Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Unsurprisingly Quiet as Legal Tampering Begins

Starting point is 00:00:00 All is quiet on the Indianapolis Colts front for now. You are locked on Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, what's up guys? 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. I am Jake Arthur and he is Zach Hicks, of course. You know the two of us from horseshoehuddle.com. Welcome in to those of you watching live. Anyone listening, welcome along to you as well. So today, the legal tampering period has started, kicked

Starting point is 00:01:03 off at noon today. Predictably, the Colts are taking it easy, taking it sleazy, letting everyone else do all the big spinning, of which there's been plenty so far, really. Again, as for Colts stuff, nothing really going on incoming-wise. However, the Colts did officially announce that they re-signed defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis. News of that already came in on Sunday. So we knew that was a one-year deal, $2.1 million. Joel Erickson,

Starting point is 00:01:32 he came through and he dotted the period on that one. So we know that one's legit. So yeah, Tyquan's back. Pretty decent move. I mean, to me, it felt like, uh, the Jack Buhart move a few years ago, Zach, um, kind of a thing where he probably does not have much of a market anywhere else because the injuries, the Colts know what to expect in his, in his role. And they know they're probably not getting a full season out of him, but he has value to them. Uh, what'd you think of this one? Yeah. I mean, if he can finally stay healthy, it's a steal of a deal because we saw the last two seasons, you know, if you were to put those two eight game stretches that he played together over

Starting point is 00:02:13 the last two seasons, you'd have a really, really strong season from pass rusher. You know, he had a lot of really good production and it feels like in both seasons, he was starting to catch his groove right when the injury happened. You know, he was starting to turn the corner and become a really good player for the Colts. And then the major injury happened. And it just it sucks. It kind of feels like Marlon Mack a little bit, too.

Starting point is 00:02:36 If we're going to go back to some other guys, because Marlon Mack was another one where he was playing some great football. And then that major injury and it just all kind of took all the everything out of all the wind out of the sails with that one so yeah this is this is no risk deal I mean I think it was the base value was one year one million uh and it has incentives to go up to like three or four million uh that's a no-brainer hopefully he can stay healthy hopefully he can continue the track he's been on the last two seasons and just not have a major knee injury. It's one thing to just get nicks and bruises, but we're talking major, major knee injuries both times. Luckily, he's got a good friend in Paris Campbell to talk to and figure out how to get through injuries like this, the mental side of it and the physical side. Yeah, it sucks. I really

Starting point is 00:03:22 hope he can have a healthy season for once, but I'm happy he's coming back. It definitely seemed like this one was a lock when he was at Shane Steichen's press conference the other day. And, yeah, I'm happy to have Taequann Lewis back. He's a good dude. Yeah, I know. It could be kind of improbable for an NFL player to come back from a patellar injury, and he did it, and he looked great.

Starting point is 00:03:40 Like, I thought he had the best summer of his career because I've seen all of his training camps coming in, and he looked better than he ever did. Suffered a patellar somehow on the other knee in this one, but no, he's a guy. It doesn't erase any needs there at the end, but it gives you a little cherry on top, whatever he's able to give you. And it's good that he's there because I think you and I are both fairly confident that Yannick Ngakwe won't be back. give you. And it's good that he's there because I think you and I are both fairly confident that

Starting point is 00:04:05 Yannick Ngakwe won't be back. So you're kind of down another significant contributor at defensive end. So in my eyes, that's a good one. Really, I think you and I both thought this coming into the tampering period. This is easily going to be more about what the Colts lose or can try and retain than what they bring in. You know, coming into today, I thought we were both pretty confident Bobby O'Kerrick would go to the Bears. But they brought in TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmonds on some pretty nice deals. So it seems like that ship has possibly sailed. And if other teams around the league are dropping out on that, then it could lower his price, bring him back to the Colts. Potentially that would be best case scenario. It would be great to have Bobby come back. You know, I see as a lot of you guys are already

Starting point is 00:04:52 talking about it here in the comment section. Bobby O'Kerrick, it was great last season. Really, really good Gus Bradley style linebacker. And you know what Bobby O'Kerrick did say, I think he said at the very end of the season, that like he wants to stay in a similar scheme to what he was doing with Gus Bradley. You know, he felt comfortable being that kind of rangy linebacker, being a guy who can, you know, do a lot of the coverage things that Gus Bradley needs. So the fit is there, you know, the fit's there. It's just we saw last year when Shaquille Leonard was coming back from injury. It wasn't Zyra Franklin coming off the field.

Starting point is 00:05:24 It was Bobby O'Kerrigan coming off the off the field now is is he going to come back maybe say let's say that's like a two-year you know 20 million dollar deal you know whatever two-year 20 million 10 million dollars a year you're not going to get that kind of deal to come and back somebody up but he's not going to start over over Zy Franklin or Shaquille Leonard. So it's a really tough situation. I think it makes more sense for the Colts to re-sign EJ Speed because you're not really expecting him to be a starter, where Bobby Okereke, you'd be signing him to be a starter when you already have two starters on the roster.

Starting point is 00:05:57 So yeah, it sucks. I really want him back, obviously. I think he's a better fit for this scheme than another linebacker on the roster is. And I would prefer to have him starting next year. But yeah, we'll see. We'll see. If the deal gets low enough, you know, I'm sure Chris Fowler will try to make a move to resign. He loves to retain his own guys. And Bobby Okereke has played really well the last couple of seasons. I just I don't expect it. I think it would be very,

Starting point is 00:06:25 very, very shocking to see him come back to Indy where there's already two starters kind of established and in place. Yeah. And you mentioned EJ Speed, of course, that one, it's easy to draw a parallel to like the Browns. I know he's been a special teams ace for Bubba Ventron for these last four years. So it makes all the sense in the world, but I'm kind of curious if it's a thing where the Colts can either bring one or the other back, probably not both. I'd be pretty shocked if they brought both back, but EJ speed for the money he would, he would cost. I think we've kind of, we've kind of thought the Zyre Franklin deal.

Starting point is 00:07:01 What was it like three years, 10 million makes a lot of sense for speed. Plus being the same linebacker and kind of a fill-in at will whenever it's needed. That's a perfect role for him. Really good run defender, so that one makes a lot of sense. Gun to my head, I would probably say that speed is a little more likely because it's more financially doable. You're not going to tie in a ton of money into one position group like linebackers. Paris Campbell is probably the one everyone wants to hear even more about. Easy to draw a line to Carolina, especially since DJ Moore got traded. We'll touch on that trade more later. But yeah, Paris Campbell to the Panthers, that makes a lot of sense.

Starting point is 00:07:43 It does. It does. And I think we kind of get to this weird spot where we know Frank Reich was a big part of drafting Paris Campbell. And Frank Reich was always singing Paris Campbell's praises every single offseason saying how much he loves Paris Campbell. And yeah, it's very easy to draw that line there. But Chris Ballard also loves Paris Campbell. And I think that the Colts really like Paris Campbell as well. And I'm sure there's other teams, you know, a team like Buffalo, who wants more speed and more depth that wide receiver is looking at Paris Campbell and considering throwing some some money at him as well. So it'll be a minute to see what happens with Paris Campbell, because this wide receiver market is just so weird right now, you know,

Starting point is 00:08:23 teams might be just waiting on Arizona to trade Hopkins first before they start signing free agents and you know it might be a couple other things like that but yeah I think Campbell I want back for sure really good separator knows how to get open can create after the catch but he's gonna have a lot of suitors and will Chris Ballard pay extra to keep his guy I I just don't see it it's just not what Chris Ballard pay extra to keep his guy? I just don't see it. It's just not what Chris Ballard does. You know, he sets his price and he stays at that price for better or worse.

Starting point is 00:08:50 You know, if you guys love it or not, it's kind of what he does. So yeah, you know, I want Paris Campbell back for sure. But I feel like just like Bobby O'Kara, it's kind of in the cards that he might be going somewhere else. Yeah, I think if his market is more around like $8 million or something, that might be nice.

Starting point is 00:09:08 But I don't know if other teams are going to want to drive up that price too much just because he just now played his first healthy season. And if the Colts can get him at a bargain, I think they would jump at it, especially Shane Steichen probably has plenty of ideas for Campbell. You're getting a new rookie quarterback. You're going to want to have as many weapons as possible, and Campbell was one of the most steady they had last year. Ashton Doolin is my last small footnote.

Starting point is 00:09:33 I know you're going to always want to talk about him. To me, he falls into that EJ speed category. He's been a gunner and special teams ace for Bubba Ventrone for all this time. Now, he is actually hitting unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career. I talked to him right after the season during locker clean out, and he's very open to coming back. He'd like to come back, but it's obviously going to be smart and see what's out there. He is obviously, again, just like Speed, a much cheaper version of what they'll be able to to bring back you're not resigning him to be a big wide receiver contributor for you it's

Starting point is 00:10:12 again going to be more special teams but still that death doesn't hurt i love i love ashton dillon amazing amazing special teams player and he's been like i'm not saying he's been anything special at wide receiver but you know he's he's made some plays when he's gotten a chance you know he's been out there and made some plays so yeah I think it's a no-brainer to bring back Ashton Doolin as that wide receiver five maybe wide receiver six if you go a little deeper there he's a guy they're gonna have active every game day you're gonna have him there on special teams and he's gonna be great at it I I really hope they don't make the mistake they did last offseason where they let George Odom go. And George Odom went on to be an all pro special teamer for for the 49ers. You know, bring back Ashton Doolin, keep your star special teamer, keep them paid. I mean, we saw we see

Starting point is 00:10:54 with the New England Patriots, you know, they've kept Slater for super long time. Because he's a really good special teamer, you need to have special teams guys. And that's what Ashton Doolin is. He's a glue guy on special teams. He's a phenomenal player in that area of the field. Definitely bring back Ashton Doolin if you can. Without a doubt, without a doubt. Glue guy, like you said. So coming up next, we're going to talk about how the Bears and Panthers trade might have changed things for the Colts at the top of the draft.

Starting point is 00:11:20 But first, today's episode is brought to you by Ultimate Football GM. That's right. They're back, you guys. You heard us talk about this mobile game quite a bit over the last few months, especially near the end of the season. And if you've ever wanted to be a GM, then this game is absolutely for you. I played it quite a bit, and it is addicting. You know, this is a perfect time for it, free agency. You get to set prices on everyone.

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Starting point is 00:12:19 Ultimate Football GM, start your dynasty today. All right, so honestly, the biggest Colts news that has come out recently is something that had nothing to do with the Colts, and that was a trade at the top of the draft, the Bears and Panthers. I think all these teams that needed a quarterback who were not the Bears, basically, were just itching to get up to the top, see what they could do, and try and beat each other to make sure they could get their guy. Ultimately, Carolina got through. Moving up that far, you obviously have to give up more of a Kings ransom. So Chicago gave them the first overall pick this year. Chicago, in exchange, got pick number nine.

Starting point is 00:13:01 Second round, pick number 61. Next year's first rounder and 2025 second rounder. And then wide receiver DJ Moore, who is, you know, a great receiver. You know, he's probably not an alpha top dog receiver, but really good one nonetheless. And you could be in a much worse situation with him being your, your top guy. So for Chicago, they're going to make sure they know whether Justin Fields is any good at quarterback or not. But yeah, for the Colts, this obviously puts a team ahead of them that definitely wants to get a quarterback in Carolina. So Carolina is probably going to take one at one, you know, Houston's going to take one at two. And then, so that leaves the Colts or any

Starting point is 00:13:42 other QB needy team to come up to number three, Zach. Or just the Colts stay at four and get QB three at four. Who knows? You know, it's still kind of early to really say what we know is exactly going to happen on draft day. But just to throw some more context for what you're saying here, from everything I've heard, I talked to a couple people about this. It was Carolina versus Vegas, Las Vegas, to move up to number one up until the end. Vegas essentially offered the same offer as the Panthers did, except I think they had a different player in there, obviously, than DJ Moore. I think it was Darren Waller or someone like that to go up to one.

Starting point is 00:14:15 And obviously, they wanted DJ Moore instead. I get it. DJ Moore, very, very good premier receiver. So yeah, I don't think the Colts are really in it. I think it was really those two teams. The Colts feel comfortable with, you know, their, their third quarterback is close enough to their first quarterback to where, you know, they don't care. They don't care which one they get really. They, they feel comfortable enough, uh, you know, scouting these guys and developing these guys, uh, to be their next franchise quarterback. Uh, and they didn't

Starting point is 00:14:41 feel comfortable enough about one of these guys to go up there and trade, you know, two first round picks, two second round picks and Michael Pittman Jr. For instance, you know, they just didn't, they didn't really get that feel about one of these, these quarterbacks. So I get it. I get it guys. It's, it's frustrating seeing what seems like, what's, what's the right way to say this? It feels like they're sitting back. They always do. And they're, and they're not being aggressive which it really can't come off that way and i'm not saying you're wrong to think that but there is some some tact to all this you know there is a little bit of tact to how you play this process if the colts know that the panthers are going up for cj stroud and they know the texans are going to take Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson's their QB one, then they're, they're pulling off a major heist in

Starting point is 00:15:29 their own eyes because they did not trade up to, they didn't give up a ton of picks to get a guy they already could get at four. You know, there's, there's a lot of tact to this. There's a lot of stuff we don't know. And I think we can really evaluate it after the draft once we have the results already in hand. But as of right now, I'm not going to freak out too much. Like Adam says here, it's overreaction Monday. There was overreaction Sunday when the trade happened and a lot of craziness. But one thing I have been saying to a lot of people, and I feel like I need to say it here on the podcast to all of you guys, just because a quarterback is the third quarterback taken in the draft or the fourth quarterback taken in the draft doesn't mean that's where the Colts had them on their board.

Starting point is 00:16:08 That does not mean they were the Colts third quarterback or the Colts fourth quarterback. They could be the Colts number one QB. Then they got them as the third quarterback in the draft. You know, like the whole league doesn't agree on one order for the quarterbacks, you know, so Bryce Young could be number one on the Texans and CJ Stroud could be number one for the Panthers and Anthony Richie could be number one for the Colts and Will Levis could be number one for the Tennessee Titans, wherever he goes. You know, like it's not all set in stone there. So don't freak out.

Starting point is 00:16:38 Let's not think of it as the Colts are definitely getting the third ranked quarterback in the class. They could be getting their QB one sitting at four without giving up, you know, multiple first round picks and their best receiver on the roster. Yeah. And I think that is an incredibly important point to make because it's not just like you said, it's, it's not a uniform ranking. It's not like the Colts are sitting back and they're just going to allow themselves to get the third or fourth best quarterback. Because, again, they could get their top guy. I think what the frustration is, is not showing enough aggression to go up and make sure you get your guy.

Starting point is 00:17:18 I think that's, you know, and especially from a team where we saw the all chips in last year, it went nowhere. We is the worst cult scene we've seen in a minute i think fans just want to see more aggression and more more try to win basically yeah but again yeah yeah sorry just to interrupt here's the thing there's aggression and then there's being aggressive just for the sake of being aggressive you know like you have to have that commitment to someone and if you want to make the argument that Chris Ballard is not committed to a quarterback or not committed to a path that's fine I totally I honestly I can completely agree with that he has not fully committed to one thing yet to where he's going to go all in towards that

Starting point is 00:18:00 one thing completely agree but it's kind of like what he's always said I know I know we're in what year seven with Chris Ballard but he has always said you can't just force this thing you can't just say oh shoot we have to take a quarterback so let me give up the next three years of first round picks and my number one receiver to go up there and get one just so I know which one I'm getting yeah again there has to be a little bit of tact and a little bit of you know there has to be some good process into this too. You know, you can't just do something for the sake of doing it. But I do want to, again, say that I understand your guys' frustration. You know, if they would have traded up for number one, I wouldn't have been upset because it's like, okay, cool. They're

Starting point is 00:18:38 going all in at something. But before we freak out and say they're getting the third or fourth best quarterback in this class, let's let this process play out. It's the first time they've had this type of pick, well, and needing a quarterback. The first time they've had this type of pick and needing a quarterback in the Chris Ballard era. Let's just see how it plays out, guys. I just don't think it's worth freaking out about yet. We'll wait until draft day to freak out, okay? Let's save it. Save it until draft day right now. Again, they could still get their QB one sitting at four and we just don't know right now. So that's just my little mini rant about all this. It's, there's gotta be a little bit of tact. You can't just

Starting point is 00:19:14 do something for the sake of doing it. And if you were scared off by CJ Stroud's lack of creativity in college or Bryce Young's size, this makes sense, you know? Yeah, it kind of comes back to the Colts being very, very picky, especially when it comes to a position like quarterback, because there's four quarterbacks here, but that does not mean that the Colts would take any of these four, you know what I mean? Like, they, there could only be two of these guys that they would feel comfortable taking in that range so it's it's all a big toss-up and i was gonna i was gonna say you know this is also only the first unofficial day of free agency we're still in the legal pampering period so it's not like they're not going to do anything because they will and i mean look at last year it was slow to start again

Starting point is 00:19:58 but they came away with unique and gawkway and stefan gilmore you know they had some nice moves and we all thought, okay, like this is a good overall haul for the off season, uh, that they pulled off, but they were very slow to start, of course, like they normally are. So, uh, I, I think if you set your expectations at knowing they're not going to just like run off and spend a bunch of money and do stuff, that's, that's the way to do it. I, I i honestly the only thing i'm surprised about is we we haven't heard about any contract restructures or anyone being cut or anything yet we haven't heard of any cat moves to this point basically which a lot of teams got that out of the way last week or in the

Starting point is 00:20:36 days leading up to free agency yeah yeah i'm sure uh i'm sure you guys want us to say like which signings happened today that we're upset about or anything like that. But honestly, when it comes to us with the Colts at this point, again, this is what year seven of Chris Ballard. I think year six, year seven of Chris Ballard. I'm kind of past the point of expecting phase or phase one free agency signings. Like it's just it doesn't happen. You know, you might get a trade. We have heard we have seen trades. He likes to make trades early in the offseason, but he just, it's just not, it's just not

Starting point is 00:21:06 his thing, you know, and for better or worse, I, obviously we have the comments going right now that definitely say that's for worse with, with everything going on. But, uh, yeah, you know, it's just how he is. So I'm not going to get too upset about phase one free agents that they missed out on because I just don't expect it. You know, it maybe it's pure apathy on my part at this point, but yeah, I'm sure in the next couple of days, we'll hear about some restructures. I know for a fact, we're going to hear about someone getting cut in the next couple of days.

Starting point is 00:21:32 I wonder who that could be just to free up some more, some more cap space for the Colts. So they're not going to completely sit on their hands. They're going to do some things guys. It's just not going to be, you know, signing Javon Hargrave to an $80, guys. It's just not going to be signing Javon Hargrave to an $80 million deal. It's just not what they do. Unfortunately or fortunately, whatever side of the spectrum you guys fall on, it's just not what they do. But guys, we're going to wrap up this show here in a few minutes. But first, I got to talk to you guys about FanDuel. The midway point of the NBA season is here.

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Starting point is 00:22:36 That's FanDuel.com slash locked on to learn more. Make every moment more with FanDuel, an official sports betting partner of the NBA. All right, Jake, before we get to parting shots here and just kind of wrap this up, we are going to go like, we're going to tentatively plan with you guys here to go kind of live throughout the whole week, you know, around this time, four or five, whatever.

Starting point is 00:22:58 So you guys in the comment section, not in the comments that are going right now, because those, I think they disappear after the live stream. So not in these comments, but going right now because those i think they disappear after the live stream uh so not in these comments but after the video officially posts on youtube or wherever you guys are listening if you're listening on twitter whatever uh put what time of day you guys like best you know what time you would listen more if you like this four o'clock time great we will keep going at four or 4 15 or whatever went today if you guys like it more around like that five or six time we could try that one as well for you guys like it more around like that five or six time, we could try that one as well for you guys.

Starting point is 00:23:28 So make sure you just leave some comments there. We'll see what you guys are saying and adjust accordingly to get most of you guys in there. But it seems like today, from looking at all the views and how active you guys were in the comments, around this 4, 430, 415 time works really well. So that's all I have for parting shots. Again, don't expect too much from the Colts in the first couple of phases of free agency. Jake, you got anything you want to add here? No, I think you nailed it. You know, we're, we're obviously going to try and be as active as possible on here. You know, it may not always, we're obviously going to give you this, this full length thing, but, you know, expect to hear little snippets from us and everything

Starting point is 00:24:01 on the, the locked on nows, whenever anything drops a significant Colts player leaves, they bring someone in. You'll hear from us there, there as well too. So yeah, we're a, this is a busy week for all of us. You guys as fans,

Starting point is 00:24:14 refreshing Twitter, us just finding out stuff and relaying information to you guys. So stay tuned. Yeah. And yeah, guys, I know it seems like they're sitting on their, on their hands right now.

Starting point is 00:24:29 But again, it's not even I think that was my text right there. It's not even the first day of free agency yet, guys. It's not even the first day yet. This is the pre first day of free agency. So let's not get too crazy about them doing or not doing stuff. They still have until Wednesday, I think, to release Matt Ryan and Nick Foles. I know they're shopping a couple players and trades, and I'm assuming if they don't get trade offers they like, they'll just end up releasing those players.

Starting point is 00:24:51 So there's going to be a lot of moving parts here for the Colts going forward. So make sure you guys are following us for all the updates on that. Follow at LockedOnColts, at JakeArthurNFL, and at ZachHicks2 on Twitter. Also subscribe to the LockedOnColts podcast on YouTube, wherever you listen to your podcasts. We love your ratings and reviews.

Starting point is 00:25:08 If you want to go on rants about how much you dislike Ballard and stuff, like you guys are doing in the comments here, make sure you just leave a five-star review before you say that on our ratings and stuff. You guys can go off on any rant you want. Just leave that five-star. And thanks for making Locked On Colts your first listen of the day.

Starting point is 00:25:25 Now make your second listen, Locked On NFL Draft. Damian Parson and Keith Sanchez provide in-depth coverage of the biggest NFL draft prospects with deep dives into the sleepers and hidden gems that can change your favorite NFL franchise. Find Locked On NFL Draft wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. We'll see you guys tomorrow.

Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Unsurprisingly Quiet as Legal Tampering Begins

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