First wave of free-agency done, and the Colts have moved as many of us expected, which is rather surprising. It usually does not transpire like this, I was especially surprised by the Pittman and Franklin moves because I did not expect them to happen, but here are my hot opinions on what Ballard and Steichen are doing.
Re-signed Daniel Jones to a two-year $88M extension
This is a very tough move to try and dissect, and one that could warrant an article on its own. On one hand, I do believe that no other quarterback gives the Colts a better chance to win games next season than Daniel Jones, which is surely the most important part for CB and Steichen. I also do believe that keeping such a good leader and beloved locker room guy is important, and that no other potential quarterback available (Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa) offered that, but the counter argument could be: Which is better to have, Daniel Jones, coming off a torn Achilles, on said contract, or a healthy Kyler Murray at a much cheaper price, that could have allow the Colts to pursue Trey Hendrickson and other free-agents to shore up the defense. The one thing that I don’t see many people taking into account is that even before the injury opposing defenses seemed to have the Colts’ offense much more figured out, and that is not even taking into account the Achilles recovery, but guess we’ll see. Overall, as of today, I like the move and I would not have gone the Kyler way because of the massive risk it entails, and having good leaders around is always key to trying to finally build a winning culture.
Traded MPJ to the Steelers on a salary dump, re-signed Alec Pierce to a four-year $116M contract
This one hurts because I really like Pittman Jr. as a leader and a team veteran. It says a lot that in so many years there was never so much as a late to practice, and he had to handle several different starting quarterbacks. Still, the truth was that Pittman was just never worth the amount of money he was getting paid, and the problem the Colts had was that they had a receiver that looks like is worth that kind of money: Alec Pierce, who has improved every single season since being drafted by the Colts, and has evolved his game from a deep-threat merchant to one of the best all around receivers in the NFL, and also much younger than Pittman. The Colts did the hard, but right decision in my books, and got rid of MPJ’s contract, using that money to keep AP in a Colts’ uniform.
Traded Zaire Franklin to the Packers for defensive tackle Colby Wooden
YES! YES! YES! IT FINALLY HAPPENED! NO MORE ZAIRE FRANKLIN! Now in all seriousness, Zaire had improved a bit this last season with Anarumo at the helm, but that was mostly because of his usage as a blitzer and depended mostly on schemed pressures. Franklin was not a good leader, he had several run-ins with Pat McAfee, talked a lot off the field despite no playoff appearances and never anchoring a solid defense, and overall was a liability both against the run and in pass-coverage. This move also helps set the example that there needed to be changes in the veteran room of this defense.
Signed free-agent Arden Key as rotational edge-rusher
Key is similar to Paye in terms of pass-rushing production, but he comes at a much cheaper price and is a better run-defender. I still think that the Colts desperately need another edge-rusher that can consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks, and that will also to unlocking more of Latu. Of course finding edge-rushers that can do that is not easy, and Ballard has not been able to draft a guy that can do it in 10 years so why would it change now?
Let go Kwity Paye, Neville Gallimore
The Kwity Paye taking over half the snaps at edge rusher era in Indianapolis is finally over, as somewhy the Raiders decided to give him more than 15M a year to try and set the edge against the run. That contract is without a doubt the strangest I have ever seen this offseason. I predicted something along the lines of 5-6M a year, because not only has Paye shown no pass-rushing production, he has actually regressed since his rookie season in that department. Perhaps playing alongside Maxx Crosby helps? Who knows. Neville Gallimore is a player I would have liked to retain because he was solid in relief of Buckner and actually showed some flashes rushing the passer, but I am not going to cry over rotational defensive tackles.
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