Colts first UFA WR Devin Funchess

[Racehorse]

Here's my $.02: SCam Newton regressed last year. That makes me question any low stats of the receivers on that team. Drop rates are subjective. If a QB, like sCam, is not quite accurate, the pass may be considered catchable, but is not actually as catchable as a ball thrown by a better WR. Luck is clearly a better WR. I like this move.

[DrSpaceman]

Living in Carolina and having followed Funchess, he is a decent WR.

Just not sure he is worth $13 million a year. And I fear he is going to be another in a long line of mediocre to failed #2 targets for this time in recent years.

[FatDT]

Originally Posted by VeveJones007

What does that matter on a one year deal if it has no impact on other moves?

I agree it “doesn’t matter” because we still have tons of cap. But that money could have been spent on an actual good player rather than a slow, unproven WR that drops the ball a lot. If the whole point was not spending A money on B players, which is what we keep hearing is Ballard’s plan, then what the hell is this?

[Coltsalr]

Originally Posted by VeveJones007

What does that matter on a one year deal if it has no impact on other moves?

I wouldn’t accept the premise that it has “no impact on other moves” if this is the guy that Ballard is checking off the list as the guy to address the WR position.

If the Colts are bypassing WR’s in the draft (not to mention more talented WR’s in free agency) because they’re “set” at WR with Funchess in the fold then there’s a fairly sizable opportunity cost to not addressing the position otherwise.

[sherck]

Originally Posted by DrSpaceman

Living in Carolina and having followed Funchess, he is a decent WR.

Just not sure he is worth $13 million a year. And I fear he is going to be another in a long line of mediocre to failed #2 targets for this time in recent years.

Heh, this parallels my thoughts exactly.

I think WR is one of the most experience base positions on an NFL team after QB. Today's modern offenses with their million and one "check me" and "option" varients requires the WR and QB to be able to both read and react to the defensive situation IN THE SAME WAY for success to happen.

That shared read and react takes time to develop and our parade of veteran "one year wonders" at WR has not been able to stay together long enough for that to happen. Either Luck was young and probably the lacking partner (Andre Johnson) or else the WR was probably at fault (Ryan Grant).

Regardless, perhaps Funchess will break our mold and get on the same page as Luck very quickly but most likely he will put up okay numbers and give younger WRs time to develop into that long term answer.

Gotta spend the cap somewhere. The $10m cap hit puts him as the 19th most compensated WR cap hit for 2019 (so far) just under Larry Fitzgerald and Davante Adams and just above Kenny Stills and Nelson Agholor.

Seems a bit high but honestly, if he had only signed for $8m ($11m possible) which most fans here would be more comfortable with, he would be the 26th highest cap hit for WR which is not much of a drop.

Free agents get paid.

Walk Worthy,

[Maniac]

Originally Posted by Coltsalr

I wouldn’t accept the premise that it has “no impact on other moves” if this is the guy that Ballard is checking off the list as the guy to address the WR position.

If the Colts are bypassing WR’s in the draft (not to mention more talented WR’s in free agency) because they’re “set” at WR with Funchess in the fold then there’s a fairly sizable opportunity cost to not addressing the position otherwise.

A 1 yr deal doesn't show by any means that they think they are set at WR with Funchess. If they are targeting WR in the draft, I highly doubt signing a UFA to a 1 year deal is going to affect that.

[sherck]

Originally Posted by FatDT

I agree it “doesn’t matter” because we still have tons of cap. But that money could have been spent on an actual good player rather than a slow, unproven WR that drops the ball a lot. If the whole point was not spending A money on B players, which is what we keep hearing is Ballard’s plan, then what the hell is this?

My two cents here is:

Different team
Different offense
Different QB
Different expectations

COULD lead to different results.

I did not say WILL lead to different results. I said could.

The same scouting staff that found Nelson and Leonard, and Smith and Mack and Hines (and Cain) identified Funchess as a free agent to sign. Let that sink in for a moment.

Of course, they also drafted Fountain so perhaps they suck at evaluating WRs...but I would let it play out on the field prior to deciding that you already know the outcome with certaintly, Nostradamus.

Walk Worthy,

[Coltsalr]

Originally Posted by Maniac

A 1 yr deal doesn't show by any means that they think they are set at WR with Funchess. If they are targeting WR in the draft, I highly doubt signing a UFA to a 1 year deal is going to affect that.

I still say that this team could’ve been been better off signing either Tate, Humphries or Crowder and there’s some opportunity cost left on the table by not pursuing a guy with higher upside.

That said, if they do draft AJ Brown then I’ll happily shut up.

[Maniac]

Originally Posted by Coltsalr

I still say that this team could’ve been been better off signing either Tate, Humphries or Crowder and there’s some opportunity cost left on the table by not pursuing a guy with higher upside.

That said, if they do draft AJ Brown then I’ll happily shut up.

Obviously Ballard, Reich, and their scouting staff wanted him, so let's wait and see why.

[DrSpaceman]

Seems its actually a $10 million dollar deal with $3 million in incentives, per ESPN article. Not sure what those incentives are

Makes it a little better at least