Category: Latest Colts News

Report: Chris Ballard gave Eagles expiration date on Carson Wentz offer

Chris Ballard wasn’t waiting around all offseason.

The Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles were reportedly at a stalemate for weeks when it came to the trade talks surrounding quarterback Carson Wentz.

While a deal eventually got done with the Colts sending a pair of draft picks to Philly, general manager Chris Ballard reportedly told Eagles general manager Howie Roseman that there was an expiration date on his offer, Albert Breer reported in his MMQB column for Sports Illustrated on Monday.

The relationship between Ballard and Roseman kept the talks from getting to a point of no return, but the former made it clear he wasn’t going to wait around.

 The trust between the two sides—the Eagles obviously know Reich well, and Colts GM Chris Ballard and Roseman have a strong relationship—kept that stalemate from ever becoming contentious. Still, more than two weeks had passed since the Stafford trade, and plenty of back-and-forth had happened. That led Ballard to tell the Eagles early last week that he wasn’t willing to wait forever. His offer had an expiration date.

This sounds like Ballard. The meticulous and calculated general manager who has a plan for everything wasn’t going to wait around all offseason not knowing who his quarterback was—or at least what the plan was to acquire him.

While the Eagles were hoping for a Matthew Stafford-like haul, that reportedly drove teams away, especially considering most would compare Wentz to the Jared Goff part of that deal.

But now Wentz is in Indy with the offensive coordinator who led his MVP-like season in 2017. Whether they can get it done and get him back to form remains to be seen, but the Colts are hoping his arrival will keep them in the playoff race.

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Spotrac predicts Colts splurge for WR Chris Godwin in free agency

Spotrac has the Colts going wild.

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The Indianapolis Colts have their quarterback of the near future in Carson Wentz and now must find ways to build around him in order to ensure his success under Frank Reich.

Part of that can come through free agency, where the Colts are projected to have roughly $43 million in salary-cap space after taking on Wentz’s contract. With extensions coming up, it will be hard to see an all-out assault on the market, but we’ve seen weirder things in the league.

Spotrac made their predictions for the majority of free agents set to hit the market. They had the Colts splurging on a massive contract for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, signing him to a five-year, $90 million contract.

The age, production, intangibles, and skillset are all extremely favorable for Godwin, which almost always means that someone overpays to pull him out of his current situation.

BEST GUESS: Indianapolis

As much fun as Godwin would be in Indy, it’s hard to see the Colts dishing out this big of a contract. Chris Ballard tends to not sign players during the first wave of free agency because of contracts like this one. As great of a talent as Godwin is, dishing out $18 million per year for a wide receiver might not be in the cards for Indy.

On top of the projected Godwin signing, the Colts added edge rusher Melvin Ingram to the exact same contract they signed Justin Houston to in 2019, coming out to two years for $24 million.

While the price may be right for the Chargers to keep him, Ingram should draw interest from legitimate contenders in 2021, with teams like Buffalo, Indy, & the Packers all in the mix.

BEST GUESS: Indianapolis

Signing two players with average combined salaries of $30 million would set the Colts back a bit, making it hard for them to extend their own—something that is much more likely to happen than a splurge in free agency.

Spotrac also predicted the Colts would re-sign cornerback Xavier Rhodes to a three-year deal worth $21 million.

He was one of the best values in the secondary for 2020, and a significant pay raise is coming. He’ll need depth and security around him to stay healthy and productive at this stage of his career.

BEST GUESS: Indianapolis

In a world where the Colts wouldn’t have any extensions to pay this offseason, this might not be as bold of a prediction. But it’s hard to see Ballard ponying up $37 million in cap space in 2021 on three players that aren’t their own.

Free agency can’t get here soon enough.

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Colts land OT Christian Darrisaw in PFN mock draft

Colts get their LT in PFN’s mock draft.

Now that the Indianapolis Colts have their new quarterback in Carson Wentz, it is time for the organization to build around him. They can do so easily in the 2021 NFL draft.

Though free agency will give the Colts a chance to add some weapons and protection for Wentz, the draft is where they find their foundational pieces.

In a three-round mock draft from Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network, the Colts landed one of the best offensive tackles in the class in Christian Darrisaw out of Virginia Tech.

21. Indianapolis Colts: Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

The retirement of Anthony Castonzo opened up tackle as a significant need for the Colts, but the recent addition of Carson Wentz via trade only compounds the need for security on the offensive line. Wentz has been a very good quarterback before, and Indianapolis has the coaching and the weapons necessary to support his rebound. All they need beyond that is a stable offensive line, and a tackle at No. 21 can get them that.

By virtue of the luck of the board, the Colts get a franchise left tackle with this pick. Virginia Tech blocker Christian Darrisaw has all the tools necessary to be a high-level starter for a decade or more.

At 6-foot-5, 314 pounds, he has the requisite size, and on tape, he’s a superb athlete who thrives in the open field. He’s also an intense, physical, aggressive blocker who doesn’t hesitate to impose his will. Darrisaw does need to refine his lateral footwork and hand placement, but for the Colts, he’s the right investment at the right time.

Though taking a tackle wouldn’t be a sexy pick, it would help the offense immensely if they could land someone like Darrisaw. The Virginia Tech product is a bully in the run game and moves extremely well in pass protection for his size (6-foot-4, 315 pounds).

Having Darrisaw learn on the fly next to Quenton Nelson would give the Colts an elite offensive line without missing a beat despite the retirement of longtime left tackle Anthony Castonzo.

Because this is a three-round mock, the Colts had one other pick in the second round. Cummings had the Colts go with former Kentucky cornerback Kelvin Joseph.

The Colts haven’t seen the desired linear growth from 2019 early second-round pick Rock Ya-Sin, and after a bounce-back season in 2020, veteran Xavier Rhodes is set to hit the free agent market.

Once again, cornerback is a need for the Colts, and one under-the-radar player who fits the Colts well is Kelvin Joseph. Joseph has only recently gained buzz as a draft prospect. Standing at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, he has plus length and flashes ball skills. He also has the athleticism and fluidity to position himself well. He could still add more consistency to his game, but he has the tools the Colts look for on the boundary.

The Colts would still need to add to the wide receiver and edge rusher positions, both of which can be done during free agency as well.

But coming away with Darrisaw would be a huge win for the Colts as the look to build around Wentz.

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Colts given ‘A’ grade for drafting Ryan Kelly in 2016

Colts get high praise for the selection of Kelly.

Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly has become one of the best at his positions since arriving as a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft.

After earning a big extension ahead of the 2020 season, Kelly has entrenched himself as the anchor of the offensive line and will be a key factor if Carson Wentz has success with his new team.

In grading each of the first-round picks in the 2016 NFL draft, Berry Werner of List Wire gave the Colts an “A” grade for the selection of Kelly.

The Colts scored big-time with center Ryan Kelly. The former Alabama star is the centerpiece of Indianapolis’ offensive line. He is a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the best in the game. Grade: A

Though Kelly struggled with injuries during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, he proved how strong his impact is when he’s on the field during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

In 2020, Kelly allowed two sacks but just 12 total pressures during the 2020 season, according to Pro Football Focus.

With Kelly and left guard Quenton Nelson, the Colts have a strong duo on the interior. It has helped the play of right guard Mark Glowinski while the team will be searching for a new left tackle to protect the blindside of Carson Wentz this offseason.

While there are some big questions the Colts will have to face this offseason, it is a bit easier knowing they have the anchor of their offensive line locked up for the next few years.

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Colts’ Denico Autry facing lawsuit over garage fire

Denico Autry faces a heft lawsuit.

Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman Denico Autry is facing a lawsuit over a fire that damaged a garage in Zionsville, per the Indianapolis Star.

The January fire caused over $30,000 in damage in the garage of an apartment he was renting, according to the Star. The lawsuit alleges that the fire was started by Autry’s smoking.

From the Star:

The lawsuit, which seeks compensatory damages for the fire, accuses Autry of breach of contract and negligence. It says Autry’s smoking was the “direct and proximate cause” of the fire and resulting damages.

Paul Jefferson, the attorney for Viewegh, said Autry was working on a 4-wheeler and he told the fire department he was smoking a cigar.

The lawsuit says Viewegh began receiving complaints from neighboring tenants related to smoking at the apartment after Autry moved there in August. “Complaints, including many for marijuana smoke odor, began in September,” the lawsuit says.

After receiving the complaints, Viewegh contacted Autry’s real estate agent and requested Autry cease smoking at the apartment, the lawsuit says. Autry continued smoking at the apartment, according to the lawsuit, and Viewegh continued to receive complaints through the end of 2020.

Autry signed a three-year deal with the Colts during the 2018 offseason. Since then, he’s recorded 20 sacks, 26 quarterback hits and 32 tackles for loss.

Autry is set to be a free agent when the new league year arrives on March 17.

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Carson Wentz pens goodbye to Eagles

Carson Wentz tells Philly goodbye.

The Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles aren’t allowed to announce the trade until the new league year begins on March 17, but the latest Instagram post from Carson Wentz makes it all but offical.

Wentz penned a goodbye to the team that drafted him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLfmFnlBvw5/

After weeks of negotiations, the Colts wound up giving a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft and a conditional second-round pick in 2022. That second-round pick becomes a first if Wentz plays 75% of the snaps or 70% of snaps and the Colts make the playoffs.

Frank Reich and Chris Ballard are taking a risk with Wentz but they feel they have the system and support staff in place to correct his issues. Wentz will also have to win over the locker room, but it appears he’s begun that process already by connecting with several of his new teammates.

It will be a fresh start for Wentz, who will have much to prove after his tumultuous time in Philly.

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Report: Colts checked in on Derek Carr before Carson Wentz trade

Colts asked about Derek Carr.

The Indianapolis Colts made a big move Thursday, agreeing to trade two draft picks to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for quarterback Carson Wentz. But he wasn’t the only player the Colts inquired about.

Before getting the deal done to bring Wentz to Indy, the Colts reached out to the Las Vegas Raiders to check in on their willingness to trade Derek Carr, per Jim Ayello of The Indianapolis Star.

Unsurprisingly, they received a swift answer that he’s unavailable.

As general manager Chris Ballard has said often, the Colts likely had their lines in the water for multiple quarterbacks. But the Wentz situation had the most smoke from the start.

Carr would have been an interesting acquisition for the Colts, but we know Wentz was likely the guy for Reich once they learned he was available. It all came down to cost.

So this news about Carr shouldn’t come as a shock but the Colts now have their new quarterback in Wentz and will be looking to build around him for the next few seasons.

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Colts agree to trade for Eagles QB Carson Wentz

The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire quarterback Carson Wentz.

The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Carson Wentz.

The move was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and confirmed by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

After the retirement of veteran Philip Rivers, the Colts were once again on the hunt for a quarterback. As the offseason progressed, Wentz’s name became a popular choice given his familiarity with head coach Frank Reich, who was the Eagles offensive coordinator for the first two years of Wentz’s career (2016-2017).

 

Now, the Colts have their starting quarterback for the 2021 season as they look to repair the 28-year-old, who went through an utterly dismal 2020 campaign.

Not only are the Colts giving up compensation in the draft to acquire Wentz, but they are also expected to take on the rest of his current contract. Some of that is subject to change as more details of the trade get released. The deal will not be official until the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 17.

Unless trade negotiations between the Colts and Eagles have changed details of his contract, Indy is expected to be taking on $25.4 million as a cap hit for Wentz. The Eagles will take a cap hit of roughly $9.3 million.

Three years after he was an MVP candidate in Reich’s offense, Wentz had a rough 2020 season. In 12 games before being benched for Jalen Hurts, Wentz completed 57.4% of his passes for 2,620 yards, 16 touchdowns and a league-leading 15 interceptions. His 82.5 passer rating from a clean pocket was 28th in the NFL among quarterbacks with at least 348 dropbacks, per Pro Football Focus.

The Colts have a roster that can compete for a playoff spot, and their hope is that they can get Wentz back to form with a strong roster around him.

It’s a big risk, but the Colts will be rolling with Wentz as the fourth starting quarterback in as many years since Reich was hired as head coach.

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NFL salary cap to be at $180 million minimum in 2021

The cap floor has been raised for 2021.

Before free agency arrives, the league is working to set the salary cap for the 2021 season. It seems a new minimum of $180 million has been established, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Because of COVID-19, it was expected that the salary cap would be decreased by almost $25 million. In 2020, the salary cap was set at $198.2 million for each team. A decrease was expected with a floor of roughly $175 million.

But now, it seems the league will have a little bit more room to work with this offseason.

This isn’t all that big of a deal for the Colts. Whatever number the salary cap is set at doesn’t impact their offseason all that much. They are among the teams with the most salary cap in the league so this just means they will have more money to work with.

This will be a big offseason for extensions, though. The Colts could lock up potentially four players if they felt financially able to do so.

The official number should be arriving soon, but the Colts should continue to be amongst the leaders in cap space for the 2021 offseason.

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ESPN predicts Carson Wentz will be Colts’ 2021 starting QB

ESPN believes Indy will get Wentz.

As it stands, the Indianapolis Colts seem to be among the favorites to be the team to acquire quarterback Carson Wentz in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.

While the Colts reportedly haven’t increased their offer for the 28-year-old, there is still a chance Wentz winds up in Indy. If that happens, the Colts will have their starter for the 2021 season.

In predicting each team’s starting quarterback for the 2021 season, Field Yates of ESPN is following the smoke, choosing Wentz for Indy.

Projected 2021 starter: Carson Wentz

There’s been plenty of smoke surrounding the Colts and Bears as landing spots for Wentz, as Indy would reunite him with Frank Reich, his former offensive coordinator. The Colts’ roster is ready to win right now, so entering the season with a rookie or otherwise unproven starter would be potentially missing out on a window to compete.

Wentz is radioactive at the moment after his dismal 2020 performance. Can Reich and his staff reconstruct the player who was once ascendant enough to earn a record-setting contract extension that no one questioned the Eagles for giving him? Count me among those who believe in Indy’s infrastructure.

It seems to be coming down to the Colts and Chicago Bears as the team most likely to acquire Wentz. Though he was an MVP candidate a few years ago, that form seems like a longshot to retain, especially after what was an incredibly poor 2020 season.

The Colts have interest in Wentz. Given the support staff they have with Frank Reich, Press Taylor and Mike Groh, the feeling is that they can get him back to form as a reliable starter. But it’s also clear that Chris Ballard doesn’t want to overpay for the former No. 2 overall pick.

What isn’t clear is when this storyline will end. But the Colts seem to be one of the favorites to land Wentz, which means a deal could happen at any moment.

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