Colts Fans and Stampede Blue Community Q&A - Week 15 ANSWERS

Colts fans and Stampede Blue readers can submit their Colts questions to have a chance of them being answered in our Q&A.

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Let’s jump straight into this week’s questions:

Lucky Jock Strap (Stampede Blue Comments): How big of a priority is finding a pass rusher this off-season? Both Houston and Autry are free agents this year. Justin Houston looks good at times, but then he’ll go on long stretches without any production. Denico Autry has been our best pass rusher and is looking more like a sure-fire re-sign. While Turay has looked like a future star in the past, he still doesn’t look 100 percent as of today (or maybe ever). Finally, Muhammad and Banogu haven’t shown enough to trust them as anymore than depth pieces.

Answer: I would say the top team needs for the Colts are: quarterback, offensive tackle, cornerback and edge rusher. So edge rusher is definitely a top priority this off-season. Even if the team re-signs Houston and Autry the edge rusher position still needs adressing. The Colts pass rush has been good this year but still not consistent enough. The team needs a consistent presence off the edge to match up with the dominant defensive tackle they have with Deforest Buckner. Hopefully Turay can fully recover from his injury and continue his development where he left off last year. But Turay is only part of the edge rusher answer as there is still a need for a future partner for him.

Clydesdales (Stampede Blue Comments): Much of our speculation over Rivers next year, asks the question, “Do we want him to return”. I have been impressed and want to see how we look down the stretch. At this very moment, I’d welcome a return as a good bridge to Eason. I just wonder if there is any insight into how Rivers feels about Indy? I know we heard a lot of lovefest upon his arrival, but he and his family are about to spend the coldest winter they ever have. Could it be a deal breaker for the Rivers clan? I’m not talking about the game, I’m talking about everyday life.

Answer: The Colts should definitely want Philip Rivers to return, he has been very impressive this year. After a few bumps early on Rivers has been great and a huge part of why the Colts have 10 wins and are on to a potential playoff birth. The Colts should be offering him a contract extension for at the minimum next year and maybe even they year after. Jacob Eason is nothing but a massive unknown at this point and having him anything more than a back up is reaching massively. Rivers said when he signed that he wanted to stay in Indianapolis for this year and the next few as well and there has been no noise coming from Rivers or the media about him being unhappy about the city, the weather or anything really.

Devils Reject (Stampede Blue Comments): Assume Phillip Rivers retires after this year....and the Colts do not look to re-sign Jacoby Brissett.

There are 3 veteran QBs that the Colts could possibly make moves on that would keep this team as a legitimate contender in the AFC. These would possibly all require some form of trade, although one may very well be released come this off-season. Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, Mathew Stafford. Of the 3, which do you think would fit the best? The obvious answer is probably Aaron Rodgers, but I actually think of the 3, I like Stafford the most. Rodgers would probably command the biggest asking price while there’s a very good chance that Stafford is let go this off-season.

Answer: Hypothetically speaking if Rivers was to retire, hypothetically because he has said he wants to play at least another two years, and the Colts did not re-sign Brissett then the Colts would likely look at a few different options at quarterback. In terms of veteran quarterback options I agree with two of the options you said in Matt Ryan and Matthew Stafford as potential trade options. The Packers won’t be trading Aaron Rodgers any time soon if he continues to play at the level he is right now. Of the two other options I would lean towards Stafford over Ryan. Stafford is an elite quarterback in this league and has been so for quite some time, he is also younger and would be cheaper than Ryan in terms of cap hit. I don’t think Stafford is let go this off-season but there is a chance he is traded especially with the Lions in need of a new head coach and general manager.