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The Indianapolis Colts have ended any lingering suspense and informed former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck he’ll be the first overall pick in next week’s NFL draft.

The news was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. Indianpolis Star beat writer Mike Chappell and Los Angeles Times staffer Sam Farmer have independently confirmed the confirmed the team’s decision with sources close to both sides.

Luck long has been considered the presumptive favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the April 26-28 draft.

During a Wednesday press conference to preview the draft, general manager Ryan Grigson said the team had “exhausted the process’’ and “pretty much made up our minds’’ regarding whether to select Luck or Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

The Colts, he added, had “known for a little while’’ which quarterback it would take.

"(Barring) any unforeseen problem we’re pretty sure what direction we want to go."

The Colts also neither would confirm nor deny the decision has been made.

"Our stance is no different than it was (Wednesday)," a team spokesman said.

Despite the early decision, NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reports it will be very difficult for the Colts and Luck to secure a contract agreement prior to next week's NFL draft.

The rookie pool numbers won't be known until after the draft, so allocating the exact contract figures and negotiating a contract would be "quite difficult", a source who would be involved in the process told La Canfora.

While the two sides have a pretty good idea of what Luck will earn, given the realities of the rookie scale, actually finalizing a contract without knowledge of the entire scope of the rookie pool to sign all of the team's picks is unlikely, according to the source.

The Colts brought Luck to Indianapolis for a private workout earlier this month, something they did not do with Griffin, who is now in line to go second to the Washington Redskins.

Although that 1-2 lineup has been forecast for months, there had been increasing speculation in recent weeks that the Colts were flirting with the idea of taking Griffin.

Luck threw for 3,517 yards with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in leading Stanford to a trip to the Fiesta Bowl last season.

But Luck's work will be cut out for him in Indianapolis, where the Colts will begin rebuilding under a new general manager in Grigson, a new -- defensive minded -- head coach in Chuck Pagano, a new staff and a greatly limited supporting cast which will be without Pierre Garcon, Dallas Clark, Jacob Tamme, Joseph Addai, Blair White and. ... Let's see. ...

Oh yeah! Peyton Manning, the franchise quarterback who moved on this offseason opening the door for Luck to try filling the enormous opening left by the veteran's release and susbequent signing in Denver.

It won't be easy. But there are positives. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who joins the team after a long stint with the Steelers, is familiar with molding young quarterbacks after doing so with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh. Roethlisberger and the Steelers made it to two of the QB's three Super Bowls as a pro with Arians calling the shots and the two men developed a strong relationship.

Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie will be there, too.

Given the current circumstances in Inday, Luck will need all the help he can get.