Colts Must Do Whatever It Takes to Sign Free Agent Quarterback.
The Indianapolis Colts should try their best to land free agent quarterback Justin Fields during the 2025 offseason..
Justin Fields will be one of the NFL’s top free agent quarterbacks this spring. The Indianapolis Colts need help at the quarterback spot. Therefore, it makes sense for the team to sign the former first-round pick.
Fields is perhaps the best free agent quarterback not named Sam Darnold. It’s unclear whether the Pittsburgh Steelers will re-sign him. If Fields doesn’t return to Pittsburgh, the Colts should try their best to reel him in.
The Indianapolis Colts Must Do Whatever It Takes to Sign Free Agent Quarterback Justin Fields
His Career Thus Far
Justin Fields spent his true freshman season with the Georgia Bulldogs. He backed up Jake Fromm that year. After one season at Georgia, he packed up his bags and transferred to Ohio State. Fields wound up playing two seasons with the Buckeyes, passing for 5,373 yards and 63 touchdowns. He skipped his senior year and entered the NFL draft.
The Chicago Bears selected Fields 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He started 10 games during his rookie year, throwing for 1,870 yards and seven touchdowns. He also rushed for 420 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
During the 2022 campaign, Fields passed for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also had 1,143 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. Fields joined Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a season.
Fields threw for 2,562 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2023. He recorded 657 rushing yards and four touchdowns as well.
The Bears landed the first overall pick in the 2024 draft and selected quarterback Caleb Williams. The move prompted Chicago to trade Fields to the Steelers in March 2023.
Fields began the 2024 season as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback. He posted a 4-2 record before being replaced by veteran Russell Wilson for the rest of the year. Fields threw for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns this past season.
Why the Colts Need to Sign Him
During general manager Chris Ballard’s year-end press conference, he hinted that the Colts would add competition for quarterback Anthony Richardson this offseason. Richardson would benefit from a quarterback competition in Indy. The former Florida Gators star, who the Colts drafted fourth overall in 2023, has not had a remarkable career so far.
Richardson’s rookie season was limited to only four games due to injury. Then this past season, he dealt with injuries again, was benched temporarily, and had a “tap out because he was tired” incident. While Richardson has showcased his ability to make exciting plays as a runner, he’s struggled as a passer. Maybe competing with Fields will help Richardson improve a great deal and emerge as the franchise quarterback the Colts believed he could become.
The Steelers posted a 4-2 record in 2024 when Fields served as the starter. He had career-highs in completion percentage (65.8), interception percentage (0.6), adjusted net yards per attempt (5.86), and passer rating (93.3). The Georgia native looked much better than he did in Chicago. He may be on the verge of developing into a star.
Signing Fields would be a perfect move by Ballard and the Colts. Fields could either start or fill in as the starter if Richardson gets injured. Also, the two players have similar playing styles as both are athletic dual quarterbacks. That means the team wouldn’t have to change the playbook much. Plus, Fields is only 25 years old. So c’mon Chris Ballard, make it happen.
