The Colts acquired Matt Ryan and have said they plan to use him as their starter for at least the next two seasons, the duration of Ryan’s contract, but they continue to meet with top draft-eligible quarterbacks.
In addition to the Colts’ Malik Willis visit, they traveled to Cincinnati to meet with Desmond Ridder, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. Ridder and various Bearcats receivers worked out for Colts brass Friday.
Indianapolis does not have a first-round pick this year, but the team does hold second- and third-round selections. The Colts’ second-round pick sits 42nd, five spots up thanks to the pick swap included in the Carson Wentz trade with the Commanders. That would put the Colts in play for a passer. Although the team has other needs and would make sense to be in play for a quarterback in 2023 or beyond, given the Ryan trade, Chris Ballard‘s staff is looking into this year’s QB group.
Mirroring the other quarterbacks in this much-maligned class, Ridder’s draft range varies. ESPN slots him as its No. 36 overall prospect; NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah does not rank the 6-foot-3 signal-caller inside his top 50. Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft has Ridder going 40th overall to the Seahawks. The Steelers, Seahawks and Panthers have met with Ridder.
Barring an offseason injury, Ryan will be the Colts’ sixth Week 1 QB starter in six years. Ryan’s post-trade cap number checks in at just $18.7MM, though his 2023 figure spikes to $35.2MM. Ballard said he will inform Ryan when the team plans to draft a quarterback highly. While the Colts diving into the first-round QB market in a later draft would be the more conventional path, is not out of the question that Ballard-Ryan conversation occurs this year.