The Colts QB in 2021 is?...

[Chaka]

At this point, I think Rivers is the odds-on favorite to return.

I am VERY skeptical that established, face-of-franchise veteran QBs like Prescott, Stafford or Ryan would be traded or (in Prescott's case) allowed to leave. None of those teams are currently projected in the top few picks, and while its certainly possible any one of them could chose a QB in the first round, it makes more sense to me that they would make a Jordan Love-type move and let a new QB sit for a season or two. Why jettison a good player at the game's toughest position? Moreover, there are serious cap complications with Stafford or Ryan, both of whom are midway through large contract extensions, an issue which alone could make a deal unlikely.

So if River isn't our guy, I think the next most likely scenario is to trade/sign a younger QB with an inconsistent record like Darnold, Wentz or even (gasp) Mitchell Trubisky. Darnold isn't making a good case to stay in NY at all at this point, and his trade value is sinking rapidly. But he's only 23. Wentz has the strongest resume, but are the Eagles really ready to get rid of him? He would also cost the most, has a spotty injury history, an has cap complications. Trubisky is certainly a dark horse, and his signing would cause howls of anguish, but he's an athletic former #2 overall pick who is still only 26 and has a few sustained flashes of success, so I don't think you can count him out entirely if the Colts staff thinks they can right his ship (he would also command the smallest contract, and wouldn't cost a draft pick).

Assuming all three were available, I'd think Wentz would be the most likely. Not sure that Ballard would be willing put a player like Darnold or Trubisky at the most important position, We really can't afford to waste a year of on-the-job training for a new QB as the team as a whole is developmentally mature and ready to contend.

The wild card in all of this is Eason, of course. I suppose it says something that we've kept him on the roster all year and haven't tried to move him to the practice squad. Beyond this, however, I haven't seen much about his progress other than an occasion generic quote about how the Colts like his progress.