Gardner Minshew is off to the Raiders: Here are 5 options to replace him as backup QB
The Colts are in need of a new backup quarterback.
Gardner Minshew is off to the Las Vegas Raiders after signing a two-year deal for $25 million with $15 million guaranteed, a league source confirmed to Indy Star.
Minshew literally cashed in on the chance to step in for an injured Anthony Richardson after signing a one-year deal worth $3.5 million at this time a year ago. Minshew started 13 games and won six of them to help the Colts to within a game of the playoffs. He finished with 18 total touchdowns and 15 turnovers.
This puts the Colts back in the market for a backup quarterback, which remains an important position with Richardson losing much of his rookie season to an AC joint sprain. He is still developing as a passer and learning the ins and outs of the league, and his playing style will invite some injury risk along the way.
The Colts do have Sam Ehlinger under contract for another season but could look to bolster the No. 2 spot. Here are five veteran candidates they should have their eye on:
Justin Fields
The boldest idea out there would involve a trade.
The Bears are reportedly shopping their starter from the past three seasons, as they have the No. 1 pick and are widely expected to spend it on USC quarterback Caleb Williams. It's made Fields expendable, though the market for him to find a starting opportunity has dried up quickly with the Steelers signing Russell Wilson, the Falcons Kirk Cousins and the Raiders Minshew.
The Colts were fans of Fields when he came out of Ohio State, back when the Bears traded up to make him the No. 11 pick in the 2021 draft. In three years, he's displayed some explosive rushing abilities with 2,220 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on 6.2 yards per carry. His passing has left more to be desired, as he has averaged 7.0 yards per attempt, though it's come with constant change around him.
Fields' skill set would be a strong match to Richardson's, as the Colts could suddenly have one of the most athletic quarterback rooms the NFL has ever seen. It will cost draft picks of some sort, and though the market has softened with no apparent starting opportunities for Fields, Colts general manager Chris Ballard will have to decide whether a backup quarterback is worth key draft capital.
Tyrod Taylor
If the Colts want a mobile backup but one with more experience, they could look into Tyrod Taylor. He's started 57 games in this league, with a 28-28-1 record, and he's also started a playoff game. He's been more effective than Minshew in his time on the field thanks to his rushing, as he's averaged 5.6 yards per carry in his career.
What makes Taylor a special fit relative to other options is that he played for Colts coach Shane Steichen with the Chargers in 2019-2020. He was set to start ahead of Justin Herbert in 2020, before a team doctor punctured his lung.
Taylor is turning 35 and has a fairly extensive injury history, though those concerns are mitigated some as a backup.
Tyler Huntley
Sticking with the mobile options, the Colts could look to the man who has backed up Lamar Jackson for the past four seasons. Tyler Huntley has made nine starts plus a playoff start in that span. He's averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt, though the sample is small.
Huntley was most effective in his playoff start against the Bengals, when he completed 17 of 29 passes for 226 yards, two touchdowns and one interception to give the Ravens a chance to win. He was effective as a runner in 2021, when he totaled 294 yards on 6.3 yards per carry, though the production dropped off the next two seasons.
He's not the flashiest option, but he might be the most durable and cost-effective among the running types.
Mason Rudolph
The Colts showed last year that they can be effective at times with a backup quarterback who isn't very mobile. So they could look to someone like Mason Rudolph, who brings some other characteristics they would like.
Rudolph has started 13 games as well as a playoff game in this league. He went 3-0 last season to help lead the Steelers into the playoffs, and he played his best football, completing 74% of his passes for three touchdowns, zero interceptions, 9.7 yards per attempt and a 118.0 rating.
Rudolph hasn't been as electric in other moments in his career, of course, and he came crashing down to 56.4% completion while throwing an interception in the playoff loss to the Bills.
Marcus Mariota
The Colts have been interested in Marcus Mariota in the past, and he could be a fit now that they need a backup. Mariota spent last season in Philadelphia backing up Jalen Hurts, who has a strong connection with Steichen.
The No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft, Mariota has played risk-averse as a passer in his time as a starter, totaling a 34-40 career record. He tends to hold the ball but does protect it. He brings solid mobility, as he's averaged 5.8 yards per carry in his career and has 17 rushing touchdowns.
Mariota could help Richardson navigate life as a top-five pick, considering he went through that same experience with the Titans.
IndyStar Colts Insider Joel A. Erickson contributed to this story.Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Gardner Minshew to Raiders: Here are options for Colts to replace him
