Quote:
Originally Posted by Dam8610
There's no point in adding if you're not adding talent that is better than what's on your roster. I singled out those two because they're young (both 26 or younger for 2021 season) and only one of them is seen as top of market. But why spend cap dollars just to spend cap dollars? I'd rather fill WR3, for example, by letting in house options and draftees compete for it instead of handing some mediocre veteran $5 million+ to not really improve the team. If something like DeForest Buckner comes along, that's how you spend your cap savings, and if you're going after free agents to try to have some assurance that they'll improve your team when you're at the level you're claiming the Colts are, you need to go top of market.
But also I don't really understand this claim, because Ballard hasn't been hesitant to go into FA to get bargains, either. Ebron was a bargain (didn't work out second season, but first season production was worth both seasons of pay), Autry was a bargain, and he went top of market for Houston and Buckner. I guess the question would be what move do you want Ballard to have made in the last 4 seasons that he didn't? There doesn't seem to be an obvious one to me.
Regarding starting Eason or a rookie in 2021, I'd be encouraged, because it would mean Ballard and Reich believe enough in that QB to hitch the organization's future and their careers to that QB. But that's because I'm of the opinion that the Colts have among the best coaching and talent evaluation staff in the NFL, something that clearly many NFL teams agree with considering how many head coach and GM interviews Colts front office personnel are getting. That said, will free agents buy in? If not, now you're paying a premium to get the same guys, and as we've seen over the last 4 years, he's not going to do that, and IMO that's a good thing.
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I don’t feel like going through every year picking out every move. And I don’t have time to do it. Although I’m thinking of doing a year by year analysis if I can. But that is part of the problem, he is only bargain shopping. Which is ok if you are rebuilding or close to the cap. We had to trade for Buckner and gave up a lot for him plus a huge contract, wasn’t FA. I’ll disagree on Houston, good signing but older, I don’t see him as top of the market. We’ve had a lot of cap space in the past and had a considerable amount last offseason. I don’t need every high priced free agent, but he could shore up our weaknesses with something involved a little better than what we have been fielding. Most of his signings have been good, I don’t think he has gone far enough in some areas. WR has been crap for several years. The one guy he did sign got hurt last year. Then it’s all a bunch of dudes or rookies. We could have gone after one of the pass rushers GB signed a couple years ago. We just missed another window and I don’t feel like the team is maximizing its assets. Do they want a SB or do they want to be competitive while saving lots of money? Could we have invested in a decent swing tackle? The stats were already out there, we don’t do well when Castonzo goes down. Reminds me of the baseball parable of the hitter waiting for the perfect pitch.
I think we do have good evaluators at the top, I wonder how many scouts we have still from the Grigson days. I’m also sure those owners are seeming the team be competitive while saving lots of money.