Colts: Did Indianapolis Pull Off A Successful Tank For The No. 4 Overall Pick?

The Indianapolis Colts lost in odd fashion vs. the Texans, leaving many fans around the league wondering if it was intentional. Let’s investigate this tank claim and see how it impacts the 2023 NFL Draft.

One thing that is sure to cause a stir among football fans is the four-letter word: tank. Some folks passionately argue against the method, rightfully stating that no professional athlete will lose on purpose. Others say it is a necessary evil, allowing the team to better position itself for the NFL Draft.

Wherever you land on that spectrum, it is safe to say that the Indianapolis Colts performed a modified version of the tank in 2022. Indy opened the season with a respectable 3-2-1 record, albeit behind subpar play from quarterback Matt Ryan. Still, the announcement to bench Ryan and start Sam Ehlinger caused many to wonder aloud, “what is going on here”?

Only two weeks later, Colts owner Jim Irsay announced the firing of head coach Frank Reich. After 4.5 seasons as the leader of the Shoe, the franchise relieved him of his duties and sent shockwaves around the league by hiring Colts legend Jeff Saturday as the interim head coach.

Only a few days prior, Saturday was on ESPN working as an analyst. The 14-year veteran had never coached above the high school level before his hiring. This is another move that brought into question, “what is REALLY going on here“?

In a shocker, the Colts won Saturday’s first game at the helm against the Las Vegas Raiders. Unfortunately, the team would drop its next seven games, including a collapse in the fourth quarter Sunday vs. the Texans. As talented as the defense was in 2022, it couldn’t cover up the laundry list of issues on offense.

The culmination of the season came on a play with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Rodney Thomas, a standout seventh-rounder from the 2022 NFL Draft, leaped in the air to secure a game-clinching interception for the Colts. The problem is, Thomas mistimed his jump and narrowly missed deflecting the ball with his fingertips.

That play made me finally ask, “wait, WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON RIGHT NOW”?

Okay, all joking aside, I do not believe Rodney Thomas or anyone else on the field “threw the game” for the Colts. That is simply not in NFL players’ DNA. The optics look bad, especially considering Thomas has been so great as a rookie and typically makes that play on the ball. On the tanking charges, Thomas is found innocent.

As far as Jim Irsay and the remainder of the decision-makers up top? They are innocent too, but only on a technicality. I’ll never believe that Irsay willingly lost football games on purpose, but by firing his head coach, hiring a first-time replacement, changing quarterbacks multiple times, and the slew of injuries… it felt like a calculated tank.

The idea of “we don’t want to lose on purpose but if we do, it is a means to an end” seemed to sweep through the organization. That is purely speculation on my part, as I have no sources in the building, but the hints are all there. So, what is next?

Whether the team tanked or not, they will get one benefit from such an abysmal season — the No. 4 overall selection. One can assume that quarterback is at the top of the shopping list this offseason, with a starting offensive lineman (or two) not far behind. The Colts will be able to move up or down in the 2023 NFL Draft as they see fit, but leaving the event without a high-upside signal-caller would be a slap in the face of the fan base.

General manager Chris Ballard looks to be safe for 2023, but with an ever-shrinking leash, expect the typically reserved negotiator to become more aggressive than he has ever been. The search for a franchise cornerstone behind center is the only way for Ballard to re-establish his goodwill with Irsay; he has to get the right guy.

Can Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Will Levis, or Anthony Richardson be that guy? Will the team throw a Hail Mary and make a run at Lamar Jackson or Tom Brady? Maybe Jimmy Garoppolo or Derek Carr serves as a bridge? One thing is certain: Chris Ballard and the new head coaching hire will be hitching their wagon to whoever becomes the starting quarterback.