When Peyton Manning threw an astounding 55 touchdown passes for the Denver Broncos in 2013, there was little doubt the team had made a sound decision to acquire the veteran passer a year earlier.
And after Andrew Luck transcended two years of lingering shoulder pain with a Pro Bowl season in 2018, the Indianapolis Colts looked as though they’d have an elite quarterback in place for many seasons to come.
If only the teams knew then what they know now.
In the ensuing years, both clubs learned about the massive challenges associated with replacing a franchise quarterback.