While the quarterback position for the Indianapolis Colts is expected to see a high-valued addition when the 2023 NFL draft comes around, the team brought in Gardner Minshew from free agency to help bridge that gap.
How much work Minshew will see on his fully guaranteed, one-year contract isn’t all that clear heading into the month of April, and head coach Shane Steichen avoided putting any labels on the 26-year-old’s role heading into the 2023 season.
“Right now, obviously, he’s coming in to just compete and be the best he can be, you know, and that’s where we’re going,” Steichen told NFL Network at the Annual League Meeting on Sunday. “That’s where we feel he’s at right now and that’s his role right now.”
That sentiment echoes what Minshew told local reporters during his press conference after signing with the team during the early part of free agency. Minshew also avoided putting a label on his role.
The Colts are doing all they can to keep their intentions close to the vest about the direction of their draft picks. The expectation is that, in one way or another, they will use the No. 4 overall pick to select their quarterback of the future.
Who that would be is a mystery and debate that has been raging for months, and it will continue to do so throughout the month of April leading up to the final Thursday on the calendar.
Even with an undefined role, Steichen had plenty of praise for Minshew at the league meetings. The pair have spent time together over the last two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“You know, I got to spend the two years with him and Philly and just the way he sees the game and processes the game. It’s like a coach you know, he sees it really well. He was great,” Steichen said of Minshew. “Every time he had a chance to go and play, he played well for us and obviously had a big year in Jacksonville his rookie year. Just a tremendous person, loves the game of football, loves the X’s and O’s, so really fortunate to have him with us.”
When asked about a potential selection of a quarterback with the No. 4 overall pick, Steichen did a brilliant job toeing the company line.
“I just think every year, no matter where we’ve picked or any team I’ve been a part of, you do that, the work on the quarterbacks regardless, no matter what happens, where you’re picking, who you’re thinking of picking, you always wanted to do the research on those guys,” said Steichen.
What the Colts will do in the draft is a mystery at this point with exactly one month remaining in the process, but there are few better options to have as a bridge/backup quarterback than Minshew.
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