Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson Big Winner from 2024 NFL Draft

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Colts brought in an intriguing nine-man draft class last weekend, and it left me with three big themes. Let's get to it. You are Locked On Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. All right, thanks for tuning in and making us your first listen of the day. This is your daily podcast covering your Indianapolis Colts, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And today's show is brought to you by Monopoly Go.

Starting point is 00:00:37 I admit it. I have a competitive side, and it is a big fan of Monopoly Go, which is the mobile hit twist on classic Monopoly. So grab your friends and download Monopoly Go now free on the App Store or Google Play. What is up, everybody? This is Jake Arthur from HorseshoeHuddle.com, and we are continuing our draft coverage today, kind of looking at the group as a whole. But specifically, when I looked at this thing, it really gave me three big thoughts first uh really building around anthony richardson and doing well by him like we all hoped the colts

Starting point is 00:01:13 would have done with andrew luck and you know seeing the downfall of andrew luck everyone had a laundry list of things they would have done differently and And I think the Colts are doing that with Richardson, or they're at least trying to. Next, the Colts have met plenty of their short-term future needs. There still are some immediate needs that they had going into the draft that they probably still have. I think fans and the team looks at it a little different. But as far as needs that they're going to have a little bit down the line, I think they've met some of those. And then lastly, there's some veterans that have been put on notice. So we'll go around them as well here in a bit. But first up, you know, you're welcome, Anthony Richardson. So this all really started this offseason with free agency. The Colts didn't have any of their starting five offensive linemen being free agents. It was a group that already had performed really, really well together in the

Starting point is 00:02:09 last season and a half. Even last year, they only started like five or six games together, but the group as a whole was really good. So top to bottom, there was only a couple guys who were hitting free agency. That was Danny Pinter and Jack Anderson. The Colts even brought them back on one-year deals. So the entire starting line from last year was back. They weren't done though. They added two offensive linemen in the draft that they really, really love and Matt Consalves and Tanner Bortolini in the third and fourth rounds respectively. I really like these moves for the Colts. Now, are either of these two guys going to start as rookies? Maybe not.

Starting point is 00:02:50 If you look at any area of the roster that's maybe, or any area of the offensive line that's maybe open to replacement, you maybe look at right guard with Will Fries. But even Fries has played really, really good football. So I don't think they're looking to replace him. I think really this is like next year, you're dealing with the entire interior being free agents, but we'll get to that here in a bit. But I really like these moves for the Colts. I think they're making sure that not only right now is the offensive line really good, but that it's going to stay that way for years to come. Consalves is a guy that can, he's kind of going to be your Joe Haag type. He can do some things

Starting point is 00:03:31 on the interior. He can back up your play at tackle as well. And then Tanner Bordellini is just a swing guy inside, can play any of the three interior positions. I do think there's an eventual plan for really either of these guys to be starters. Because again, they love these guys. And offensive linemen, you don't have to draft in the first or second round to be starters. Third or fourth round is totally appropriate for those guys. But yeah, outside of catastrophic injuries, I really don't think there's any reason for this offensive line not to be awesome in 2024. There is competition

Starting point is 00:04:06 everywhere. We already know the starting five is good and they're good whether they're playing together or not, whether there's patchwork being done on the offensive line. But this group, top to bottom, it's going to be a really tough group to make through training camp. This is arguably the best position group. Your offensive and defensive line are really your best position groups on the roster. And that's how Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard would like it to be. So that's good. So they've got the protection down, Pat. What about the weapons? So in the second round at pick number 52, the Colts added the type of wide receiver that they really were missing in Adonai Mitchell.

Starting point is 00:04:47 They had Michael Pittman Jr., who is the do-it-all dirty work. Anywhere on the field, you need me. I can do it type receiver. That's a 100-catch guy. Pittman, no mystery to him. He is, you need him perfectly. Josh Downs, the slot guy, does a lot of things really well. He's very, very smart.

Starting point is 00:05:07 The chemistry with him and Anthony Richardson is going to be really intriguing to watch going forward. He's not just a slot guy as well, though. He can do some things downfield as well. We've seen that. He's really able to manipulate defenders and send them packing one way while he goes in another. So those guys were great to already have. You had Alec Pierce as well, who is your field stretcher. That's kind of his niche.

Starting point is 00:05:32 He's not yet a complete receiver. He doesn't do a whole lot more other than that, at least not effectively. He's a very good blocker as well, but you're not really, you know, that's not what you're bringing guys in as second round picks to be as blockers. So they needed a guy like Adonai Mitchell, who's an explosive playmaker with all around potential, like who can do anything, you know, like a Devontae Adams can do everything. Short, intermediate, long, middle of the field, outside the field, back shoulder, whatever you need a receiver to do,

Starting point is 00:06:10 Mitchell has the potential to do that. He has a ton of great traits athletically, physically. He's just got to kind of put it all together. Luckily, as long as Mitchell is open to it and is determined to be great, he's got the perfect wide receivers coach to help him in Reggie Wayne. So the Colts are going to put resources into getting Mitchell to be the player that they hope he can become. And, you know, that's a guy who can maybe grow with Anthony for 10 years. You know, we've seen a lot of great quarterbacks of the past have this guy that they've grown with for a decade. You know, with Peyton, it was Marvin and then Reggie.

Starting point is 00:06:43 Andrew Luck had T.Y. Hilton. Hopefully, for Richardson, it's Pittman and or Mitchell. Kind of a Peyton with Marvin and then the Reggie thing. So fingers crossed for them that they're able to do that. Colts weren't done though. They got Anthony Gould in the middle rounds, who is another capable downfield yards after catch type of guy. I don't think he's going to have a huge role in the offense, maybe like an Isaiah McKenzie type of role. I think his main thing is going to be as a return specialist, which he's was one of the better ones in college football, was all conference, perhaps all American, if I remember correctly, in 2022, but easily noted as one of the top return specialists in college football and the Colts now have him. So plenty of speed from him.

Starting point is 00:07:31 And again, yard after catch ability, that's, that's what kick returning is all about. So you get the ball in this guy's hands and the open field on offense, you can kind of see what he can do. So I really like what the Colts did for Anthony Richardson in this one. He's going to be protected. I mean, obviously he's going to have his carries, but in the pocket the guy is going to be protected. And then you've got some more weapons for him now as well because I didn't even mention the tight ends. The tight end group has a lot of talent.

Starting point is 00:07:59 The Colts didn't do anything to it, but it already had a lot of talent, and guys just needed to be consistent and stay healthy. And they're really hoping this year is the year that we see guys really break out. You're waiting to see Jelani Woods be what he can be. Drew Ogletree as well. Will Mallory. Kylan Branson is solid. Mo'Ali Cox is a solid blocker.

Starting point is 00:08:19 He's never going to be that big-time receiving tight end. But you've got a really nice group of tight ends. So Anthony has weapons. He's never going to be that big time receiving tight end. But you've got a really nice group of tight ends. So Anthony has weapons. He's got protection. If he and the other key players can stay healthy, this should be a big, big year for the offense. Calling it now. So coming up here in a bit, we're going to talk about the other side of things. And that's the Colts.

Starting point is 00:08:42 Not what they did immediately, but some of the future needs that they crossed off of their list. It's playoff time in the NBA and NHL. Baseball is in full swing and FanDuel is your place to bet on every game. Right now, new customers get $150 in bonus bets guaranteed. That's 150 bucks win or lose. Bet on everything from slap shots to home runs the slam dunks all on an app that is safe secure and easy to use the Pacers are up 3-1 in their series with the Bucks right now and FanDuel has the Pacers as three and a half point favorites to close out the series on Tuesday night at least last I checked we'll see if that line moves at all but

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Starting point is 00:11:20 compliment Julian Blackman. They needed the explosive pass catcher on the offense, whether that was a tight end like Brock Bowers or an outside receiver. So those were some of their biggest things and they didn't do all of it. Cornerback and safety were needs that they didn't really address significantly. They did add Jalen Simpson in the secondary and Abraham as well at corner. So, like, they did add cornerbacks. But to me, neither of them factor in right away as big-time contributors. I think Micah Abraham probably could sneak his way into being Kenny Moore's backup at nickel. Again, that's something we're going to talk about in a minute. Jalen Simpson though,

Starting point is 00:12:06 I did like, he would have to overtake Daryl Baker jr, which is possible. But like, even that is like the fourth or fifth corner on the roster. Like I think it'll be difficult for both Abraham and Simpson to make the roster. It's just not, it's not impossible, but they're going to have to boot a couple of guys off that we may not expect them to. Simpson, something that works in his favor though, is he can help contribute at safety. He was a safety at Auburn as well as played cornerback. So the Colts do have him listed at corner, but for my money, I thought his better path to the

Starting point is 00:12:44 roster was to compete at free safety alongside julian blackman it's not what they did but we'll see you know they have with they have ample cap space to address either need if they want to uh personally i don't think i think they're they want to be fine at corner They intentionally went young last year for a reason. They're doing it. They're literally doing what they told us they were going to do. So us telling them that they need to go get another veteran corner or something, I just don't think it's going to happen.

Starting point is 00:13:15 I think this is probably the group they're going to roll with safety. On the other hand, I think they would feel better if they added a capable veteran there, like a quandary digs, maybe even Justinin simmons who would be a little more expensive um it doesn't have to be a star it's just it needs to be someone with starting experience julian blackman you know you're good there at strong safety i mean he's had some injury issues but that is what it is if he does get hurt you feel better about nick cross

Starting point is 00:13:42 replacing him at strong safety than starting at free safety, I think. Rodney Thomas, you're not comfortable with because he got benched at the end of the season. Ronnie Harrison Jr., you know, it'd be great to keep him in his role at linebacker because, you know, Nick Cross playing free safety with Ronnie Harrison being strong safety wasn't the greatest thing last year. So safety to me is still up in the air. I just think you need some definition there. Julian Blackman, boom, that's your strong safety.

Starting point is 00:14:12 Just go get a veteran free safety, and then you know what you have. You're more comfortable with Roddy Thomas and Nick Cross in depth roles. Daniel Scott maybe factors in there as well. Who knows? But I just think there's one more move you can make to be a little more comfortable with the secondary. They also, in terms of the things, the future needs they actually did meet, they didn't necessarily need offensive line, defensive line, and linebacker yet, but they definitely addressed it adequately.

Starting point is 00:14:42 Again, adding Matt Consalves and Tanner Bordellini on the offensive line. Again, they didn't need line yet, but when you look at next year, like your whole interior is a free agent. You know, Ryan Kelly, free agent, Will Fries, Wesley French, Danny Pinter, and Jack Anderson, like I mentioned. Like pretty much all your interior guys except for Quentin Nelson are free agents next year. So adding Bordellini and Gonzalvez, I mean that they are insurance at the very least.

Starting point is 00:15:11 I do think at least one of them is going to be a starter in 2025. So, uh, and then on the defensive line as well, edge wasn't like a pressing need yet, but when you look at the next couple off seasons, you have Quidipe, Samson, Ebucom, Tyquan Lewis and Daiwa Dangbo all set to hit free agency over the next couple of springs. So you get ahead of that. You have the choice of what you're going to do with Quidipe's fifth year option. But regardless, that's only one more one more year on the contract. So you go out and get Liatu Latu in the first round. Boom, that takes care of that.

Starting point is 00:15:49 No matter, like, he could be set up at Leo, and then whether it's Pei or Odengbo, that goes. You just don't know who the Colts are going to want to pay. There's more expectations for Quidipei, but he is a really, really good run defender. Dai Odengbo has become a pretty good all-around player. Ebukom as well. They all kind of offer similar traits, but then you add a kind of a developmental guy in Jonah Laulu at the end of the draft. Don't know that he's going to necessarily make the roster. Feels like a practice squad guy,

Starting point is 00:16:23 but you do have, you know, like an Eric Johnson that hasn't really done much yet. He's more of a nose tackle for depth. But Adetome, Adetomare, he's not proven it yet. You'd think he's probably going to take a jump this season. But you just don't know. So a guy like Laulu is decent to have to kind of work on and mold and see if you can get anything out of them while you're waiting to see if your younger pieces on the defensive line are going to be around at all. And then Jalen Carlisle was a really interesting one as well. He's pretty much your Ronnie Harrison Jr.

Starting point is 00:17:02 He's a safety convert down to linebacker. So you can have that pass coverage linebacker that we've been talking about all offseason. He really fits that mold. Just really interesting. There's a long history of guys like that working out in the NFL. It doesn't always, but I mean, one guy who is going to be coaching him, Kato June, is a success story. He was a pro bowler for the Colts. June and Richard Smith, who was the Colts linebacker coach, really, really like this guy. And the coaching staff has experience working with someone like that in Divine Diablo when they were all with the Raiders. So this staff knows what to do with a guy like that.

Starting point is 00:17:44 Now, of course, you could have a good kid with good athleticism and all that, and sometimes it just doesn't work. But I like the support system and baseline that the Colts have here to get this kid to where he can be because they've done it successfully. There's proof even in this franchise of it happening as recently as Ronnie Harrison Jr. It's a even in this franchise of it happening as recently as Ronnie Harrison Jr. It's a really, really interesting move. So Carlisle kind of fills, if he can develop, he kind of fills a need at linebacker. Looking at next year, EJ Speed is

Starting point is 00:18:18 a free agent. And then pretty much everybody else that contributed at linebacker except for Zyre Franklin is a free agent next year as well Grant Stewart Cam McGrone Saguna Luby like all of your depth so if Carlisle can develop and be at the very least like your fourth linebacker going into next year third or fourth linebacker then this was a good pickup for them but I would say they should have added more but they already have so many linebackers on the roster for this year. There's just the mass exodus next year that you're looking at, but they have a lot of bodies there this year.

Starting point is 00:18:54 So that was kind of a tough one. I like the idea of adding one player who's maybe not ready to play yet, but by the time you need him next year should be ready to roll. So I really like the idea of the Colts doing that one. So coming up next, we are going to look at the veterans that have been put on notice by some of these moves that the Colts made in the draft. All right, real quick, game off. We got to pause here to talk more about Monopoly Go, and I know you're saying flag on the play play, you already talked about that and you have been talking about it.

Starting point is 00:19:28 But there's just so much good stuff in this game. In Monopoly Go, you can team up with friends for timed tournaments where you work together to build up each other's boards. And the more you win together, the more awesome prizes you unlock. And there's so much to get. You get these really cool, unique stickers that you can trade with your friends to complete albums for bigger prizes, cool new playing pieces to travel the boards with, hilarious emojis for taunting your friends when you smash their buildings or heist their vaults. Plus, Monopoly Go feels new and exciting every day with constantly changing tournaments and challenges. There's a ton including their own unique mini games like Digging for Treasure or a Robot Pachinko Machine.

Starting point is 00:20:08 And there's always new timed events that help you win big like massive multipliers for everything you win or rent Frenzies. There's always something fun to discover in Monopoly Go, so get off the bench and go download it now for free on Google Play or the App Store. Game on. All right, now let's talk about kind of the unfun part of the draft when it comes to player acquisition and transactions. And that's the guys who have been kind of put on notice by way of the newcomers that are coming in. Now, this doesn't have to spell doom for these guys, but it adds competition. And it

Starting point is 00:20:47 really says to these guys, like, you got to step up if you want to keep your roster spot. And a lot of these guys are capable of it. So first up is Alec Pierce. I think that's probably the most obvious one. So you draft a guy like AD Mitchell in the second round, you don't draft him to just be a rotational guy. Whether it's this year or next year, Mitchell is going to be a starter on this offense at some point, and that is going to be Alec Pierce's spot. Unless he has some sort of huge boom in his game, you know Michael Pittman is not getting replaced. Josh Downs isn't getting replaced either. That's Alec Pierce's spot. You're just looking for more productivity out of that starting outside receiver, and Mitchell has just got a ton of potential. Even Pierce at his best,

Starting point is 00:21:39 if he's converting those long downfield shots that Anthony Richardson is more likely to throw him than Gardner Minshew was. I still don't know that that's enough. Mitchell just has a great all-around game, and if he develops like he should, then that really is going to be Pierce's spot to lose. Going up next is Will Fries at right guard. We know that Quentin Nelson is not going to lose his job. Ryan Kelly isn't either as long as he's on the roster. So the additions of Gonsalves and Bortolini, if any starting spot is going to be relinquished this year, it's going to be right guard with Will Fries. I do think the Colts will be open to giving either of those guys a shot to start, but Will Fries, obviously, they're not just going to yank him out of that spot. He's going to have

Starting point is 00:22:31 to lose the job, or one of those other two is just going to have to look so, so good. But Will Fries, that one seems a little less likely. The Alec Pierce one seems like an eventual reality, but Fries may keep the gig for another year until he hits free agency next year. And then next, you're looking on the defensive line. Quiddy Paye, Samson, Ebucom, and Dio Odengbo. So Paye and Odengbo are perhaps free agents next year, depending on if the Colts pick up Paye's fifth-year option.

Starting point is 00:23:03 Ebucom will be in 2026. So people are drawing a direct line to Quidipe as the big loser from the La2-La2 pick, but I don't think that's necessarily true because Pace, your standout run defender and edge sealer at defensive end, while La2 is probably going to be more of your top dog pass rusher. And to me, I mean, Evie Kahn and Pei are similar somewhat. But, I mean, if you're keeping someone on to defend the run,

Starting point is 00:23:38 you're keeping Pei out there, I think. So, Dario Dengbo as well. I mean, he's a rotational guy, so I don't think it's like a huge threat, but I mean, if he's not producing, that's going to eat into his snaps. Uh, we don't know what the Colts are going to do about their edge defenders next off season. If you're looking at pay and a Dangbo as both free agents. So I don't want to just put it on Quiddy pay.

Starting point is 00:24:03 I'm going to put it on all three of them because we've also seen that gus bradley is going to be one like these guys don't have to have such rigid designated roles like whatever skill sets it doesn't matter the best guys are going to be on the field so i'm going to put all three of them on notice on that one. I also mentioned Ronnie Harrison Jr. a little bit by way of Jalen Carlisle being on the roster. So Harrison was pretty good in limited fashion last year at linebacker. He had two interceptions, one of them against the Bengals. That was like literally the only sign of life in that game. So he's a decent player, but it feels like Carlisle is just like a younger, more athletic version of that. So I mean, the Colts re-signed Harrison for a reason this offseason,

Starting point is 00:24:53 but I mean, if Carlisle is a stud in training camp, then I mean, I don't know if Harrison's going to get cut for it, but I mean, Carlisle could eat into his snaps during the season. I mean, if you've got a young athletic guy like that, who's performing really well, you're not going to keep him off the field. You're going to allow him to continue developing. And that would be Harrison's role that he would be in. So last on the list is Daryl Baker jr. And Chris Lamont. So we'll start with Baker j Jr. He's an outside guy.

Starting point is 00:25:26 That's really just if Jalen Simpson does anything in camp really, because Baker is already behind Juju Brents and Jalen Jones and Dallas Flowers on the outside. Obviously Kenny Moore in the slot. He's your top corner. He's not losing anything. So Baker and his role is like the fourth or fifth outside corner. That could be in trouble. If Simpson does anything really well in camp, it felt like the Colts were finding any reason to keep Baker off the field at times last year until they absolutely had to. And when they absolutely had to was after that Saints game

Starting point is 00:26:03 when Tony Brown just could not do it. So I don't think the Colts are really married to Baker by any means. They did re-sign him as a restricted guy this year. But, I mean, he's quality to have his depth and competition in the cornerback room. But, again, they just signed an athletic, versatile rookie. If he's doing anything, you know, that's going to be Baker's job to lose, I think. And then Chris Lamans as really the only backup nickel to Kenny Moore right now. Micah Abraham seems like a guy, I mean, obviously he's got playmaking ability.

Starting point is 00:26:38 He had 12 interceptions in his college career. He had over 40 pass breakups. He is undersized, but when you're playing that in the nickel, it's not that big of a deal. He's got speed as well. Surely has special teams ability. So those are two veterans. They're depth guys. But when I saw Simpson come in and they said he was going to be a corner and I saw Abraham, I immediately thought Baker and Lamont are the guys who really need to fight for their spots throughout the spring and summer in order to keep those. So let me know what you guys think about that, especially any veterans you think that have kind of been put on notice.

Starting point is 00:27:16 Thoughts on the rest of the show, sure. But I think that's probably the one that's most up for debate is veterans that are really going to have to stand out the rest of this offseason and summer if they want to keep their spot. So obviously, if you guys don't already follow at Locked on Colts at Jake Arthur NFL and as I kicks to on Twitter. Also, be sure to subscribe on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. We would love your ratings and reviews as well. And with that, we will see you guys tomorrow.

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Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson Big Winner from 2024 NFL Draft

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