Tag: Matt Gay

Grading the Colts’ 2023 free agent signings one year later

One year later, grading the Colts’ 2023 free agent signings.

With the benefit of hindsight, we now have a full season’s worth of information to judge the signings the Indianapolis Colts made during the 2023 offseason.

Some of them panned out better than expected. Others not so much.

Simply looking at the outside free agents brought onto the roster last offseason, we’re here to re-grade the signings the Colts made one year later. So we won’t be discussing the re-signings of players like Tyquan Lewis and E.J. Speed, both of which turned out exceptionally.

For reference, we’ll compare the initial grade we gave at the moment to how we currently feel about the signing.

Without further ado, here are our grades for the Colts’ free-agent class of 2023 one year later:

10 questions the Colts face entering 2024 offseason

Checking out the biggest questions the Colts face in 2024.

The Indianapolis Colts have a vital offseason ahead of them with the chance to build off an impressive 2023 campaign that ended in heartbreak but one that provided hope, nonetheless.

As we gear up for the 2024 offseason, the Colts will have plenty of ammo to make some big moves in both free agency and the NFL draft. What happens is anyone’s guess, and there will be major questions facing the organization this offseason.

Some of them will be answered over the course of the offseason. Others may not be answered until we get into the regular season.

Either way, here are 10 questions the Colts face entering the 2024 offseason:

Rams projected to receive 4 compensatory picks in 2024 NFL draft

The Rams are projected to receive an extra four picks in the 2024 NFL draft for their free-agent losses last offseason

The Los Angeles Rams suffered significant losses in free agency last offseason, watching several starters leave last March. That list of players included Greg Gaines, David Edwards, A’Shawn Robinson, Matt Gay, Taylor Rapp, Nick Scott and David Long Jr. Baker Mayfield also left after a brief stint in Los Angeles, signing a one-year deal with the Bucs where he earned the starting job.

The Rams knew that if they let these players leave in free agency, they’d recoup draft picks for many of them in the form of compensatory picks. The NFL awards extra draft picks to compensate teams for their free-agent losses, and the Rams are projected to earn four extra picks in 2024 for their departures last offseason.

According to Over The Cap, the Rams are expected to receive a fifth-round pick for Mayfield, as well as sixth-rounders for Gay, Robinson and Scott. That puts the Rams at the maximum of four compensatory picks, which is how many they received in each of the last two years, as well.

The compensatory pick formula is complex, but it’s mostly determined by a player’s contract value, as well as any postseason accolades and the number of snaps played. Over The Cap notes that because Mayfield earned incentives for his snaps played, touchdown passes, passing yards and the Bucs’ playoff win, it increased his APY into the range of a fifth-round pick instead of a sixth-rounder.

That’s great news for the Rams, of course, so they can thank Mayfield for that.

The NFL will announce the finalized compensatory picks closer to the draft, but as of now, it looks like the Rams will receive four extra picks in addition to the selections they already have – including a first-rounder at No. 19 overall.

Stock up, stock down from Colts’ 2023 season

The Colts’ stock report from the 2023 season.

When we take a look back at the 2023 season for the Indianapolis Colts, it was a good year for the franchise with several players having their best seasons of their career while having some setting new career-highs.

Finding players who raised their stock was easy but narrowing it down to a few was debated heavily. I went with the ones I believe saw a significant increase. As far as for players who saw their stock drop, that was a little more difficult.

There was a clear one who’s performance dropped off from 2022 but for the last two spots, I went with players that could’ve made more of an impact with their time spent on the field.

Let’s take a look at six Colts’ players who either saw a rise or fall in their stock from the past season:

Colts had no All-Pro selections for 2023

The Colts had no All-Pro selections in 2023, but several players were close.

The Indianapolis Colts were not represented with any selections on the All-Pro First or Second Teams for the 2023 season, but several players were right on the cusp.

While the majority of the time the First-Team selections are what truly stick around, it’s notable when players are voted as Second-Team selections. It’s even noteworthy if a player fails to garner either selection but still receives votes.

The way the system works is the panel of 50 writers vote for each position. If a player is voted on the first team, that vote is worth three points. Second-team votes are worth one point. The players with the most points total get selected.

For the Colts, the following positions received no votes whatsoever for the 2023 AP All-Pro teams:

  • Quarterback
  • Running Back
  • Wide Receiver
  • Tight End
  • Left Tackle
  • Right Guard
  • Edge Rusher
  • Cornerback
  • Kick/Punt Returner
  • Special Teamer

Now, let’s take a look at the Colts players who did receive votes for the 2023 AP All-Pro teams, courtesy of the Associated Press’ Rob Maadi:

Fantasy football waiver wire: Week 18 free-agent forecast

Check out the top waiver-wire targets for Week 18.

Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.

Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.

Colts vs. Falcons: Final injury report for Week 16

Here is the final injury report for the Colts and Falcons in Week 16.

The Indianapolis Colts (8-6) and Atlanta Falcons (6-8) released their final injury reports Friday ahead of the Week 16 matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Here’s a look at the final injury report for the Colts in Week 16:

*DNP = Did Not Participate — LP = Limited Participant — FP = Full Participant*

Notes

  • RB Jonathan Taylor is ready to return after practicing in full all week.
  • RT Braden Smith will miss his third consecutive game due to a knee injury he suffered in Week 12.
  • WR Michael Pittman Jr. cleared the concussion protocol but is still questionable due to a shoulder injury. He’s expected to play.
  • RB Zack Moss is questionable after not practicing all week.

Here’s a look at the final injury report for the Falcons in Week 16:

Colts vs. Falcons: Updated injury report for Week 16

Here is a look at Thursday’s injury report for the Colts and Falcons in Week 16.

The Indianapolis Colts (8-6) and Atlanta Falcons (6-8) released their updated injury reports Thursday ahead of the Week 16 matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Here’s a look at the updated injury report for the Colts in Week 16:

*DNP = Did Not Participate — LP = Limited Participant — FP = Full Participant*

Notes

  • The Colts returned to practice Thursday after starting the week with a walkthrough
  • RB Jonathan Taylor practiced in full with a brace on his right thumb. His status Friday will tell us a lot about his chances to play this weekend.
  • RT Braden Smith and RB Zack Moss are trending toward missing this week’s game unless they log a practice Friday.
  • WR Michael Pittman Jr. practiced in full without a non-contact jersey, one of the final steps of the concussion protocol.
  • K Matt Gay returned to a limited basis Thursday, which is encouraging for his chances to play.

Here’s a look at the updated injury report for the Falcons in Week 16:

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Colts vs. Falcons: Initial injury report for Week 16

Here is the Wednesday injury report for the Colts and Falcons in Week 16.

The Indianapolis Colts (8-6) and Atlanta Falcons (6-8) released their initial injury reports Wednesday ahead of the Week 16 matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Here’s a look at the initial injury report for the Colts in Week 16:

*DNP = Did Not Participate — LP = Limited Participant — FP = Full Participant*

Notes

  • The Colts held a walkthrough Wednesday so participation levels are estimations.
  • RB Jonathan Taylor was listed as a full participant for the first time since undergoing thumb surgery three weeks ago.
  • RT Braden Smith still has not returned to practice while RB Zack Moss picked up a forearm injury in the Week 15 win.
  • WR Michael Pittman Jr. had some encouraging progress through the concussion protocol. He’s not out of the woods yet, but this is a good start.
  • K Matt Gay is a new addition to the injury report so that will be one to monitor as the week progresses.

Here’s a look at the initial injury report for the Falcons in Week 16:

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5 takeaways from Colts’ 30-13 win over Steelers

Here are five takeaways from the Colts’ 30-13 win over the Steelers.

It looked like it was going to be another week where things were going to go wrong for the Indianapolis Colts.

Following a shanked missed 56-yard field goal attempt by Matt Gay, the Pittsburgh Steelers marched down the field for a touchdown, but missed the PAT attempt to make it a 6-0 game. On the following drive for the Colts, they would go three-and-out, and the Steelers blocked the punt to set up their second touchdown of the game for the 13-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Then the game got flipped upside down. Indy would score a touchdown to respond to Pittsburgh and would go on to score 30 unanswered points despite losing Michael Pittman Jr. and Zack Moss in the second quarter.

This win ended the eight-game losing streak to the Steelers and the Colts are now 7-0 when they have the lead at halftime.

This was a crucial win for Indianapolis with the Cincinnati Bengals winning early today to keep their playoff hopes alive entering the final three weeks.

Here are five takeaways from Indy’s victory: