Since becoming the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, Chris Ballard has shown he isn’t one to take unmitigated risks when it comes to making trades or signing players in free agency.
Instead, every move is calculated and even though he typically leans to the more conservative side, Ballard’s approach is rarely unpredictable. At least that’s what he’s shown over the last three offseasons.
Working with the second-most salary cap space and plenty of draft capital, the Colts have been mentioned as landing spots and trade candidates for just about everyone. Think the predictions and suggestions can’t get any more out of control? Think again.
Adam Rank of NFL.com, one of the most trustworthy and entertaining voices in fantasy football, believes the Colts should trade for Bengals veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. What was even more shocking about his suggestion was adding in the belief they should sign Titans running back Derrick Henry to a massive deal.
The Colts have an incumbent starter, Jacoby Brissett, who received a vote of confidence from owner Jim Irsay a few weeks back. But Brissett really struggled down the stretch. Granted, the struggles came after a Week 9 MCL strain. Add in the fact that the Colts’ receiving corps also took a huge hit injury wise, and Brissett went from hipster MVP candidate to somebody who looked like a career backup. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but it would make sense to go get a guy like Dalton and, like the Chargers, draft a young quarterback to develop behind him. Love could be a possibility if Los Angeles goes with Justin Herbert. And if I’m being honest (not that I wasn’t previously), the Colts have a really good shot at the AFC this year if they can land a solid quarterback and then use some of that cap space (a whopping $86.2 million, per Over The Cap) on a player like Derrick Henry. Think about the bruising back behind that line. And with depth at the WR position in the draft, Indy could also address a need there, too.
Trading for Dalton is one thing. The Colts actually have a quasi-dilemma at the quarterback position. It wouldn’t be fun but trading for Dalton and drafting a quarterback isn’t ridiculously outlandish.
What is, though, is the notion of the Colts splurging in free agency at a position that gets way overpaid and rarely makes good on second contracts. Henry is an amazing talent and was one of the reasons why the Titans offense was so good.
But the Colts should stay far away from him. Running backs, especially bruisers like Henry, do not have a long shelf life in the NFL. He’s already 26 years old and coming off of a season in which he recorded 386 carries including the playoffs.
Signing Henry when they already have an electric back in Marlon Mack would be a foolish move for the Colts. Henry is going to get overpaid, and Ballard is wise enough to stay away from that.
As for Dalton, it is highly unlikely the Colts will trade for him, especially if they have to give up draft capital. Neither one of these players should be considered fits for the Colts this offseason.