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Stephen’s keeperGAME
INDIA — pony coach Shane Steichen, asked if the team would shift its focus away from free agents lamar Jackson and for the NFL draft in its pursuit of a franchise quarterback, suggesting the team is now more preoccupied with the draft.
“We’re focusing on the draft and I’m focusing on the people who are in the building right now,” said Steichen, who kicked off the season’s protest program this week. “That’s where we’re at.”
The Colts are probably the team most closely associated with Jackson, who are franchised by Baltimore Crows but are eligible to negotiate with any team.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard admitted at the annual NFL meeting last month that the Colts had consider the possibility of acquiring Jackson, saying, “anytime a particular player is present — it’s him — you have to do the job.” Steichen himself previously said that the Colts were doing their “due diligence” on all quarterbacks when asked about their interest in Jackson.
But Wednesday’s comments come alongside other recent statements and actions by the Colts that suggest interest in Jackson may be waning. The Colts also have a fourth overall pick, putting them in a position to pick one of the top quarterbacks.
Owner Jim Irsay recently said he’s opposed to making the two first-round picks required to get Jackson if the Colts signed him to an offer Raven chose that didn’t match. Those options are “like gold,” Irsay said.
“Our belief and my belief has always been that you build through the draft, the draft is the source of your success or failure,” says Irsay. “That’s where it’s at.”
Now, the Colts are in pre-draft evaluation, conducting training with each of the top four quarterbacks in the draft: CJ Stroud of the state of Ohio, Young Bryce of Alabama, Anthony Richardson of Florida and Will Levis of Kentucky.
“We are 15 days away from the draft and we are still working on all of that,” says Steichen.
