Colts acquire QB Matt Ryan for a 3rd Round draft pick

[IndyNorm]

Originally Posted by Oldcolt

The offensive line will improve just because Ryan doesn't hold on to the damn ball forever. It wouldn't surprise me if we end up with Fisher again at LT. If his price comes down I still see no reason he should make a jump in explosiveness this his second year after achilles surgery.

Reich should be able to open up the playbook with a veteran QB who can read defenses, is decisive and accurate. He will need more play makers, something that will come as no surprise to Ballard. It will be very interesting to see how Ballard goes about filling out the roster.

If we end up bringing back Fisher then that's probably fine. I just think leaving it up to Pryor/draft pick then it's not going to go well.

[Discflinger]

Originally Posted by IndyNorm

I never said I wouldn't, at least as long as Ryan's arm isn't shot (and I would hope that Ballard made sure of that before the trade). It's really surprising ATL was willing to trade him for so little in return considering how much dead money they were hit with. Guessing they wanted to do Ryan a solid.

Also, things going even more to shit in Chicago after running Trubisky out of town along with Daboll wanting to bring Trubisky with him to NY points to the problem being Nagy.

Ok, fhacke the stealers!

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by IndyNorm

If we end up bringing back Fisher then that's probably fine. I just think leaving it up to Pryor/draft pick then it's not going to go well.

Resigning Fisher wouldn’t be a bad move. Especially if they draft a potential long term replacement. Very possible he has a better year with full off-season work and training camp. And of course the ACL injury takes longer to fully recover from.

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by rm1369

And of course the ACL injury takes longer to fully recover from.

Achilles wasn't it? Of course both used to be career-enders that guys now recover from remarkably quick.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

Achilles wasn't it? Of course both used to be career-enders that guys now recover from remarkably quick.

Thanks for the correction. Achilles injury, not ACL

[Brylok]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

I was honestly afraid we’d end up with Mariota but at the same time, I knew how good Ballard is.

This apparently has been in the works since the Falcons first looked into Watson. As soon as Ballard found out, he called Atlanta about Ryan. That’s how a pro works.

I thought it would be Mariota and Ehlinger. So glad that didn't happen.

[dred]

This is pretty fricking incredible when you think about it. Best offseason moves I have seen in a long ass time.

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by YDFL Commish

Ballard can't just draft a LT and hope he's the solution. Its win now mode.

Draft one and sign one.

Might not have a choice. 16 million left, and they have to sign the draft class. Can’t afford a 20 million tackle. Unless they clear cap room somehow. Gonna be rookies at several spots.

[albany ed]

Originally Posted by Chromeburn

Might not have a choice. 16 million left, and they have to sign the draft class. Can’t afford a 20 million tackle. Unless they clear cap room somehow. Gonna be rookies at several spots.

It's all in how the contract is structured. You can sign a 20 million dollar tackle and have the first year be very cap friendly.

[Ironshaft]

And they could restructure the contracts of their "known" keystones of the club: Leonard, Buckner. Moore, Smith, Kelly and Hines.

One analysis I saw showed we could get up to just under $50m free this season and still fit it all in future years with signing draft picks and re-signing Nelson next season.

If Ballard is "all in," cap should not be the issue.