrew Luck may be OK with playing the understudy for a year, but he's too good for that. Whether they trade him or play, the Colts shouldn't waste him.