Imagine the NFL offseason as a high-stakes poker game. Chris Ballard, the Colts’ general manager, sits at the table, chips stacked, eyeing a risky bet. The cards? A quarterback room simmering with uncertainty. Since Andrew Luck’s abrupt exit in 2019, Indy’s QB carousel has spun faster than a Tom Brady comeback rumor. Now, whispers out of Indianapolis suggest Ballard may have been chasing a wild card…

49ers star Brock Purdy. On March 31, Ballard tipped his hand during an interview in Pro Football Talk. “Give San Francisco credit,” he said to Mike Florio. “I think, Mike, one of the hard thing to do especially when you take a guy high. And then you happen to take a guy later at some point or even as an undrafted free agent. But to really recognize what you have, like they did it with Purdy.” The comment wasn’t just praise—it was a flashing neon sign. Purdy, the NFL’s ultimate underdog after being 2022’s “Mr. Irrelevant” narrative, has since become a franchise cornerstone.

Now, the Colts are sniffing around, blending curiosity with desperation. Meanwhile, Purdy’s rise reads like a Disney script. Drafted dead last, he stepped into a 49ers chaos of injuries and delivered like a prime Joe Montana. His 4,280-yard 2023 season shattered records, and his 113.0 passer rating left pundits scrambling. But how did Purdy feel after being drafted so late?

“Man, the first thing was, ‘I got an opportunity,’” Purdy told the Built 4 More podcast. “I was praying for an opportunity. I didn’t really care about how I got there, how I got to a team, how the draft went down. It was, ‘What am I going to do when I get the opportunity?’ So, when they called, I was like, ‘Man, I got an opportunity now. Let’s roll!’” That grit resonates in Indy, where Ballard’s QB hunt feels like searching for a contact lens in a hurricane with a sprinkle of regret. Enter Tom Manning.

The Colts’ tight ends coach, Manning, coached Purdy at Iowa State. It’s the same place where the QB racked up 12,170 career yards. Ballard admitted Manning’s endorsement mattered: “Tom Manning, who’s our tight end Coach was his offensive coordinator and I remember when Tom was at Iowa State he loved him.” It’s a breadcrumb trail linking Purdy to Indy.

But salary cap hurdles and Purdy’s extension plans with San Francisco make a trade unlikely. Still, Ballard’s interest hints at deeper plans. Meanwhile, the Colts’ QB battle boils. Anthony Richardson, the 2023 No. 4 pick, is all raw talent and erratic throws (47.7% completion rate). Daniel Jones, signed for $14 million, brings playoff grit but a 76.6 passer rating since 2022. Ballard’s mantra?

Chris Ballard’s gamble: elevate or replace?

“Competition brings out the best of anybody,” Ballard said. “It’s a competitive league. We’re not just bringing in anybody. It had to be somebody that’s really going to be able to challenge Anthony, and I think it’s going to go both ways. Anthony will challenge Daniel also.” Richardson and Jones will split first-team reps, each vying to be consistent and productive, per coach Shane Steichen. Besides, Ballard’s playing the long game.

“The best scenario is we win football games… No matter who the starting quarterback is,” he said. Richardson’s ceiling is a Josh Allen-esque rocket arm; Jones offers steady hands. But neither inspires Purdy-level confidence. Could Ballard draft another QB? “If you think there’s somebody organizationally that you believe in, at any point, I think you pull the trigger,” he teased. Meanwhile, Purdy’s shadow looms.

His college stats—81 TDs, 19 rushing scores—mirror the dual-threat mold Steichen craves. However, prying him from the 49ers is like stealing a steak from a guard dog. Ballard’s real play? Using Purdy’s blueprint to fix his own project. Maybe Richardson or Jones cycles into a revelation. In the end, Ballard’s legacy hinges on this gamble…

Can competition turn potential into production? Or will Indy’s QB woes linger like a bad halftime show? As Purdy proved, sometimes the last pick becomes the ace. Ballard’s betting his chips on that magic. In the playoffs, you’re always one kick away from immortality. For Chris Ballard, immortality starts with solving Indy’s eternal riddle under center. Will Richardson or Jones rise—or is Purdy the ghost of Quarterback Future? What’s your call: double down or fold?