Early ideas on Colts’ first wave of free-agency

Greater than per week faraway from the beginning of the brand new league yr, the well-known “first wave” of the free-agency interval is now within the books. The Colts, for the primary time shortly, have been among the many most lively groups so far, leaving us with a good quantity of strikes to digest earlier than we enter the second wave of free-agency and begin getting ready for the NFL Draft.

Signings

The Colts entered this low season with some very obtrusive wants, and the query was whether or not basic supervisor Chris Ballard would change his strategy relating to team-building after lacking the playoffs for the fourth consecutive yr. Nicely these questions had been answered rapidly, with the group shoring up the backfield, signing cornerback Charvarius Ward, who is predicted to shadow opposing groups’ #1 receiver, one thing the group was missing ever for the reason that late Vontae Davis left the group, together with former Vikings’ security Cam Bynum, who will in all probability begin straight away. These had been the 2 greatest signings made by the group, and I actually like each of them. Cornerback was an underrated want, as even with the emergence of former seventh spherical decide Jaylon Jones as a viable possibility on the place, there was nonetheless a necessity for a real shutdown nook. Cam Bynum not solely offers the Colts a pleasant participant to pair with Nick Cross within the backfield, but additionally an excellent locker room man with playoff expertise.

On the offensive aspect of the ball, the Colts signed former Giants’ quarterback (and Vikings’ security) Daniel Jones. I’m a bit divided on this transfer, because the one-year deal value 14 million is a bit sophisticated for me to grasp. Is that this transfer made to supply true competitors for Anthony Richardson? That’s some huge cash for a backup, and given the truth that if AR fails then Ballard and Steichen are in all probability gone in any case, I don’t actually perceive why they might spend some a lot wanted cap house on a man that can solely play if an important participant for this franchise fails.

Khalil Herbert, Neville Gallimore, and Corey Ballantine are depth signings and I’d not count on them to see a lot enjoying time in any respect subsequent yr. The one intriguing possibility proper there may be Herbert, because the Colts’ operating again room is desperately skinny after Jonathan Taylor, however I count on the Colts to make some extra strikes on the operating again place.

Relinquished

Some former Colts’ gamers bought massive paydays elsewhere, with the primary one being proper guard Will Fries. I liked Fries’ emergence this previous season and a half, and was heartbroken when he broke his leg. Earlier than that he had performed everything of the 2023 season, locking up his beginning spot, and regarded a lot better on the early a part of final yr. I wished the Colts to maintain him round, however being utterly trustworthy that price ticket looks as if a ton for a participant with simply 800ish snaps of stable, but unspectacular, play, and coming off a severe damage.

Edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo was signed by the Chicago Bears, given a hefty 16M a yr contract for 3 seasons. Hurricane Dayo was a pleasant participant to have, and he was lastly discovering some consistency to his recreation. His versatility was additionally a pleasant issue with the ability to play each inside or on the sting. Nonetheless, he isn’t a participant that the Colts’ protection will discover laborious to exchange, and whereas he improved he nonetheless disappeared for an alarming stretch of video games earlier than exploding with a dominant recreation right here and there. If he manages to show up these massive appearances then the Colts will seem like fools for letting him go, however at greater than 15M a yr it was too costly of a raffle to take.

Longtime Colts’ heart Ryan Kelly additionally left the group, signing with the Vikings. Kelly was struggling to stay on the sector, and the Colts appeared to have discovered the long run reply on the place in Tanor Bartolini, so it made no sense to maintain him round. He was an incredible participant and locker room presence, and I want him all the very best sooner or later.

Stuard and Granson had been depth items final yr, and shouldn’t be laborious to exchange both within the draft or within the second wave of free-agency. Raekwon Davis, Julian Blackmon, E.J. Velocity, Mark Glowinski, Sam Ehlinger, and Mo Alie-Cox are among the many notable gamers which might be nonetheless unsigned.

General the group is in a greater place than it was earlier than, and it appears to have solved two essential positions of want with out having to sacrifice a lot long run flexibility. Ballard is actually good at discovering gamers which have slipped by the cracks, and there are evident holes on the tight finish, defensive finish, and linebacker place, so count on some motion there previous to the draft..