Looking Ahead

As I mentioned in my last post, there are several reasons to be excited about the future for the Colts. Chris Ballard and the front office have knocked their first two offseasons out of the park. Part of it has been luck (Malik Hooker falling to 15th overall in 2017), some of it has been taking the sure thing (taking Quenton Nelson at 6th overall in 2018), and some of it has been a combination of the two, The Colts are a faster, younger, and better team than they were when Ballard was hired. This is the first offseason since 2014 that Andrew Luck hasn't been rehabbing some kind of injury, the Colts have an offensive line, talent at every level of the defense, and as (almost) always a bevy of talent on special teams.

Last offseason laid the foundation, this offseason can cement the Colts as one of the best teams in the league. It begins with a couple necessary position coaching hires for the Colts. Since the season ended the Colts have fired, offensive line coach, Dave DeGuglielmo; lost assistant offensive line coach, Bobby Johnson, to the Buffalo Bills; and lost tight ends coach, Tom Manning, to Iowa State University. I'm unaware of any further coaching losses, but as the Colts look to fill these positions look for them to hire coaches that Coach Reich is familiar with. I'm not going to try to make predictions because I have no idea what direction they'll go in.

After the Colts fill out their coaching staff, there will be some major decisions to be made regarding free agents and I will be posting over the next several weeks regarding what I think will happen with these players. The Colts will have to make a decision on 15 unrestricted free agents, 6 restricted free agents, and 2 exclusive rights free agents.

Once those decisions have been made the Colts will then have to turn their attention to unrestricted free agency and the 2019 draft. They have nine picks this year in the draft and as we all know, that is Chris Ballard's preferred method of team building, but with all the cap space that the Colts have there's no way that they're inactive this March. I would look for them to add some playmakers on offense and defense, possibly an outside receiver, a defensive back or two, and hopefully an elite pass rusher. I also see the Colts adding some depth along the offensive and defensive fronts. They will continue adding youth and speed at every level.

The Colts will be even better next year and each of us fans should be very excited. But for now, hopefully the Rams can just beat the Patriots.

Young Colts linebackers, Darius Leonard and Anthony Walker haul down Jaguars runningback, Leonard Fournette, in this image from the Indy Star.