The Indianapolis Colts decided to upgrade at the quarterback position after a disappointing 2019 campaign.
The Colts still have Jacoby Brissett under contract, but they went out and added veteran Philip Rivers as well.
Indy gave Rivers a one-year deal worth $25 million for the 2020 season.
The Colts are spending $47,125,000 million on quarterbacks for next season, according to Spotrac.
That is the most money spent on quarterbacks throughout the entire league.
#Colts added four Pro Bowlers this offseason:
• De’Forest Buckner
• Philip Rivers
• Xavier Rhodes
• Roosevelt Nix pic.twitter.com/CTrpWDO9My— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) April 11, 2020
Why Spend Big at Quarterback?
The Colts made some major upgrades this offseason including adding elite pass rusher DeForest Buckner and Pro Bowl corner Xavier Rhodes.
Indy already had a quarterback on the roster with Brissett, so why add Rivers instead of spending the money to upgrade elsewhere?
On paper, Brissett didn’t perform horribly in 2019, but the Colts needed to make an upgrade if they wanted to be competitive.
Brissett finished with 2,942 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2019.
However, Brissett only had four total touchdowns during the final seven games of the regular season.
He was unable to convert deep down the field and would often take the shorter routes instead of throwing downfield.
Brissett limited turnovers by doing this, but it was one of the big reasons why Indy struggled moving the ball on offense.
The Colts decided it was time for a change and brought in Rivers who loves to throw deep and has playoff experience under his belt.
Brissett wasn’t able to convince the Colts that he’s ready to be a starter in the NFL, so Indy went out and signed a veteran quarterback to hopefully help them compete in 2020.
Could the Colts Move Brissett?
Rivers is going to be the starting quarterback in 2020, so it would make sense for Indy to attempt to trade Brissett.
Brissett carries a salary-cap hit of $21.375 million which is currently the 13th highest in the league.
He’s the highest-paid backup, but the Colts are likely stuck with him.
Most organizations already signed their quarterback this offseason or they plan to draft one during the upcoming NFL Draft.
There aren’t too many organizations that would be willing to pay Brissett’s contract right now.
The good news is, Brissett is only under contract for one more season, so that’s a relief for the organization.
List of Colts quarterbacks under contract for 2021:
End of list.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 21, 2020
What About After the 2020 Season?
Both Rivers and Brissett are set to become free agents after the 2020 season.
Indy is spending a lot of money on quarterbacks right now, but at least the cap hit isn’t long-term.
General manager Chris Ballard did a great job of acquiring talent this offseason even though he was somewhat limited in cap space after bringing in Rivers.
There is a good chance that the Colts bring in a rookie through the draft to sit behind Rivers for a season and develop.
The organization could always keep Brissett or Rivers possibly longer if they don’t find their franchise quarterback during the 2020 draft.
Indy is spending too much money on quarterbacks right now, but at least the Rivers deal is only for one season.
The team can re-evaluate their plans after the season without any future implications.
The organization is focused on winning with Rivers right now, but they can always change course after the season.
NEXT: Indianapolis Colts Sign Former Steeler Fullback Roosevelt Nix