Indianapolis Colts secure No. 1 pick in 2012 NFL Draft

by Dan Kadar on Jan 1, 2012 3:58 PM EST in 2012 NFL Draft

Following a 19-13 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a miserable for the Indianapolis Colts is mercifully over, but at least it has a happy ending. With a 2-14 record, and by virtue of having an easier strength of schedule, the Colts officially have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

With that, Stanford junior quarterback Andrew Luck can start shopping for homes in the great Indianapolis area. Luck is the presumptive pick unless the Colts are offered a package of draft picks that is too good to be true. Luck is viewed by many as a once-a-decade franchise quarterback.

This is the fourth time since 1990 that the Colts have had the first pick in the draft. Most recently, in 1998, the team used the pick to select quarterback Peyton Manning. With Manning out this season with a neck injury, the Colts struggled, starting the season 0-13. If the Colts find that Manning still isn't healthy, the Colts can turn down a $28 million option bonus, making Manning an unrestricted free agent.

Manning told Phillip B. Wilson of the Indianapolis Star after today's game that he hasn't "thought about it a whole lot," in regard to the Colts drafting Luck.

"I think I can co-exist with any player I've ever played with," Manning told Wilson.

In 1990, the Colts had the first quick and drafted another quarterback in Jeff George. Obviously he didn't fare as well for the Colts as Manning and lasted only four seasons in Indianapolis. In 1992, the team used the first pick on defensive tackle Steve Emtman. That year, the Colts also had the second overall pick, choosing linebacker Quentin Coryatt.

After the 1 p.m. games finished, the top three picks in the draft were set: 1. Colts, 2. St. Louis Rams, 3. Minnesota Vikings.

For more on the Colts, make sure to check out Stampede Blue. Also make sure to check out this Indy Star story from Mike Chappell on the different issues the Colts face this offseason.

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My take, if Peyton is healthy (and signs have been good)

taking Luck is quite wasteful. Sitting a #1 overall pick who is seen as one of the best prospects to come out in many years for multiple years isn’t very palatable. Neither is cutting or trading a healthy MVP caliber QB.

With the hype around Luck I find it hard to believe the Colts wouldn’t be offered a package that’s in line with his value.

Of course if Peyton has a major setback or is hit by a bus then sign me up for Luck.

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"The noble title of "dissident" must be earned rather than claimed; it connotes sacrifice and risk rather than mere disagreement."
—Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011

by shake n bake on Jan 1, 2012 4:05 PM EST reply actions

I tended to agree with you the whole time. The Colts could set themselves up so well with Cleveland’s picks this year and a 1st next.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Jan 1, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

And it would probably include at least one additional pick in the second or third this year and next year, using the Julio Jones trade last year as a benchmark.

by TrueBlue87 on Jan 1, 2012 5:03 PM EST up reply actions

Peyton is pretty old...

I don’t know how much longer he can go EVEN IF he is healthy.

And Peyton being healthy from his injury is a big IF!

by jkp1516 on Jan 1, 2012 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

I'd draft Luck if I were them.

by jkp1516 on Jan 1, 2012 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

he signed a 5 year deal that didn't balloon up in salary that much

and the medical opinions I’ve read say that if the nerve fully regenerates it shouldn’t be an issue going forward. 2-4 more years isn’t farfetched.

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"The noble title of "dissident" must be earned rather than claimed; it connotes sacrifice and risk rather than mere disagreement."
—Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011

by shake n bake on Jan 1, 2012 5:40 PM EST up reply actions

The End is Near

At some point reality has to set in that the end of the Manning era is new and this team clearly is not very good without him. Let’s skip the Manning vs Luck comparisons and state the question this way:

Will the Colts be able to draft a QB of Luck’s caliber within the next 5 years?
The answer to that is almost certainly no.

Without Luck, this team is due for another awful season. The end result of which will likely be a QB who is not of Luck’s quality.

This pick is easy. It’s Luck. The Colts can be the team that goes to the playoffs 19 out of 20 consecutive years rather than longing for the “good ole days” and “remember when’s” of Manning’s youth.

by invisibulman on Jan 1, 2012 6:11 PM EST up reply actions

but they'll be sitting Luck instead of getting value from the #1 pick for several years

how much better does Luck have to be than your standard highly drafted QB to justify getting nothing for the #1 overall pick for 2-4 years?

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"The noble title of "dissident" must be earned rather than claimed; it connotes sacrifice and risk rather than mere disagreement."
—Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011

by shake n bake on Jan 1, 2012 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

Heck, you'd probably have to sit him just a few games as a rookie regardless...

But Invisibulman is right, you wont’ find another QB like Luck in the next decade, most likely. Take it from a Panther fan, when your team is this desperate, and you have the option to take a talent like Luck (or Cammy) you just take him. End of story. It’s worked out great for the Panthers…

by jkp1516 on Jan 1, 2012 9:34 PM EST up reply actions

a few games and a few years are pretty different

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"The noble title of "dissident" must be earned rather than claimed; it connotes sacrifice and risk rather than mere disagreement."
—Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011

by shake n bake on Jan 1, 2012 9:39 PM EST up reply actions

As are Peyton Manning and Jimmy Clausen.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

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by Omaha Sun on Jan 2, 2012 12:08 AM EST up reply actions

You have to remember that you are not paying a 50 mil+ contract either for the #1 pick in the draft. 2-4 years as a backup behind one of the greatest QBs to ever play the game could do wonders for Andrew Luck. I don’t think the Colts will give Luck up, no matter the price offered.

"The rush of battle is a potent and almost lethal addiction, for war is a drug."

by dirtyjoe on Jan 1, 2012 8:00 PM EST reply actions

Does anyone have a semi-official draft order for the non-playoff teams yet...

by jkp1516 on Jan 1, 2012 9:35 PM EST reply actions

I think the official one is out now.

"It’s time people started realizing just how good a player Carlos Dunlap already is, and that starts with the Bengals. They gave him a season-high 58 snaps and what was the result? Carnage on the right side of the Seattle line." -Pro Football Focus

by Doc Scratch on Jan 1, 2012 11:34 PM EST up reply actions

See the post above this. Just set with Dallas losing.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Jan 1, 2012 11:49 PM EST up reply actions

Luck could be a Colt.

It’s also very real he could fall to #3, as the Colts could potentially be dumb enough to pass on him and St. Louis would too considering how good Bradford was last year.

by Doc Scratch on Jan 1, 2012 11:35 PM EST reply actions

Colts will trade the pick

Or draft Luck. With the very off chance of picking RG3. It would incredibly stupid to not pick up a king’s ransom if you aren’t going to pick one those qb’s.

by tigerhawk61 on Jan 2, 2012 2:18 AM EST up reply actions

Luck will go #1 overall

it’s just a matter of whether Indy trades out of the pick or takes him themselves.

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"The noble title of "dissident" must be earned rather than claimed; it connotes sacrifice and risk rather than mere disagreement."
—Christopher Hitchens 1949-2011

by shake n bake on Jan 2, 2012 10:13 AM EST up reply actions

this entire conversation under the assumption that Luck will be close to Payton Manning

This is a dangerous trend in sports when a player comes from highschool highly ranked. They stay highly ranked and for no reason other than that they are looked at as the best. Now not saying this is the case with Luck. But there are some dynamics here that remind me of that. Like the Herchel Walker hype. Everyone said for years how great he was and it was said over and over and over until he was the best running back prospect in a generation. And during that process people forgot to continue to evaluate him. They forgot to assess his vision..his ability to cut back and plant and get up field. They just saw the good.. they saw the 6’0" 236 pound back that runs a 4.3 40 and that was it.

Some people have their blinders on when it comes to Luck and it is unfair to him. Because i think he is going to be a good quarterback. But i don’t see this once in a 10 year quarterback everyone is talking about. I don’t see this dynamic unstoppable force. That player was drafted already last year by Carolina weather some want to really accept that or not but its true. Luck will be good but this hype surrounding him is just too much and it is going to back fire on him. And it is all the media’s fault.

Good player..not a projected HOF player. Not a single physical trait tells me future HOF. Very good mental make up but i don’t see unique instinctive ability. He isn’t even the most accurate quarterback in this class… this is just too much Hype.

by Shankdiddy on Jan 2, 2012 7:33 AM EST reply actions