2 weeks Ago By Indianapolis Star
INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts could still end up taking a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft.Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard has repeatedly left open the possibility, and there is a hole in the quarterback room with Sam Ehlinger’s departure for Denver in free agency.But the Colts were not going to take a quarterback in the first three rounds of this draft, even though Indianapolis is holding an open competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones for the starting job.
“There wasn’t a point ...
where we probably would have considered one in the first three rounds,” Ballard said. “Not yet.”The NFL does not consider the 2025 quarterback class to be deep.
The Titans took Miami’s Cam Ward at No. 1, and the league did not draft another quarterback until the Giants traded back into the first round to take Ole Miss passer Jaxson Dart at No. 25.
New Orleans took Lousville’s Tyler Shough in the second round, No. 40 overall, and then the league stayed away from the quarterback position until the Seahawks drafted Alabama’s Jalen Milroe at No. 92, followed by the Browns taking Dillon Gabriel two picks later.
Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, once projected to be a top-five pick, did not hear his name called in the first three rounds of the draft, a shocking fall that left analysts and reporters speculating plenty of potential destinations throughout Friday night.Indianapolis did not believe any of the quarterbacks possessed enough talent to warrant a pick. The Colts did their homework on several of the quarterbacks in the class, bringing in prospects for top-30 visits, working out a few and traveling to meet with them.
Ballard has repeatedly said this offseason that he’d draft a quarterback if the organization believed in his potential.“You don't ever want to pass up a player you think has got a chance to be really good,” Ballard said. “I think you can say it for every position, but especially at quarterback.
”Indianapolis could still draft a quarterback. The Colts typically carry a No. 3 quarterback on the roster because of the NFL rule that allows teams to have an emergency quarterback on game day in case the team's top two passers get injured, and Ehlinger's departure leaves only undrafted free agent Jason Bean behind Richardson and Jones.
For months, the draft analysts have been saying the 2025 NFL Draft was light on potential starting quarterbacks.The Colts apparently agreed.Get IndyStar's Colts coverage sent directly to your inbox with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts draft: GM Chris Ballard on taking a quarterback in NFL draft.
