Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Shane Steichen Explains Riley Leonard vs. Brett Rypien | Everydayer Q&A

Starting point is 00:00:00 Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, Josh Downs, might be out this weekend against the Chargers. 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. Thank you all for making Locked on culture first listen today.

Starting point is 00:00:30 part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every single day. Today's episode is brought to you by GameTime, down on the GameTime app, create account and use code locked on NFL for $20 off of your first purchase. Hello, everyone. My name is Zach Hicks, your resident Phil nerd of horseshoe huddle.com. And my partner in crime, Jake Arthur, is the credential cracks on the ground for round table sports. We're going to bring you our typical Wednesday show, guys. We're going to talk all about the latest roster moves and injuries here on the midweek, getting ready for this big chargers game.

Starting point is 00:01:00 And then we're going to open the floor to some of your guys' questions. We made the call out on social media, trying to get your guys questions to fill out today's show. We're going to go over a couple of your guys burning hot questions and takes and opinions and just dive into it. I'm seeing these for the first time. Jake's basically going to throw them at me and we're going to respond here to you guys there. But some roster moves and injury updates, Jake.

Starting point is 00:01:21 We have some quarterback news. Anthony Richardson landed on IR with that fractured occipital bone or whatever it was orbital bone. Sorry, orbital bone. I don't want to get that completely wrong. One of those O bones with the eye. But he is going to be out at least four weeks on injured reserve. Brett Rippin, I believe he's the son of Mark Rippin, right? The nephew. Nephew. Nephew of Mark Ripon, famous Washington quarterback, infamous Colts quarterback. Obviously, I've heard the stories this one snap. One snap is what I've heard. Riley Leonard does appear to be the QB2 for now, but Shane Stikein's going to go more into that as the weeks progress, and we'll see if Rippin's able to

Starting point is 00:02:03 take over as that QB2 going forward. When it comes to the first practice of the week, some good news, some bad news. We'll start with the good. Kenny Moore returned to practice for the first time in weeks. It was only in the limited capacity. We don't know if he's going to be back this week, but at least getting him back on the football field, very positive news for a Colts defense that could use anybody coming back on the field at this point.

Starting point is 00:02:26 But the negative news, obviously, Josh Downs, missed today with a concussion. Charverius Ward missed today with concussion. It is very, very hard to clear concussion protocol in one week. So it does feel like both those guys are doubtful for this upcoming weekend. And then Ashton Doolin missed with a chest injury and Tyler Goodson out with a groin injury. That's your two gunners right there on special teams. So it would be what, Amir Abdullah and you can't even put Chris Lamans on there. He's like one of your most vital defensive players.

Starting point is 00:02:55 I know. So Lamonts, I think, was one of the backup gunners. It's not great right now. Yeah, so they're a little dinged up right now, like all teams are around the league. But Jake, what's your takeaway from? We can actually start with the quarterback news. We'll be real quick on this. What's your takeaway from Brett Rippin?

Starting point is 00:03:09 I saw some overreactions from people about this earlier in the week. Yeah, I don't really know much about Brett Rippin. I mean, he's started four games in the league. He's a journeyman, so he's never really held on any one place for too long. I think he stayed with the Broncos for a little bit, who first signed him as a UDFA back in like 2019, I think. But I did ask Shane Steichen today because they worked out like four quarterbacks earlier this week and he wasn't among them.

Starting point is 00:03:36 So I was like, you know, what's the deal with that? Where did you guys come up with him? And I asked if they had worked him out previously this offseason or anything because they will do that. They'll kind of keep a catalog of guys they've worked out before. And they haven't worked him out. It's just a guy who's been on their radar for a while. Daniel Jones was with him in Minnesota for a bit and had really good things to say.

Starting point is 00:03:57 I'm sure probably coaches as well that they referred to. It's, I mean, that's probably the level of quarterback you were looking for if you're the Colts. But a little, I don't want to say an odd choice just because they have direct references to go with there. I honestly, I've always been kind of a Jeff Driscoll stand, not going to lie to you. I would have done Jeff Driscoll. I would have even maybe done Kyle Trask, would have been interesting. But, I mean, the moral of the story is it might just be a moot point because hopefully we, hopefully it never matters if we don't have to see Brett Rippin out there.

Starting point is 00:04:35 But Riley Leonard is QB2 for now. Obviously, he has been in the program since April, May, and, you know, has, he's a tireless worker, you know, maybe a little bit limited and what he can do as a quarterback right now. So he is one play away from going in there. But at the same time, he knows Shane Steichen's system. Brett Rippen just got here. So Stuyken said that Leonard is the QB2 for now. And they'll just keep kind of evaluating things over the next couple weeks to see if

Starting point is 00:05:09 they need to make a shift in there. So Leonard could stay as the backup. But again, hopefully we don't have to see him unless they're like blowing out Tennessee next week by 21, 22 points or something again. Yeah, hopefully it stays Daniel Jones this entire time and we don't even have to worry about it. Yeah, you know, when it comes to the NFL, there are two types of backup quarterbacks. There's backup quarterbacks that you trust to come in and win a game or two for you, which you're not going to find those in October out in the free agent market.

Starting point is 00:05:40 So then you have the other type of backup quarterback, which is the starting quarterback is good buddies with. that's why do we think Mitch Trubisky keeps getting jobs around the NFL yeah so as long as if Daniel Jones says hey I like this guy Brett Rippin perfectly fine QB3 to have a look if he ever gets on the field the Colts aren't winning that game anyway right so there was nobody out there for as much as you want to say Jeff Driscoll or Kyle Trask and all these other guys they weren't winning a game if any of those guys stepped on the field anyway probably not know it's fine it's not that big a deal overall hopefully Daniel Jones can stay healthy and avoid those sacks like he has been doing. But getting to the bigger news of the week, the injury report, because if

Starting point is 00:06:21 Josh Downs popped up with just about any other injury, we could be saying like, okay, let's wait and see until the weekend comes wrong. But because it's a concussion, it does it feel like he's not going to play this week. And the big question now becomes, what does the slot receiver position look like? And I want to throw this at you, Jake, because I got you prepared for it pre-show. There was a guy in the preseason who was a superstar for the cold. Colts, undrafted free agent, amazing player. And he's been on the Colts practice squad all season long, slot receiver. And when you look at the just the way, the hierarchy, I guess, of the Colts wide receiver room,

Starting point is 00:07:01 A.D. Mitchell's in the doghouse. Ashton Doolin's on the injury report. Anthony Gould, they've kind of soured on. He's more of a special teamer. Is it Coleman Owens time to shine? Should I pick him up in fantasy football this week, Jake? So if Doolin doesn't play, and I, let's say Downs and Doolin don't play, I do think Owen will probably be called up from the practice squad because that is like your only other slot other than Downs and Mitchell and Gould. I would think Gould would get the nod as like the primary slot.

Starting point is 00:07:33 I know they haven't really been doing anything with him offensively. It's really just been in the return game, but I mean, it would seem odd to have to. to switch tracks on A.D. Mitchell so quickly, who has essentially been inactive for two weeks. They only played him a couple weeks ago because Alec Pierce was out and they were, you know, killing their opponent in the fourth quarter. So he's basically been down for two weeks. I don't think they're just going to magically thrust him into this role where he's getting 35 snaps. You know what I mean? So he may have a limited role if those other two guys are out, but I would imagine it's going to be Anthony Gould because, I mean, in the summer, he looked like a,

Starting point is 00:08:13 true slot receiver. He was one of the stars of the summer. Now, it was mostly in camp and practice, had some flubs early in the preseason. I think maybe redeemed himself a little bit later on. But yeah, I think it would be his spot. Coleman Owen, don't get him on fantasy right now. If you do, that's a huge problem because it means things have gone nuclear. But I do think he would probably get caught up from the practice squad if those other two are down. Yeah, all joking aside, not to push my Coleman Owen narrative here, but all joking aside, it is interesting to see what they'll do at slot receiver this week, because in the past, A.D. Mitchell has been that back up there, because they've essentially operated of, you know, Mitchell's our fourth

Starting point is 00:08:56 best receiver, and if any injury were to happen in our starters, he would go in there. But with him being in the doghouse, Doolin's kind of become that fourth best receiver, but do they trust him to be like that slot guy? I think you and I are of the opinion that moving Pitman to moving Michael Pittman Jr. to the slot would be the best option in Doolin on the outside. But the Colts have just never done that before. They've never moved Pittman inside,

Starting point is 00:09:18 even though I think he'd be the best next guy up there. So I think it would be Gould. I'm kind of with you on that. I think they would give, if Doolin plays, I think they'll give Doolin and Gould, like, equal snaps on offense. Like, just very mixed in their personnel groupings

Starting point is 00:09:33 and stuff like that. Maybe just rely more on 12 and 13 personnel and just not have a slot receiver for a ton of snaps out there. there. We could see something like that. Maybe Tyler Warren flexes out a little bit more into the slot. So we could see them play with some things, but I don't think we see Josh Downs this week. Traverius Ward, I don't think we're going to see. Have we had any update on changes? Like, is Jonathan Edwards still set to potentially start this week? Or have there

Starting point is 00:09:59 been any kind of updates from coaches there, Jake? I haven't seen anything there yet. And we don't see enough of practice. We don't really see the strategic portion of practice. You can kind of read between the lines on some things when you watch positional drills. So that'll kind of take keeping an eye on during that early portion of practice that we are able to see over these next couple days. Yeah, no, for sure. So we'll have to monitor that. I obviously also monitor the two gunners out there,

Starting point is 00:10:27 like if Doolin and Doolin and Goodson both missed this week. I mean, Amir Abdullah would be one of the gunners. Yeah. Maybe the guy they called up last week, that corner they called up last second, and last week Cameron Mitchell, I believe his name. Maybe you'd be your other gunner? I can see Coleman Owen do it too. Cole and Owen maybe.

Starting point is 00:10:44 Yeah. He's mostly a punt returner though. I mean, I'm sure, if I remember correctly, he's gotten plenty of reps there throughout the summer. So they'll figure something out. Yeah, we've got the rest of the week to see here. But coming up, guys, we're going to get out of the doom and gloom of the injury report like it is every single week and dive into some of your guys burning hot questions

Starting point is 00:11:05 heading into this big, what, week seven matchup against the chargers, see if the Colts can come on top. I'm Cody Roark. From Lockdown, Broncos, and this episode is brought to you by Peloton. Peloton is shaping the future of fitness with the brand new Peloton, cross-training, Tread Plus, powered by Peloton IQ. This is Peloton's most advanced equipment yet, giving you real-time guidance and endless ways to move,

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Starting point is 00:12:42 It just makes watching football even more exciting when you got a little something riding on the action, little skin in the game there, especially if you're too nervous to bet money when the Colts are on. Watch one of these million Monday night games they got going on. You know, Thursday night's always a train rack. Put some money on it and make it entertaining. So what are you waiting for? Visit fandle.com to download the fandwell app today. get started. All right, welcome back every day or so we put out the bat signal for you guys earlier today on socials to send in your questions. You know, it's Wednesday. We've talked a lot about a big picture stuff early in this week.

Starting point is 00:13:21 We dipped into some heavy topics so far. So we turned the floor to you for you guys to tell us what you want to hear about. And you did not disappoint some good ones here. First one, this one's from the insider program. kind of encapsulate some stuff we've talked about a little bit recently. So, Zach, let me throw this at you. The Colts hang 34 points on the chargers and win. Will the national media finally put some respect on Indy's name?

Starting point is 00:13:46 Because it seems like guys want to discount what Daniel Jones, Jonathan Taylor, and Shane Stuyken have done because their schedule hasn't been good. And that's from our insider program. Yeah, no, only if they put up 34, though. If they put up 35 or 33, then I think we, yeah, too much or too little. It has to be 34 exactly on this Chargers defense or else there's no respect coming out here. But all joking aside, I do think people are leaning a little too hard into the schedule. Has it been a tough thing?

Starting point is 00:14:15 Because it's not like the Colts have faced the easiest strength of schedule in football this year. I mean, I think they're in the top 10. But like the Buffalo Bills have faced a much easier strength of schedule. I think the New England Patriots are on pace to have the easiest strength of schedule in the history of football this year as well. but everyone's kind of saying and drake may's getting MVP talk above daniel jones right that's what i mean so it's like you know i do think people lean into that too much and i think it'd be one thing of the culture winning these games by like three you know but they're winning these games by like 20 you know against these bad teams and then they're two and one again like i i know the cardinals have a bad

Starting point is 00:14:53 record right now but i count the cardinals as an average team i think the broncos and the rams are both going to be playoff teams or playoff caliber teams so they're two and one against average or better teams this year while being three and oh with just insane wins against bad teams. So I don't know what more you want from them, you know, even the darling Patriots, they lost to the Raiders in week one, you know, the Raiders at the Colts blew out, you know? So, yeah, I think people are going a little too much in the strength of schedule stuff. This Colts offense is very, very good.

Starting point is 00:15:26 The defense is banged up and they're inconsistent, but they take the football away and they're pretty competitive in the red zone. So yeah, I think this Colts team is pretty good. And I don't think they need to hang exactly 34. I think if they just exchange blows with the chargers and make it a good game, hopefully you want to win the game and that'll make people take you really serious. But I don't think they need to prove anything to anyone right now. They're a good football team and they're going to be right there in this playoff hunt until the end and probably make the playoffs. So yeah, I don't really care too much about what the national media says or anything like that because they'll always have that, you know, that Daniel Jones stink in their mouth and all that because they'll remember the Giants days. I've gotten over that watching him closely this year, but I get it. But, you know, this Colts team has played really well this season. I don't expect that to just change because they play some tougher teams because the tougher teams they've played this year, they've played them pretty well so far. So yeah, I think this Colts team is going to be pretty good. Yeah. And while I tend to lean on the optimistic side, you and I have both been very skeptical. And like, we know when we

Starting point is 00:16:29 smell something is not going right and we're not going to shy away from it i've seen this colts team turn around even the most cynical colts fans this year like i think everyone recognizes this is a legitimately good team yeah last year i was a big proponent of that team was much worse than what their record said last season because they didn't win any games by more than one score but i mean when you're killing teams by 20 30 points to start the year i mean there's something there you know it's not all fluky they're playing some good football this year yeah no doubt all right This next one made my heart flutter because this is such a perfect you question. How do we feel about Atatomi Adibuari so far this season?

Starting point is 00:17:07 Is he a long-term Colt or another project guy that'll get a contract elsewhere in a couple years that the Colts can't match. That's from YouTube. Tommy's been playing some good ball. Like, and he's not just flashing either. Like, I think I tweeted this out during the game. He is making one or two impact plays in the backfield like every week. I think this dude's turning the corner.

Starting point is 00:17:26 Yeah, it's really tough, though, because defensive tackle is probably the deepest and best position group that Colts have on on the defensive side of the football so it's hard for him like to put him on the field you take off Buckner Stewart or even Neville Gallimore who's been awesome this year as well it's hard to take one of those guys off but he's still getting his snaps I think he's on pace to have a career high in snaps this year he's rushing the passer better than he ever has he has a go-to move and that swim move that I'm liking that I'm seeing so I do think he's starting to turn the corner and I think the next step is Luan Rumo trusting him enough to give him more third down rushing snaps. He's getting there. He's slowly, slowly getting there. But once he gets

Starting point is 00:18:03 more third down rushing snaps, then I think we're really going to see him take off. And I think he's going to finish this year with around like four or five sacks and show that he's really taking that next step as a player. So it's just about building up that trust with Lou and Lou learning to trust in. Lou's tough on younger players, especially younger players who haven't started much in the NFL. But once he warms up to those guys, he becomes ride or die for them. So it's all about Atatomi while just getting into that, like, steady rotation, then eventually getting his time on the field. But he's doing everything right so far, and I'm loving what I'm seeing. And so far, I think it's trending in a right direction for him figuring out here at Indy.

Starting point is 00:18:43 Yeah, without question. All right, this next one, would you try to bring Braden Smith back next year? Again, he's on the last year of a rework one-year deal. He's been solid this year, but I'm not sure how we would be able to fit him in cap space-wise. next season. However, needing a right tackle, we'll take a premium pick, which we probably need on defense. That one is from Twitter. I think that one, that's a pretty interesting question. Yeah, it's a tough one because we're still so far out from the end of the season. But as it's shaping up right now, I think the Colts have like $57 million in cap space heading into next

Starting point is 00:19:17 offseason. A lot of that's going to go to Daniel Jones if he continues his play. Then you have to worry about Nick Cross is probably your second most important player. And then Alec Pierce is probably right up there as well. And if you want to bring back all of those guys, you're going to have to make some really tough decisions on not only other pending free agents, but also on guys who are currently under contract in terms of restructures or releases to make some more room. So Braden Smith just might be a victim of we got to keep these younger, more impactful players, even though it's tough to let a right tackle go. But if he finishes this year playing in all 17 games and putting out adequate play, a tackle like that hitting the market is going

Starting point is 00:19:56 to get 15 plus million dollars, you're almost 20 million dollars a year. Look at Dan Moore just got on the open market. Look at Jalen Jalen Moore just got. I guess if your last name is more, you get paid pretty well. But look at those guys got. Get paid more, actually. I changed that name when I was in high school. My last name used to be more. But anyway, you know, you get paid a ton if you're just an adequate tackle on the open market. I just don't know if the culture going to be able to match that. It might very well be a Will Fry situation where it's like, we just can't go to that number. And then it becomes a Jalen Travis versus whoever they can get in a draft, maybe another third or fourth round pick in here. On the bright side, Tony Sparano Jr.

Starting point is 00:20:35 might be a magician when it comes to developing young players. Mac and Solvis looks like a franchise right guard. Tanner boarded lean he just had a career day against the Cardinals. So he might just, whoever he works with can just turn into gold at this point. So maybe Travis can just be that next right tackle for them. But yeah, the Colts are going to have a lot of big decisions. offseason in terms of cross, Daniel Jones, Alec Pierce, a lot of options to resign guys. It's going to be tough to keep all of them. Yeah, I love Braden Smith and his redemption story. It is great, but there is going to be business decisions.

Starting point is 00:21:10 And if they've seen Jalen Travis's tape and think that he's going to be an adequate replacement, then, I mean, you probably just go with the guy in his rookie contract to save some money. Because, again, they do have some big free agent decisions coming up. last one here for this segment real quick going to colt's first titans in a couple weeks where should my party a six go for lunch before that's from youtube so near the stadium district cap is awesome tom's watch bar is awesome i've taken zack to both of those places during combine week uh now depending of how early you get downtown this is not really near the stadium uh but baker's field on massab i'm a big taco guy and that is my favorite tacos in the city if you want to be a little more near

Starting point is 00:21:53 the stadium. Then you've got, I don't know if Condado is still there, but you got the social canteena is also good. So those are my recommendations. Coming up, guys, the hits are just going to keep on coming. You have thrown us some awesome questions, so we will get right to them. Don't forget that the NFL season is back. Obviously, we're about midway through, and there's nothing better than being in the stadium

Starting point is 00:22:19 surrounded by fans, cheering on your team. But let's be honest, getting tickets. can be a hassle, just a huge problem between the cues, the login screens, and the price is jumping up at checkout. It's just super frustrating. But that's why I use game time, no matter if it's for a concert or a game or what have you. I've used it for several different things. It's the app that gives the advantage back to the fans. Game time is fast, easy, and it's backed by the game time guarantee. You'll always get 100% authentic tickets delivered on time and at the best price. Plus, all fees are included. So the price that you see is the price that you pay at the end of the

Starting point is 00:22:53 whole thing. So download the GameTime app, create an account and use code locked on NFL for 20 bucks off of your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, that's promo code L-O-C-K-E-D-O-N-N-FL-N-FL-N-FL-N-FL-N-FL-N-FL-E-L-L-N-Folk, download GameTime today. Welcome back every dayers. We are still sifting through your questions. You send us some good ones. It was not going to be possible to fit them all in because you guys tend to make it rain on us now, which is very much appreciated and kind of allows the cream to rise to the crop here. All right. So Colts are cooking with gasoline and look like they're heading for the playoffs, given that they might have a high 20s first round pick in 2026. Is this the year to make another Buckner style trade where you trade away a first rounder

Starting point is 00:23:42 for a major impact player? That's a very good question, Zach, because we talked about trades the other day. Neither of us really wants to part with a first rounder. But when you got the 32nd pick that's basically a second rounder you know what i mean um so they say if you would target who would you target if you were ballard and you can't say tray hendricks or jalen phillips and again i assume they mean with a first round pick in the late 20s so that's an intriguing one because again you and i are a little bit conservative when it comes to draft capital yeah no for sure uh i think the the key part of that is a buckner style trade and when buckner actually got traded to the Colts was in the off-season.

Starting point is 00:24:20 Way easier to make trades like that in the off-season, so maybe we're more so talking about that after this year. In-season, you're not really going to get many players worth trading a first-round pick for available. So, like, even a Trey Hendrickson, if he does get moved, it's not going to be a first-round pick. Jalen Phillips is certainly not going to be a first-round pick. He's his injury history.

Starting point is 00:24:41 I'd be shocked if it's a day two pick for Jalen Phillips. I think it would be more of a late-round pick swap type thing, maybe a player going back, but you know that's just not the type of trades that are made in season so probably more of a question for the off season like if the colts finished this year with 11 12 wins losing the first or second round of the playoffs do they make another buckner style trade we'll have to see because again money could be pretty tight they might need that first round pick to get a cheaper contract in here that can be an impact player but i don't think we see something like that at the trade deadline it's just like how often do we see even day two picks moved at the trade deadline unless it's

Starting point is 00:25:18 Mohammed Sanoo to the Patriots, that second round pick that in the day. I'm still completely shocked that that happened. But outside of Mohammed Sanoo's corpse getting traded here, I don't think we're going to see that high of a pick get moved at the trade deadline. Yeah, the only one I could think would be even in the realm of possibility is if the Raiders knew they needed to rebuild and wanted to get rid of Max Crosby or something. Max Crosby would have to go into the office and say, I will never play a snap of football for you guys ever again.

Starting point is 00:25:48 And even then, I think the Raiders would call his bluff and say, okay, we're going to ride it out the rest of the year. And then maybe in the offseason, we'll entertain this. I think that just goes to show there's just not that availability out there for anybody. But that's, I'm trying to think of a realist, the most close to realistic option. That's about the first one that came to mind. You can't really think of any like top corner, maybe like Brian Burns from the Giants. If he really heats up, but I don't even know that that would be a first rounder. And they would have the sunk cost fallacy with that.

Starting point is 00:26:17 Like, they just gave up a bunch for him to get in there. You know, so you would want to talk yourself into, we're not moving him unless we get, like, a similar package, which you're not going to get. So it just kind of makes it not a conversation point there. Yeah. All right. This next one from YouTube is A.D. Mitchell, a trade candidate? No, because he has not done anything. Like, what are you getting for him?

Starting point is 00:26:38 You're getting a conditional seventh for him? Like, is it worth it? It's intriguing, but you've got a guy who, it would be one thing if he was doing this, like, boneheaded stuff while making plays like the Sean Jackson early in the like a George Pickin situation George Pickett a perfect example 80 hasn't done anything yet so you're not you would maybe get a seventh round pick or something is a six or seventh round pick from a team like the Browns that doesn't have any receivers or something you know what I mean like yeah it would have to be a a receiver desperate team that just you know

Starting point is 00:27:14 need some sort of shot in the arm and I will say if that They had like 12 picks. They're like, okay, we'll give up one of them. Which the rounds are probably going to have. But I do think, like, if Adi Mitchell was on a team that needed receiver help, he could make plays. Yeah. If he would play more, he would make plays. The Colts just have the luxury to be able to sit him down because they have other receivers.

Starting point is 00:27:37 Yeah. They don't need him. He's more valuable to the Colts having him than not having him. Like, he's in the doghouse right now. But, like, it's more valuable just to play this thing out and see what happens. Because even if he catches fire at times, say he becomes a free agent, you can get like a fifth or a six comp pick for him, probably more than what you could get trading him right now. So yeah, just hold on and see what you got with him. Yeah, this next one from the insider program, it's essentially boils down to, you know, you're bringing Daniel Jones back.

Starting point is 00:28:06 You're definitely offering him at this point. What does that contract look like? And do you have to shed any contracts because of it? We already went into this season saying that the Coldsworth. were set up to be able to hit the detonator button if they needed to. If the season went awry, obviously they're not going to be doing that at this point, but there still is very little, like, guaranteed and dead cap left on the books. So if they do need to shed some cap to do it, they can.

Starting point is 00:28:32 I think Daniels probably going to get like the Sam Donald deal. What's that, like $35 million or something a year? Yeah, I think Donald got three for 105. And I think you just got to add a little bit of inflation on top of it, probably like three to 115 maybe 120 at best to get up to 40 a year would probably be around what he would get maybe you go to a fourth year if Jones wants that but you know Jones is going to have offers this all seem like how Darnold did and Darnold actually left the Vikings but I think it's going to be a situation where when Jones and the Colts both look at it there's no other place

Starting point is 00:29:05 that he should be you know it makes the most sense for him to be here and I think even he knows that if he wants to get even another contract after this next one so I don't envision him leaving the Colts. If, again, this continues to the end of the year, I think it would be like a three for 115. Then the question, again, becomes how can we fit Pierce and or cross in here? Because those are your two most important ones. You probably prioritize cross in that situation, but with the lack of options behind Pierce right now, with A.D. Mitchell being in the doghouse, it makes the Alec Pierce question so much, like, tougher just to answer right now. And now this next one. I'm kind of going to twist around a little bit to fit into stuff we haven't really answered

Starting point is 00:29:48 with it yet. Basically, this has been a good season, obviously, but which veterans, and we're going to lump Anthony Richardson into this because it was asked specifically, who might be on the chopping block for next year? Now, there are some good players in here who I think may not be back, maybe because of price, maybe because of just moving in different directions, but, like, Anthony, I don't think we'll be back. I just, I don't see it. Chris Ballard may want to be as patient as possible, but it just, it just feels like that healthy break needs to happen. I could see like Kenny Moore, because you want to keep Traverius Ward.

Starting point is 00:30:29 Now, Justin Wally, I think, developed in a different manner than they initially expected. I think long term, he was maybe going to be like the long term slot for Louana Rumo, which still could be the vision. So if that's still what they want, maybe you part with Kenny. The ACL obviously complicates things. Or they just park him on the other side of Charbarious Ward long term. Alec Pierce obviously could be very, very expensive. Nick Cross could be expensive.

Starting point is 00:30:57 Quitty pay, I don't know. Quitty pay is probably expendable at this point. But what do you think? Yeah, I think you mentioned a lot of the guys there. Like we talked about Braden Smith. I think Braden Smith, you would unfortunately just have to let him walk. I think Pierce is just a very difficult conversation for the Colts to have because where does he fall in your hierarchy of how you value playmakers on offense? You know, like I think you would have downs over him.

Starting point is 00:31:21 I think you'd have Warren over him, definitely Jonathan Taylor over him. And then you have the conversation with him versus Pittman and then the potential of A.D. Mitchell. And is that worth what he's going to be on the open market? I think it's a tough conversation for the Colts. And I don't even know what the right answer is there for the team. I like that you mentioned Kenny there. It's just, he's such a great playmaker, such a great player. But you can get off of that with no guarantee, with no dead cap, I believe, after this year.

Starting point is 00:31:49 He's coming off an Achilles injury. We did have the restructure, though. Yeah, the restructure might have changed. We'd have to look back at that. That's true. That's a very good point there. So we'll see if that changed anything. And then, yeah, Richardson, I think, is the obvious one.

Starting point is 00:32:02 You move, again, this is all if things continue the way they're going. If the Colts win, 11, 12 games, get to the playoffs. you certainly move Richardson in the offseason because you're going to give Jones that contract extension or at least they should. I don't know why they wouldn't. I can't really think of any other notable ones. Like you wouldn't move off Grover Stewart yet

Starting point is 00:32:19 because he's just played some great football. Even though Gallimore and Atatomiwa have been awesome, you just don't move off him. You probably reshape the edge room quite a bit with Quitty, Ebukam, and probably Lewis all departing and then just getting new bodies in that Luana remote wants. You just build around Latu and hopefully,

Starting point is 00:32:38 Hopefully JT to him a low while by the end of the season, maybe Zeyer Franklin, because the fit hasn't been great in this system. I do think it depends. Now, I think the coaching staff has bought itself another year at this point. Right. But now I do think you continue to craft things in Lou Anurimo's vision. Right. And whatever.

Starting point is 00:32:57 So Lou just says this guy is no good. And Logan Wilson's, because Logan Wilson just got benched the other day for the Bengals. I say we hadn't discussed that yet, but I wish I would have known that before. and then he could have been in our trade episode. Right, right. So Logan Wilson just got benched with the Bengals. If he gets cut after the year and lose like, just get me Wilson, I don't need Franklin. It's a lot cheaper.

Starting point is 00:33:17 We could see something like that. But there's so many moving parts right now. We're still in the middle of the season. Colts are five and one. It's still only October. We'll see how this looks come December. But yeah, a lot of questions after the year for the Colts, which makes this season much more important. Go win some games now.

Starting point is 00:33:32 Go get the playoffs. Win some playoff games now. And we can worry about the contracts and everything. everything after the year. This Colt team is on fire and they're rolling into this week against the Chargers. We're back with you guys tomorrow with a crossover episode talking Colts and Chargers in more detail. So thank you guys for making Locked-on Colts. Your first listen today and every day, the NFL season is finally here. So for your next listen, get a double dose of the Locked on NFL podcast. Tyler, the Madman Rolling gives you a shot of NFL espresso to start your

Starting point is 00:33:58 football day. Well, Tony Wiggins takes you into the barbershop for the smoothest breakdowns to end the day. Find Locked on NFL on YouTube or relist your podcast. If you guys want to be become a Lockdown Colts insider and chat this directly and get that insider school follow the link in our show notes if you don't already make sure you're following at Lockdown Colts at Jake Arthur NFL and at Zach Hicks to all on socials also subscribe to us on YouTube over the studio podcast we love your guys reading the views have a great day and again we'll catch you guys back here tomorrow for cross over Thursday

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