The Indianapolis Colts won’t have their No. 13 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft after trading it to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for defensive end DeForest Buckner.
Losing that pick doesn’t rule out the Colts from drafting a quarterback, but they may have some limited options.
Quarterbacks such as Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and Jordan Love are unlikely to last in the draft until the Colts pick with the No. 34 selection.
Could Jalen Hurts be an option for the Colts during the later rounds of the upcoming draft?
Who is Jalen Hurts?
Hurts spent his first three years in college as a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
He was benched for Tagovailoa and transferred to Oklahoma for his senior year.
Hurts finished his Alabama career with 5,626 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions during his 28 starts.
Somehow he also managed to rush for 1,976 yards on 381 carries for 23 rushing with Alabama.
How much did Jalen Hurts improve at Oklahoma?
Let's take a look at his on-target rate by passing zone from his career at Alabama compared to his 2019 season with the Sooners.
Stats via @SportsInfo_SIS pic.twitter.com/ZfgTbdBlsl
— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) March 5, 2020
Hurts didn’t miss a beat when he joined the Sooners in 2019.
His accolades for the 2019 season include First-Team All-Big 12 member, a Big 12 Champion, Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, and Heisman Trophy Runner-Up.
He finished with 3,851 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, and eight interceptions with Oklahoma in 2019.
Hurts also rushed for 1,298 yards on 233 carries with 20 touchdowns in 2019.
He was a National Champion with Alabama and transferring schools didn’t hurt his accolades at all.
There is plenty to like about Hurts, so the Colts might have an interesting decision to make on draft day.
Jalen Hurts reading the 3 (midline) – that's a major challenge for a defense, he brings the new high tech dual threat tool box that league execs are trying to mimic.. his throws are looking better and better everyday. #spreadoffense #NFL pic.twitter.com/LATeOfxkUw
— SpreadOffense.com (@SpreadOffense) March 14, 2020
Would Hurts Be A Fit for Indy?
Philip Rivers signed a one-year $25 million deal with the Colts, so he’s going to be the starter in 2020.
However, the Colts may go ahead and draft his replacement as early as this upcoming draft.
Hurts had a fantastic college career, but sitting behind a guy like Rivers for one season could actually help him improve his game.
Many quarterbacks struggle to make the transition from college to the NFL, so giving Hurts a season to sit and learn is a great idea.
Hurts is a dual-threat quarterback, but sometimes even the most talented of players take some time to get adjusted to the NFL.
What Kind of Potential Does Hurts Have?
He is someone who can get the job done with both his arm and legs, so that makes him fairly unique.
Hurts appears to be a poor man’s Russell Wilson, but has the potential to be a full-time starter in the NFL.
Having Hurts sit for a season or possibly two could do him some good since most quarterbacks aren’t ready to start in the NFL from Week 1.
Oklahoma Sooners Pro Day
QB | Jalen Hurts
WR | CeeDee Lamb#NFL #NFLDraft #OklahomaProDay
pic.twitter.com/PvI1vAOknO— FantasyFootballMEX (@FantasyMex) March 15, 2020
The Colts might be able to select Hurts with the No. 44 pick in the upcoming draft.
That seems like a reasonable spot for Hurts and would give the Colts a chance to upgrade in other areas beforehand.
Hurts does need a bit more development before he’s ready for the NFL, but he has the potential to be the future at quarterback for the Colts.
If all these fail, drafting Hurts at pick No. 44 is not a bad strategy for Indy and could end up paying off in the long run.
NEXT: The Case For Drafting Georgia Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship
