Column: Colts should keep Jacoby Brissett for the foreseeable future

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said at the beginning of the month that he isn’t interested in trading his backup quarterback just yet, even if a first-round draft pick was dangled in the deal.

That notion is proven to be true.

The Colts turned down a trade offer for Jacoby Brissett that included a second-round pick from the Seattle Seahawks, according to Ben Violin from the Boston Globe.

While Russell Wilson is undoubtedly the starting quarterback in Seattle for years to come, there is a connection as to why the Seahawks would be interested in dealing for Brissett. Brian Schottenheimer, who is currently the offensive coordinator under Pete Carroll, was the quarterbacks coach in Indianapolis last year when Brissett took over for the injured Andrew Luck. Without a doubt, Schottenheimer was a big advocate for the second-string signal-caller.

“We have the best backup quarterback in football,” Irsay said, via the Indianapolis Star. “I don’t think we’d accept a [first-round pick in a trade] for him, we think he’s that good.”

Brissett, who is just 24-years-old, has the arm talent and size to be a starting-caliber quarterback, and he showed that last year in 16 games — throwing 13 touchdowns to just seven interceptions with the worst offensive line unit in the National Football League.

As of now, while the former North Carolina State quarterback could command a first-round pick, the Colts — as Irsay iterated at the beginning of August — should be in no rush to make a deal, although the team is in desperate need of draft capital for talent purposes.

For one, Brissett — outside of Teddy Bridgewater and Nick Foles — is the one of the best insurance policies on the market, giving Indianapolis something to fall back on just in case, knock on wood, Luck has any issues moving forward. If Luck has any bit of pain in his arm, Brissett should play immediately, but that’s another topic of discussion.

As of now, his contract is very economical — at salaries of $735,000 this year and $890,000 for the 2019 season — for a team that is looking to upgrade talent at seemingly every spot outside of quarterback, kicker, punter, and safety. With that salary, it’s insurance that allows the Colts to pursue players — if Chris Ballard ever decides to.

Colts head coach Frank Reich, who knows the life of a backup quarterback all too well, sees the talent in his young backup. He knows the importance in the position — whether it’s for starting or backup purposes.

“I think you’re a top-20 quarterback,” Reich told Brissett via the Indianapolis Star. “I think you’re a starter in this league.”

“I think he’s a big-time competitor and he wants to play,” Reich added.

For the sake of the Colts, they need Brissett.