Although he went undrafted, J.T. Barrett will get a shot to show he can play quarterback in the NFL.
The Ohio State quarterback is set to participate in the Indianapolis Colts' rookie minicamp next week.
The MMQB's Albert Breer was the first to report that Barrett would go to the Colts as an undrafted free agent. A source close to Barrett, however, told Eleven Warriors that while Barrett will compete in the rookie minicamp, he has not yet signed a contract with the team.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard confirmed in his post-draft press conference that Barrett would participate in the minicamp on a tryout basis, but had not yet signed a contract with the team.
J.T. Barrett, acc to Ballard, is a minicamp tryout. He has NOT been signed to a contract.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) April 29, 2018
Although Barrett is Ohio State's all-time winningest quarterback, with a career record of 38-6, and set a multitude of Big Ten and school record during his Buckeye career, questions about his downfield passing ability likely kept him from being drafted.
That said, Barrett will now have the opportunity to earn an NFL roster spot with the Colts. The Colts have an established starting quarterback in Andrew Luck, and an established backup who started most of the last season for the Colts in Jacoby Brissett, but if Barrett can earn a contract with the Colts in their rookie minicamp, he could get a shot to compete with Brad Kaaya and Phillip Walker to be the Colts' third-string quarterback.
