INDIANAPOLIS: For the first three and a half weeks of free agency, the Colts made just one outside move on the offensive side of the ball.
It was definitely a notable move though, giving Philip Rivers $25 million to be the Colts starting quarterback for the 2020 season.
The lack of action elsewhere offensively though has many thinking the Colts should go heavy on the offensive side of the ball with their 7 draft picks. The defensive outlook has some notable depth, which is not something that could be said in prior offseasons.
What are the current position outlooks on the offensive side of the ball?
Quarterback
Adds: Philip Rivers
Losses: Brian Hoyer (released, signed by Patriots)
Notable Retuning: Jacoby Brissett, Chad Kelly
Outlook: The Colts have by far the most money invested into the quarterback position of any other NFL team this season. Unfortunately, the return on that isn’t a guarantee of having top-flight QB play, nor are any of these guys the long-term answer in Indianapolis. It will be interesting to see how the Colts handle quarterback in next week’s draft. Brissett does give this team a very stable backup for 2020.
Running Back
Adds: None
Losses: Jonathan Williams (free agent, hasn’t signed anywhere)
Notable Retuning: Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines, Jordan Wilkins
Outlook: The Colts continue to roll with three Chris Ballard draft picks still on rookie contracts at running back. With Williams, a 2020 unrestricted free agent, now on the open market, the Colts do have a void at that 4th running back spot. Some teams don’t have the luxury of carrying a 4th RB. But the Colts used Williams in a massive role in 2 games last season when Mack was banged up. Do they find a late-round pick at running back next week?
Fullback
Adds: Roosevelt Nix
Losses: None
Notable Retuning: None
Outlook: Well, we have a new position on the offensive list for the Colts in 2020. For the first time since Stanley Havili in 2014, the Colts have a real fullback on their roster. The team signed the 248-pound Roosevelt Nix over the weekend. Nix has played in 60 games, all with the Steelers, but has only touched the ball 16 times (12 catches, 4 carries) in his entire career. If Nix makes the final roster, he will give an already productive run game an added dimension as a true lead blocking presence out of the backfield.
Wide Receiver:
Adds: None
Losses: Devin Funchess (Packers), Chester Rogers (free agent, hasn’t signed anywhere), Dontrelle Inman (free agent, hasn’t signed anywhere), Marcus Johnson (free agent, hasn’t signed anywhere)
Notable Retuning: T.Y. Hilton, Zach Pascal, Parris Campbell, Reece Fountain
Outlook: Yep, this is the biggest 2020 need remaining for the Colts. Just look at the sheer numbers of guys lost from last season, even without mentioning the lack of production from this position in 2019. And that doesn’t even account for T.Y. Hilton turning 30 and dealing with by far the most injury-riddled season of his career. Five of the 10 wideouts currently on the Colts roster have never caught a pass in the NFL.
Tight End
Adds: None
Losses: Eric Ebron (free agent, signed by the Steelers)
Notable Retuning: Jack Doyle, Mo Alie-Cox
Outlook: On paper, this appears to be a need unless the Colts are banking on a huge jump from Alie-Cox in his third NFL season. That seems a bit risky. Jack Doyle, who will turn 30 in May, signed a three-year extension last season. Still, more of a vertical presence in that tight end room would be a skillset that should do a nice job of complementing what the Colts currently have in Doyle and Alie-Cox.
Offensive Line
Adds: Anthony Castonzo (re-signed), Le’Raven Clark (re-signed)
Losses: Joe Haeg (free agent, signed by Buccaneers), Josh Andrews (free agent, signed by Jets)
Notable Retuning: Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski, Braden Smith
Outlook: The Colts return their starting lineup again up front and that’s a major deal. Castonzo re-signing for two years was such a critical component to this offseason. Right now though, the depth of the offensive line is very much in question. It would not be a surprise to see the Colts spend a somewhat early pick on the OL next week.
https://omny.fm/shows/kevin-s-corner/episode-205-colts-positional-mock-draft-jalen-hurt
