4 tackles the Bengals should target in 2020 NFL free agency

The Bengals should go after these players in free agency.

The Cincinnati Bengals figure to beef up the offensive line at least once in either free agency of the NFL draft.

While Jonah Williams is still on his way back and Fred Johnson is an encouraging prospect, the franchise can’t afford to sit on its hands if Joe Burrow is coming to town.

Disclaimer — teams rarely let great tackles hit free agency. We’ve already looked at guards. Here’s a taste of tackles who might hit the market the Bengals should target.

Bryan Bulaga

Are the Packers silly enough to let Bryan Bulaga hit the open market?

If they are, the Bengals should be all over it. Bulaga is one of the game’s better right tackles and is just hitting the age of 30. While he has missed some games over the prior two seasons, he put in 16 games of work plus the playoffs this season.

Paying up for Bulaga means Bobby Hart either shifts inside on the right side or goes to the bench. But even if it’s a short-term fix, it’s hard to complain about putting the best possible line out there in front of a rookie passer.

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4 biggest offseason storylines for the Colts

Some storylines to keep an eye on.

Through the final weeks of the playoffs, the Indianapolis Colts continue their preparations for free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft while simultaneously evaluating the current state of their roster.

As the offseason progresses, there will be plenty of storylines to keep an eye on during the coming months. From a potential addition to the quarterback position to the philosophies of the front office, the Colts have a lot of work to do this offseason.

Here are the four biggest offseason storylines for the Colts:

A change at QB?

This is the biggest storyline for the Colts this offseason. After getting a look at Jacoby Brissett for a full season with the improved offensive line and coaching staff, the Colts essentially know what they have under center.

Now the question remains is a big one. Will general manager Chris Ballard and the front office decide to add to the quarterback room with their first-round pick? Or will they stick with Brissett and hope that an improvement of skill players increases his production.

Ballard has a big offseason ahead in what will be his fourth as general manager. It shouldn’t be taken lightly that his decision at the quarterback position will loom large for the immediate future.

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Two Colts on ESPN’s top 50 free agents list

Which Colts are among the top free agents?

The new league year isn’t arriving until the middle of March, but the Indianapolis Colts are already preparing for what could come during the next free agency period.

There are a number of players set to hit the market that could intrigue the Colts this offseason. Whether Chris Ballard will change his philosophy of spending remains to be seen. But there are also some pending free agents for the Colts that could get some love in the market.

On ESPN’s list of top-50 free agents set to hit the market, the Colts had two players listed: left tackle Anthony Castonzo and tight end Eric Ebron.

12. Anthony Castonzo, OT

2019 team: Indianapolis Colts | Age: 32

Castonzo has said he will consider retirement, but he played well enough in 2019 to project as a starter for several more years. And if he ever got on the open market, he would find plenty of suitors. Starting left tackles, young or old, are rarely available.

Castonzo’s case is big for the Colts. Though it doesn’t seem like he’s going to be testing the market at all. Either he returns to the Colts on a short deal to be the left tackle or he hangs the spikes up for good.

That would cause a huge problem for the Colts. They already have needs at several positions but if they lost their left tackle as well, that would immediately go to the top of the list.

34. Eric Ebron, TE

2019 team: Indianapolis Colts | Age: 27

Ebron caught 16 touchdown passes in 27 games after moving from the Lions to the Colts in 2018 and is young for someone who has played six seasons. But he has always struggled with dropped passes, and teams no doubt will want to investigate the circumstances that led Ebron to decide he needed season-ending ankle surgery. The Colts’ public statements made clear they were surprised by the urgent need for surgery.

Ebron’s second season with the Colts didn’t exactly go as planned. He was rarely used in the offense relative to his 2018 campaign, and his public outcry of that lack of usage probably didn’t sit well with the team.

Then add in the fact that it appeared the Colts didn’t necessarily believe surgery was the only option for Ebron, and it makes sense why he won’t be returning to the team in 2020.

The Colts have several free agents to keep an eye on, but they will also be keeping up with the ones set to hit the free-agent market when the new league year officially begins on March 18.

4 pending free agents the Colts should re-sign

These Colts should be re-signed this offseason.

2020 will be one of the biggest off-seasons in recent Indianapolis Colts’ history. After finishing the season losing five of the final six games, the Colts finished 7-9 and have a lot of questions about their roster going into the offseason.

Indianapolis have a few free agents going into the 2020 off-season and with a projected $93 million in cap space, there is no strap for cash to keep the guys they want to.

The Colts have 14 unrestricted free agents. These players will be able to sign with anyone in March when the new league year starts.

With the Colts having a large amount of cap space to sign players, let’s look at some players the Colts should re-sign:

OT Anthony Castonzo

Pending the decision if Castonzo retires, he should be the first Colt to be re-signed this offseason.

Castonzo has been the rock at left tackle for the Colts since being drafted here in 2011, and he plays a valuable position.

At 31 years old, and feeling the best he has in his life, it should be a no-brainer the Colts keep the continuity of the offensive line in check and re-sign Castonzo to a nice, multi-year contract.

Coming off of what is arguably his best season yet, the Colts desperately need his consistent production on the left side next to All-Pro Quenton Nelson.

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Anthony Castonzo expected to make decision in ‘next two or three weeks’

Anthony Castonzo expected to make decision on retirement in the next few weeks.

While there is still a few months to go until free agency officially opens in the middle of March, the Indianapolis Colts like to get some of their housekeeping done early. For this offseason, that includes what the deal will be with veteran left tackle Anthony Castonzo.

The 31-year-old will be using this downtime to make a very crucial decision. With his contract expired, Castonzo told reporters following the season that he has to make a decision on whether he wants to keep playing for the Colts or hang up the spikes altogether.

General manager Chris Ballard said in his year-end press conference that that team will be in contact with Castonzo and that he should be making his decision over the next few weeks.

“We’ll see. Anthony and I will be in touch here over the next two or three weeks, and he’ll make a decision,” Ballard said Thursday.

Castonzo is coming off of his best season yet. As a leader on the offensive line, the former first-round pick put it all together during the 2019 season. He was among the league’s best pass protectors and was a consistent bully in the run game.

Ballard has continuously been impressed by Castonzo ever since the former arrived during the 2017 offseason.

“I hold Anthony Castonzo in high, high regard. It’s a shame that it’s the first time he’s even been voted as an alternate to the Pro Bowl,” said Ballard. “I thought, since I walked in the door, Anthony Castonzo has played at a really high level at left tackle. I can’t believe people are just now starting to recognize it.”

If Castonzo does decide to retire, that would leave the Colts with a massive hole on the left side of the offensive line and a need that likely shoots to the top of the priority list this offseason.

If that happens, Ballard’s job becomes a lot more difficult.

“I know this. Anthony loves the Indianapolis Colts, he loves being here, so we’ll see what decision he makes, and look, if he decides to retire, then it’s our job to find an answer.”

6 objectives Colts must accomplish this offseason

What do the Colts need to do this offseason?

The offseason is officially here for the Indianapolis Colts and while the majority of the moves to be made won’t happen for a few months, there is still a lot to be done before the 2020 season arrives.

As the Colts try to get back to being a perennial playoff team, there are several objectives they must accomplish beginning this offseason. From adding players in free agency to potentially drafting a new quarterback, general manager Chris Ballard should be a busy man this offseason.

Here are six objectives the Colts must accomplish this offseason:

Re-sign LT Anthony Castonzo

This is becoming the top priority quickly. It was already high on the list but with the news that Castonzo might be considering retirement, there is a certain level of panic that the Colts could lose one of their most valuable players on the offensive side of the ball.

Castonzo is coming off of the best season of his career holding down the blindside. At 31 years old, his career is certainly passed its prime. However, he proved to be a borderline elite left tackle during the 2019 season. Finding a way to convince Castonzo to stay for one or two more years is vital.

That would give Ballard enough time to find a potential replacement while also keeping a highly talented option on the offensive line. The Colts will respect Castonzo’s wishes—whatever they may be—but if there’s any way to keep him playing, they must do so.

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Colts to Anthony Castonzo: ‘We want you as our left tackle’

Anthony Castonzo is contemplating retirement.

The Indianapolis Colts have several objectives on the docket this offseason but in the event that veteran left tackle Anthony Castonzo retires, the list of priorities will change immediately.

While Castonzo contemplates his future in the league, the Colts have made it clear they want him back. A key piece to the offense, head coach Frank Reich wasn’t sugarcoating his desire to have the 31-year-old return for the 2020 season.

“We just made no bones about it, ‘We want you as our left tackle. We are going to respect you and your decision to think about what you want to think about, but there is no one else we envision being our left tackle,'” Reich told reporters Monday.

While the Colts must address the quarterback position in addition to adding depth to the wide receiver room and interior defensive line, Castonzo’s retirement would move all of those down the list.

Should Castonzo follow the path of his best friend Andrew Luck into retirement, the Colts would need to drop everything they are doing to find a left tackle. Le’Raven Clark would be the next man up, but he is slated to be a free agent once the new league begins.

Even with that, Clark hasn’t shown any inkling of being a successful tackle in the NFL—let alone having to fill the shoes of a veteran that is coming off of arguably the best season of his career.

“We think he had an unbelievable year. I think he is the best left tackle in the league, I really do. I mean I think this guy is a stud player,” Reich said. “I think he had his best year of his career and I am looking forward to hopefully getting him back.”

It will be interesting to see what happens with Castonzo and his decision, but the Colts are adamant they want him to return to his post on the blindside.

Colts’ Anthony Castonzo not ruling out retirement

Could this be the end for Anthony Castonzo?

The offseason is officially here for the Indianapolis Colts and their future at left tackle could come a bit into doubt as Anthony Castonzo isn’t ruling out the consideration of retirement.

As his current contract comes to an end, Castonzo has a lot to think about. He would certainly be paid handsomely on the open market—by the Colts or another team. But at the age of 31, Castonzo isn’t ruling out retirement.

Anthony Castonzo was very clear that he’s not ruling out the possibility of hanging up the spikes. He’s officially a free agent and would be in high demand. Said he had a lot of thinking to do.

— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) December 30, 2019

Castonzo had arguably his best season since entering the league as a first-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He combined borderline elite production with availability as he played every snap for the Colts in 2019.

The left side of the offensive line was one of the best the league saw this season. Castonzo working next to Quenton Nelson has been a treat both in the run game and in pass protection.

What is a bit encouraging is that Castonzo said he’s essentially weighing two options: re-sign with the Colts or hang up the spikes. At least it seems there isn’t any consideration to test offers from other teams.

If Castonzo retires, which seems like a possibility, it would give the Colts a major problem this offseason. They don’t have anyone on the roster talented enough to step in right away and provide reliable protection on the blindside.

Signing Castonzo to a short extension should be high on the list of priorities for general manager Chris Ballard, but if the former’s heart isn’t into playing anymore, there might not be much he can do.

It will be an interesting offseason, to say the least, and now we will have to keep an eye on retirement watch for the 31-year-old Castonzo.

Studs and duds from Colts’ 2019 season

Who stood out in 2019?

The Indianapolis Colts officially finished the 2019 season with a losing record and in third place in the AFC South. Before looking too much ahead to the offseason, we have to look back at what the season was.

Taking a look at the whole season, we must examine some of the players that stood out—both in a good way and in a bad way. Now, we see who were the biggest studs and the biggest duds from the 2019 season for the Colts:

STUD: RB Marlon Mack

Even with missing two games due to a broken hand, Mack was electric all season. Though he didn’t see a ton of work in the passing game, Mack joined the list of Colts running backs to finish with more than 1,000 rushing yards. He’s the ninth running back in Colts history to do so and it was the 21st time in franchise history a season ended with a 1,000-yard rusher.

Mack finished the season with 247 carries for 1,091 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry and 77.9 rushing yards per game. With a commitment to the run, Mack truly thrived behind the Colts’ elite offensive line.

If Mack can put a full season together in 2020, there’s a chance he gets his first Pro Bowl.

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Colts vs. Jaguars: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 17

Key matchups to watch in Week 17.

To finish off their regular season, the Indianapolis Colts will head south and play in one last divisional matchup vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. Even with their playoff hopes ended after Week 15, it didn’t stop the Colts from quickly coming out of the gates and dominating the Carolina Panthers in their 38-6 win last Sunday.

Whether it was Nyheim Hines having an all-time performance as a punt returner or the defense having their best success in several weeks, the Colts are looking to bring those factors and then some down to Jacksonville for their final game in 2019.

Here are three key matchups to watch in the Colts’ Week 17 bout:

RB Leonard Fournette vs. Colts’ defensive front seven

As I mentioned in this same piece in Week 11, when these two teams faced off, the Colts would have to put a lot of emphasis on defending running back Leonard Fournette. The LSU product has been the Jaguars’ best offensive player this season and is currently seventh in rushing yards (1,152).

But even with the fact, the Colts successfully contained Fournette in their first matchup (eight carries for 23 rushing yards), it doesn’t mean the Jags could allow that to happen again. Ever since the total number of Fournette’s carries have lowered since Week 11, the Jaguars are 1-4 and struggling to generate much offensive success.

So with an increased chance of Fournette getting much action on Sunday, the Colts’ defensive front seven needs to quickly contain him in order to greater pressure on rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II.

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