Insider addresses if Colts will pursue Ravens QB Lamar Jackson

It's looking more and more like the Indianapolis Colts have made a decision about possibly pursuing Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson.

For a piece published on Wednesday, ESPN's Stephen Holder wrote that "the Colts appear to be steadily moving forward with their intent to select a quarterback with their fourth overall pick" of the upcoming NFL Draft that gets underway on April 27. 

Holder added that "the Colts took a contingent of staffers on a coast-to-coast jaunt over the past two weeks" to conduct workouts with Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Anthony Richardson of the Florida Gators and Kentucky Wildcats signal-caller Will Levis.

In late March, Colts general manager Chris Ballard hinted that he could make a move for Jackson after the Ravens used the non-exclusive franchise tag to retain the one-time NFL Most Valuable Player's rights. 

Holder reports that "there were, according to team sources, earnest internal conversations about Jackson at Colts headquarters," but Holder also noted that "economics" and a "stance on draft picks" likely have Indianapolis looking to the player-selection process for a hoped-to-be QB1. 

It remains widely believed Jackson wants more fully guaranteed money than the guaranteed $230M attached to the five-year contract Deshaun Watson earned from the Cleveland Browns last year. If the Colts were willing to meet such a massive asking price and sign Jackson to an offer sheet, Baltimore could either match or receive two first-round draft picks from the Colts as compensation. 

Back on April 3, NBC Sports' Peter King explained he thought "the Colts would be interested" in Jackson "if the guarantees weren’t stupid." To compare, Holder mentioned that the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft will receive a four-year contract that carries a total worth of roughly $36M and includes a fifth-year option. 

In a mock draft shared on Tuesday, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. predicted that Young, Stroud and Richardson will be selected before the Colts are called upon to use the fourth pick. Kiper has Indianapolis taking Levis, the analyst's "second-ranked quarterback" in this class.